Small claims limit in Montana: $7,000

The rule in Montana

The small claims limit in Montana is $7,000. The rule is Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502(1); the Montana Legislature, MCA 25-35-502 puts it this way: “the amount claimed does not exceed $7,000, exclusive of costs”. The court that hears these cases: Justice court small claims.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Montana ranks 33rd from the top. That is $3,000 below the median of $10,000. It is 2.8 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 28% of the $25,000 top figure. Massachusetts and Michigan use the same $7,000 figure.

Next door, Idaho allows $15,000, North Dakota allows $15,000, South Dakota allows $12,000 and Wyoming allows $6,000. A claim of $7,000 that fits in Montana would be $1,000 over the line in Wyoming. Idaho goes $8,000 further, so a dispute worth $15,000 could stay in small claims there but not in Montana.

Worked check against the $7,000 figure: a $3,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $3,500 of room; a claim of exactly $7,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $7,001 is $1 over, and the rule leaves costs out of that count.

The source checked for Montana does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.

Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Montana sets no cap on deposits (deposit rules), so a deposit larger than $7,000 could not be claimed in full in small claims; the landlord's return deadline there is 30 days.

Source: Montana Legislature, MCA 25-35-502 · Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502(1) · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the Justice court small claims. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.