How long does an eviction take in Montana?
For unpaid rent, expect about 3 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 1.5 to 7.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Montana actually earn?
We'll prefill Montana's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,177/mo
- Property tax 0.68%–0.69%
- Insurance $823–$1,223/yr
- Vacancy 4.3%–4.9%
The Montana eviction timeline
Each step comes from Montana's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 3 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
3 days3 days to pay or move (Mont. Code § 70-24-422(2))
- 2
File and get a judgment
7–21 days · typical 145 business days after service to answer; hearing within 10 business days of the answer
- 3
Judgment to lockout
1–7 daysWrit issues immediately; sheriff executes within 5 business days of receipt
- 4
If the tenant appeals
30-day window30 days to appeal a justice or city court judgment to district court (MCA 25-33-102)
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Montana
We couldn't verify Montana's court fees yet, so the calculator uses the national default range, labeled Unverified below. Check with your county court for the actual amounts.
Court filing fee
Unverified · national default$55–$171No official amount verified for Montana yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Montana yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Montana yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,177/moMontana median gross rent, ±$42. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Montana scores 90 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Montana eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Montana?
A nonpayment eviction in Montana typically takes about 3 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 1.5 to 7.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Montana?
3 days to pay or move (Mont. Code § 70-24-422(2)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Montana by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Montana?
We have not verified Montana's eviction filing fee yet. Fees are set by court and county, so check with the local clerk. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Montana?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Montana costs a landlord roughly $1,500 to $2,700: about 3 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,177/month (about $800), court and service fees of about $160-$428 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 7.5 weeks can pass $4,500. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Montana landlord-friendly for evictions?
Montana scores 90 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 45.8/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Montana: filing fee, service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcemca.legmt.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcemca.legmt.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcemca.legmt.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcemca.legmt.gov ↗
- Filing feeunverifiednone found
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcemca.legmt.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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