Montana
Montana: statutes read at the official source for people acting for themselves, each with its citation and the date it was read.
Acting for yourself
Any person who holds out to the public or advertises as an attorney
Mont. Code Ann. §§ 37-61-201, 37-61-210 · mca.legmt.gov · read 2026-08-20 · official source
Renting and landlord-tenant
security deposit, return deadline
Each landlord, within 30 days subsequent to the termination of a tenancy or within 30 days subsequent to a surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever occurs first, shall provide the departing tenant with a written list of any rent due and any damage and cleaning charges
Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202(1)(a)(i) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Not verified for Montana: Month-to-month notice (§ 70-24-441) and the nonpayment notice (§ 70-24-422) are in Title 70 ch. 24 and were not fetched.
Small claims
The court that hears these in Montana is the Small claims court (within the justice's court).
$7,000
Exclusive of costs. Defendant must be servable within the county where the action is commenced. Same cap applies to interpleader under 25-35-508. Source is Montana Code Annotated 2025.
The small claims court has jurisdiction over all actions for the recovery of money or specific personal property when the amount claimed does not exceed $7,000, exclusive of costs, and the defendant can be served within the county where the action is commenced.
Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502(1) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Lawyers in small claims
A party may not be represented by an attorney unless all parties are represented by an attorney in a small claims court. (3) (a) Individuals may represent themselves in a small claims court. (b) A partnership may be represented by a partner or one of its employees. (c) A union may be represented by a union member or union employee. (d) A corporation may be represented by one of its directors, officers, or employees.
Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-505(2)-(3) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Montana publishes its own self-help pages
Not verified: The state and its agencies cannot be parties in Montana small claims court (§ 25-35-505(1)); read but not modelled as a field.
What this page is, and is not
Everything above was read at the source named next to it, on the date named next to it. Nothing is summarised from memory and nothing is carried over from a neighbouring state. Statutes are amended, so read the source before relying on it.
This is general legal information about Montana. It is not advice about your situation, and it is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.