Where to file bankruptcy in Montana

The federal bankruptcy courts in Montana, how to pick yours, fees, required courses and the meeting of creditors.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

Montana has one bankruptcy court for the whole state. You file there if you lived (were domiciled) in Montana for most of the 180 days before filing.

Federal bankruptcy courts: 1
Courts: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana

Montana bankruptcy courts and divisions

Montana has one bankruptcy court for the whole state. You file there if you lived (were domiciled) in Montana for most of the 180 days before filing. The court's divisional map is at https://www.mtb.uscourts.gov/montana-divisional-map and its locations are at https://www.mtb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana

Divisions: One court for the whole state. Clerk's office in Butte; court locations also in Billings, Great Falls and Missoula.

Clerk's phone: (406) 497-1240; toll free (888) 888-2530

Court's self-help page

In nearby states

Wyoming: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming
Idaho: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Idaho
North Dakota: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of North Dakota

Steps to file in Montana

Check where you lived
Your district depends on where you lived most of the last 180 days.
Read your court's pages
Local forms and rules are on U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana.
Take credit counseling
Use an approved agency. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Prepare the forms
Get the official bankruptcy forms.
Ask for free help
Free help: Montana Legal Services Association (help line) and Montana Law Help (run by Montana Legal Services Association).

Where to get free help in Montana

Questions about filing in Montana

Which bankruptcy court do I use in Montana?

What income passes the means test in Montana?

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $71,310; 2 people: $91,452; 3 people: $103,285; 4 people: $121,698; Each extra person: +$11,100.

Who helps with bankruptcy for free in Montana?

Montana Legal Services Association (help line), Montana Law Help (run by Montana Legal Services Association) and Montana courts Court Help Program (walk-in legal information for people without a lawyer).

Related Montana pages

Filing fees

Chapter 7 filing fee. To file Chapter 7 you pay $338 to the court: a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee fee. A married couple filing one joint case pays one set of fees.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(a)(1)(A); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, items 8 and 9 (effective December 1, 2023)

Chapter 13 filing fee. To file Chapter 13 you pay $313 to the court: a $235 filing fee and a $78 administrative fee.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(a)(1)(B); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, item 8 (effective December 1, 2023)

Paying in installments. If you cannot pay the whole fee at once, you can ask to pay it in installments. File Official Form 103A with your petition. The court decides the plan: no more than 4 payments, all paid within 120 days after you file. For a good reason the court can give you more time, but the last payment must be made within 180 days. Until the fee is paid in full, you may not pay your lawyer or petition preparer.

Law: Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(b) (as amended Dec. 1, 2024)

Fee waiver. In Chapter 7 only, the court may waive the fee. You must have income below 150% of the official poverty line for your family size, and you must be unable to pay the fee even in installments. Ask by filing Official Form 103B with your petition. The judge decides.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(f)(1); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(c)

The 341 meeting

About a month after you file, you must attend the 'meeting of creditors' (341 meeting). The trustee asks you questions under oath about your property and debts. Creditors may come and ask questions. No judge attends. Chapter 7: 21 to 40 days after filing. Chapter 13: 21 to 50 days after filing. Bring photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. If you file jointly, both spouses must attend.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 341, 343; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2003(a), 4002(b)(1)

Two required courses

Credit counseling before you file. Before you file, you must take a credit counseling course (a 'briefing') from an agency approved by the U.S. Trustee Program. You must take it within 180 days before you file. It can be in person, by phone or online, alone or in a group. Keep the certificate: you file it with your case. If you skip it, your case can be dismissed.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 109(h), 111

Debtor education after you file. After you file, you must take a second, separate course on personal financial management (debtor education) from an approved provider. In most cases you get no discharge without it. Chapter 7: file the certificate within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. Chapter 13: by the date of your last plan payment. Some providers send the certificate to the court for you.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 727(a)(11), 1328(g); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007(b)(7), 1007(c)(4)

Where to file bankruptcy in Montana

Short answer

Montana bankruptcy courts and divisions

In nearby states

Steps to file in Montana

Check where you lived

Read your court's pages

Take credit counseling

Prepare the forms

Ask for free help

Where to get free help in Montana

Questions about filing in Montana

Related Montana pages