Montana DIY Divorce: Forms, Fees & Mediation

Montana does not require you to hire a lawyer to get a dissolution of marriage, and the District Court publishes every core self-help form free of charge. Montana also has a real fast-track option — summary dissolution — for spouses who meet strict property and debt limits. For the full residency, venue, and grounds requirements, see our Montana divorce filing checklist. Here is what you need to handle your Montana DIY divorce on your own.

Where to Get Free Self-Help Forms

The Montana Courts forms library hosts free, fillable pro se packets organized by case type. Core forms most DIY filers need include:

• Petition for Dissolution without Children (MP-112) or with a Parenting Plan (MP-113)
• Joint Petition for Dissolution (MP-115 without children; MP-116 with children) for spouses filing together
• Proposed Parenting Plan (MP-300) if you have minor children
• Summons & Automatic Economic Restraining Order (MP-400) and related service forms (MP-401 through MP-403.2)
• Financial Disclosure and Proposed Property Distribution (MP-500) and Income and Expenses (MP-510)

If you have minor children, you must also serve a Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure within 60 days of service, listing assets, liabilities, and income.

E-Filing: Montana's Statewide Portal

Montana's E-Filing portal lets filers submit case documents and pay fees online instead of on paper. Coverage and requirements vary by county and case type — attorneys may be required to e-file by local rule, while self-represented parties can often choose between e-filing and paper filing at the clerk's office. Confirm your district's current status on the portal before assuming paper filing is your only option.

Filing Fees and How to File

Montana's dissolution fees are set by statute statewide:

• $170 petition for dissolution, plus $20 additional civil filing fee and $10 technology surcharge — $200 total at commencement
• $70 respondent appearance fee (including the technology surcharge), due when your spouse files a Response
• $50 entry of judgment fee, typically assessed when the decree is entered

If you cannot afford these costs, file a Request for Waiving Court Fees with a supporting affidavit of inability to pay. Sheriff service runs by county tariff, so serving by mail with a Notice and Acknowledgment (switching to personal service only if no acknowledgment is returned within 21 days) is usually the cheapest option.

Mediation Through the Family Transition Project

Statewide mediation is not mandatory in Montana, though many district judges order or encourage parenting mediation before trial. Cost-sensitive families with children can apply to the Montana Supreme Court's Family Transition Project, which provides free mediation, child support consultation, and legal advice for income-eligible parents where at least one party is self-represented. Mediation cannot proceed without informed, written consent if there is a history of abuse.

The Fastest DIY Path: Summary Dissolution

Montana offers a genuine fast-track option — summary dissolution — for spouses who meet all of the following at the time of filing:

• No real property is owned by either spouse
• Unsecured debt totals $20,000 or less
• Total marital assets are valued under $50,000 (excluding encumbrances)
• Either there are no children of the marriage, or a parenting plan is in place and child support has already been ordered
• Both spouses waive maintenance and their right to appeal

To use this path, file a Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution together. At least 20 days after filing, both spouses appear for a short hearing, and if the criteria are still met, the judge enters the final judgment that same day.

If you don't qualify for summary dissolution but still agree on everything, you can file jointly or have one spouse file and the other respond with a full written agreement. Even in an uncontested case, Montana law requires at least 21 days between service and the final decree. For a closer look at how a contested case differs from an agreed-upon one, see our Montana uncontested vs. contested divorce guide, and for a stage-by-stage breakdown of timing, see our Montana divorce timeline guide.

When to Consider Hiring an Attorney

DIY divorce works best in Montana when both spouses cooperate, property is straightforward, and parenting time is not contested. Consider hiring a family law attorney if your case involves:

• A business, farm or ranch interest, real estate, or retirement accounts needing a sealed QDRO
• Contested custody or parenting-plan disputes
• Domestic violence or an active Order of Protection
• Concealed assets or disputes over separate property

Many Montana attorneys offer limited-scope help — reviewing your paperwork or coaching you before your hearing — for a flat fee, which costs far less than full representation while still catching costly mistakes.