How long you have in Montana
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Agreement | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Unpaid Loan | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Contractor Dispute | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Auto Repair | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Security Deposit | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Other | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Unpaid Invoice | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Unpaid Loan | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Contractor Dispute | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Auto Repair | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Security Deposit | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Other | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) |
| Property Damage | Either | 2 years | the day the damage happened | MCA 27-2-207(1) |
| Sale of Goods | Either | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | MCA 30-2-725(1) |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 6 years runs out on 2032-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about Montana
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Montana?
- The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under MCA 27-2-207(1). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in Montana?
- 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under MCA 27-2-207(1).
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Montana?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under MCA 30-2-725(1).
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Montana?
- An individual can claim up to $7,000. A business can claim up to $7,000. A public agency can claim up to $7,000. That comes from MCA 25-35-502(1).
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Montana's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2025-10-01.
- MCA 27-2-202(1), (2) · effective 2025-10-01 · A claim based on a written agreement must be filed within six years of when it was broken. A claim based on a spoken agreement or an unpaid account must be filed within five years.
- MCA 27-2-207(1) · effective 1975-07-01 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within two years of the damage.
- MCA 30-2-725(1) · effective 1963-07-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.