Montana Legal Guide
State data · Updated for 2026
Small Claims
$7,000
Filed in Small Claims Court (Justice Court). No lawyer required below this amount.
Open the calculator →Security Deposits
10 days
Deadline for landlords to return a deposit or send an itemized deduction list after move-out.
What to do if it’s late →Eviction Notice
3 days
Minimum written notice a landlord typically must give before starting eviction proceedings.
Statute of Limitations
8 years
Time limit to sue over a breached written contract in Montana.
Employment
At-will, with limits
Montana is the only state that requires good cause for termination after a probationary period.
Check overtime pay owed →What Makes Montana Different
Montana is the only state that limits at-will firing after a probation period under its Wrongful Discharge Act.
Montana’s $7,000 small claims limit sits below the 50-state median of 7500 — so a larger dispute may need to go through regular civil court instead of small claims, where legal representation becomes more common.
On security deposits, Montana gives landlords 10 days to act — above the 50-state median of 30 days. That's a tighter window than most states, which works in tenants' favor: less time passes before you can act on a missed deadline. Once that window closes without an itemized deduction list, you have real leverage to demand the full amount back — see our Security Deposit Checker to see exactly where you stand.
For eviction, Montana generally requires 3 days’ written notice before a landlord can start formal proceedings — regardless of that number, only a court can order an actual eviction; a landlord changing your locks or removing belongings without a court order is illegal self-help eviction in every state, Montana included.
Free Tools & Guides for Montana
Every link below is a working tool or guide — not a placeholder.