Montana Family Court Forms and Filing Resources

FamilyCourtHelp is an independent educational platform. It is not a court, law firm, government agency, or government partner. We organize and link to publicly available resources published by courts and government agencies. Official requirements may change. Always confirm current requirements with the applicable court or clerk.

Montana publishes its own official family law forms, filing instructions, and self-help materials, but they are spread across several government sites. This page organizes the official Montana sources in one place so you can go straight to the right court page for forms, e-filing, rules, and locations.

Montana's core family statutes live in the Montana Code Title 40 - Family Law. Check with your local clerk of court for how they want documents from people without a lawyer, since some accept email.

How the Montana court system handles family cases

Family cases in Montana are heard in the District Court. Montana's District Court hears all divorce and custody cases.

Montana's 56 counties are grouped into judicial districts.

Montana's highest court is the Montana Supreme Court. Montana has no middle appeals court - appeals go straight to the Supreme Court.

Besides the judge, a Magistrate / Commissioner may handle parts of a family case. Besides the judge, a magistrate, commissioner, or referee may hear temporary orders, child support, and uncontested matters - usually subject to a judge's review.

Official Montana resources

Official links below open in a new tab. You are leaving FamilyCourtHelp and opening an external government or court website.

Montana state courts website (Montana judicial branch): The official home of the Montana court system, with statewide news, rules, and links to every court. https://courts.mt.gov

Montana family law forms (Montana judicial branch): The official statewide collection of family law forms published for Montana cases. Start here when you need the current version of a form. https://courts.mt.gov/forms

Montana self-help resources (Montana courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Montana family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.montanalawhelp.org

Montana Courts Electronic Filing (Tyler Technologies): Montana's e-filing system keeps adding courts, but it is attorney-only. The courts say plainly that e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants right now, so you file family court papers on paper or by mail with your clerk of district court. https://mtefile.courts.mt.gov/login

Montana Court Locator (by county or city) (Montana judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your county, with locations and contact details. https://courts.mt.gov/court-locator

Montana rules of procedure (Montana judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in Montana. https://courts.mt.gov/supreme/rules

Montana mediation and dispute resolution (Montana judicial branch): Official information on mediation and alternative dispute resolution options for Montana family cases. https://courts.mt.gov/mediation

Montana financial affidavit and disclosure forms (courts.mt.gov): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most Montana family cases ask for. https://courts.mt.gov/forms

Montana child support guideline resources (courts.mt.gov): Official Montana child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://dphhs.mt.gov/csed/financialforms

Montana District Court Public Access Portal (Montana courts): Look up existing case records. Access is listed as free and the system is organized county-by-county. https://dcportal.pubcourts.mt.gov/

Frequently used official Montana forms

These links open official Montana government form documents directly. Courts revise forms, so if a direct link stops working, use the statewide forms collection above to find the current version.

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage With Children (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/forms/dissolution/dissolution-child-packet.pdf

Child Support Affidavit (Child Support), official document: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/cssd/financialaffidavit.pdf

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage Without Children (packet) (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/end_marriage/dis_wc/all.pdf

Answer to Petition for Parenting Plan (packet) (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/forms/parentplan/ppresponse-packet.pdf

Joint Petition for Parenting Plan (packet) (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/forms/parentplan/joint-pp.pdf

Amending a Parenting Plan When Parents Disagree (Modification), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/pp_packet/pp_mod_contested.pdf

Amending a Parenting Plan When Both Parents Agree (Modification), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/pp_packet/agreed_amended_pp.pdf

Petition for Contempt to Enforce a Parenting Plan (Contempt / Enforcement), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/pp_packet/enforcing_pp2.pdf

Name Change Packet, Minor Child (Name Change), official document: https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/name_chg/child_name_change.pdf

Filing fees: Dissolution filing fee: ~$170.

E-filing link data for Montana was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find official Montana family court forms?

The official statewide source is the Montana judicial branch forms collection linked on this page. Always download forms from the official site so you have the current version, and check whether your county adds local forms or cover sheets.

Can I e-file my own family case in Montana?

Montana's e-filing system keeps adding courts, but it is attorney-only. The courts say plainly that e-filing is not available to self-represented litigants right now, so you file family court papers on paper or by mail with your clerk of district court. Check with your local clerk of court for how they want documents from people without a lawyer, since some accept email.

How much does it cost to file a family case in Montana?

Dissolution filing fee: ~$170. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.

Which court hears family cases in Montana?

Family cases in Montana are heard in the District Court. Montana's District Court hears all divorce and custody cases.