Montana divorce at a glance
Confirm with your county before filing — fees and rules can vary.
Montana divorce: the 21-day rule
Montana’s timeline is the reason couples here move fast. You need 90 days of domicile in the state — or military orders to a Montana base — before filing, and once your spouse is served the waiting period is only 21 days under MCA § 40-4-105. An uncontested case typically clears the court in about a month and a half, one of the quickest routes in the country.
The ground is a single one: the marriage is irretrievably broken, filed as a Petition for Dissolution in the District Court of your county. Where Montana gets particular is parenting — a written parenting plan covering both parenting time and decision-making is mandatory when children are involved, under MCA § 40-4-212, and the court reviews it before approving the decree.
Property is split equitably rather than by formula, and maintenance is decided case by case under MCA § 40-4-203 with no guarantee attached. Child support follows the Montana Child Support Guidelines of § 40-4-204. The dissolution packet comes from Montana Courts, and the filing fee is $170.