Montana Dissolution Forms — Complete Guide (2026)
Montana District Court dissolution forms are available at: courts.mt.gov/Self_Help/Family_Law
Where to Get Montana Dissolution Forms
Montana Courts Self-Help: courts.mt.gov/Self_Help/Family_Law — official forms and step-by-step instructions.
District Court Clerk: In-person assistance; some counties provide local supplement forms.
Montana Legal Services Association: montanalegal.org — free legal help for qualifying individuals.
Core Forms — Agreed Dissolution
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Petition for Dissolution of Marriage | Filed by Petitioner (or jointly); alleges irretrievable breakdown |
| Summons | Served on Respondent (individual filing only) |
| Acceptance of Service | Respondent waives formal service (individual filing) |
| Separation Agreement | All property, debts, maintenance, and custody — filed with Petition |
| Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage | Judge's final order |
| If children: Parenting Plan | Required; comprehensive |
| If children: Child Support Worksheet | Montana Guidelines calculation |
Separation Agreement — What It Must Cover
Marital Real Property:
- Legal description; agreed FMV; mortgage balance; marital equity
- Assignment: who keeps (buyout; refinancing deadline; fallback; Quitclaim Deed → Montana County Clerk and Recorder) or sale (proceeds split; timeline)
Marital Financial Accounts:
- Institution, type, balance; assignment and transfer
Retirement Accounts:
- QDRO for employer plans (marital portion from date of marriage to date of separation)
- IRA: transfer incident to dissolution (Decree language; direct rollover)
- MPERA (Montana state employees): DRO submitted to MPERA (mpera.mt.gov) after Final Decree
Vehicles: Assignment; loan assumption; Montana DMV title transfer
Marital Debts: Creditor, balance, who assumes, indemnification language
Separate Property Acknowledgment: Each spouse's separate property listed; confirmed as remaining with that spouse
Maintenance: Award with amount, duration, payment mechanism, and termination events — or explicit waiver: "Each party waives any and all claims for maintenance, now and forever."
If Children:
- Legal custody and physical custody designations
- Comprehensive Parenting Plan
- Child support per Montana Child Support Guidelines
Montana Child Support Guidelines
Montana uses an income shares model (MCA § 40-5-209):
- Determine both parents' gross monthly income
- Apply standard deductions
- Use Montana Child Support Schedule
- Allocate proportionally between parents by income share
- Adjust for health insurance, childcare, and parenting time
Duration: Montana child support ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school (whichever is later, not to exceed age 19).
Forms and worksheets: courts.mt.gov/Self_Help/Family_Law
Maintenance — Montana Factors (MCA § 40-4-203)
Montana courts may award maintenance when one spouse lacks sufficient property and cannot support themselves. Factors:
- Financial resources of the spouse seeking maintenance
- Time needed to acquire education or training
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Duration of the marriage
- Age and physical/emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance
- Ability of the paying spouse to meet own needs while paying maintenance
No fixed formula. Entirely court discretion.
Last reviewed: March 2026 | courts.mt.gov/Self_Help/Family_Law | "Dissolution of Marriage" | "Irretrievable breakdown" — only ground | Separation Agreement filed with Petition | Equitable distribution (MCA § 40-4-202) | Maintenance: MCA § 40-4-203 | Child support: MCA § 40-5-209 | QDRO for employer plans | MPERA DRO | County Clerk and Recorder for deed recording
Written by the SoLongSoulmate.com Editorial Team
Researched using official state court websites, state statutes, and legal aid resources. All filing fees and procedures verified March 2026. This is general legal information — not legal advice.
Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.