If a landlord in Billings, Missoula, or Bozeman just handed you a notice, or a $6,000 dispute is keeping you up at night, you don't have weeks to figure out Montana law. Under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a 3-day pay-or-quit notice means three days. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any time of day or night, and an AI legal assistant trained on Montana and federal law will walk you through exactly where you stand and what to do next, in plain English. It's information, not advice, and there's no income test and no web form.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Montana.
Do not move out and do not ignore the paperwork. First, read the notice and find the exact deadline: a 3-day notice for unpaid rent (MCA 70-24-422), a 14-day notice for most other lease violations, or a 30-day notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (MCA 70-24-441). If your landlord later files an eviction (a forcible entry and detainer action) in Justice or District Court and you are served a summons, you have only 10 days to file a written answer or you lose by default. Self-help lockouts and shutting off your utilities are illegal in Montana. Before that 3-day or 10-day clock runs out, call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on your options.
Montana's eviction process is built for speed. Once your landlord files a forcible entry and detainer action and you're served, the law gives you just 10 days to file a written answer with the court. Miss it and the landlord gets a default judgment — no hearing, no chance to explain the broken furnace or the rent you already paid. If you do answer, the trial is set within 14 days (or just 5 days if illegal activity is alleged). Many Montanans assume an eviction takes months, the way it might elsewhere; here, silence for a week and a half can cost you your home. Knowing that one deadline can change everything. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, day or night, to find out exactly how many days you have left.
Montana has strong free and low-cost help for civil and housing problems. These are real organizations with working links — use them alongside the free call.
I got a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit in Montana. What does that actually mean?
Under MCA 70-24-422, you have three calendar days — weekends included — to either pay the full rent owed or move out. If you do neither, your landlord can file an eviction (FED) action in Justice or District Court. You can't be physically removed without a court order, but the clock is real and short. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand your options before day three.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Montana?
Once you're served with an eviction summons, you have just 10 days to file a written answer with the court. Miss that deadline and the landlord gets a default judgment without a hearing. If you do answer, a trial is set within 14 days — or within 5 days if the eviction alleges illegal activity. Don't guess at the date; call 1-844-690-0555 free to confirm exactly how long you have.
Can my Montana landlord just change the locks or shut off my power?
No. Self-help eviction — locking you out, removing your belongings, or cutting off utilities to force you out — is illegal in Montana. Only a court can order you removed, after a forcible entry and detainer case. If your landlord has done this, you may have a claim against them. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for information on what to do.
My landlord won't return my security deposit. What are my rights?
Under MCA 70-25-202, your landlord must give you a written, itemized list of any deductions within 30 days of the tenancy ending — or return the deposit within 10 days if nothing is owed. If they wrongfully keep it, you can recover the amount withheld plus an equal amount as a penalty. A $1,000 deposit kept wrongfully can mean $2,000 owed to you. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to learn how to pursue it.
What's the most I can sue for in Montana small claims court?
Montana's Small Claims docket handles money claims up to $7,000 (MCA 25-35-502). It's designed for people to use without a lawyer — in fact, no party can be represented by an attorney unless all parties are. If you want a lawyer or a jury, the case can be moved to the regular Justice Court civil docket, which goes up to $15,000. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to figure out which fits your dispute.
My landlord won't fix the heat or water. Can I withhold rent in Montana?
Montana doesn't let you simply stop paying. Under MCA 70-24-303 and 70-24-406, you must give written notice of the problem; your landlord then generally has 3 working days for an emergency loss of an essential service, or 14 days for ordinary repairs. Only then do remedies like repair-and-deduct, rent abatement, or substitute housing open up. The notice has to be done right. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to get it straight.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Montana?
Generally 3 years from the date of injury under MCA 27-2-204 — but if your claim is only for damaged property, it's just 2 years (MCA 27-2-207). Waiting too long can permanently bar your case, no matter how strong it is. Because Montana also reduces your recovery by your share of fault, the details matter. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand your deadline.
If I was partly at fault for my injury, can I still recover in Montana?
Possibly. Montana uses a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar (MCA 27-1-702). If you're 50% or less at fault, you can still recover, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. At 51% or more, you recover nothing. So whether you're found 49% or 51% at fault can change everything. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for information on how this applies to you.
A Montana business cheated me. What can I do?
The Montana Consumer Protection Act (Title 30, Chapter 14) bans unfair and deceptive business practices. You can complain to the DOJ Office of Consumer Protection (406-444-4500) and, under MCA 30-14-133, sue to recover the greater of your actual loss or $500 — and in serious cases up to three times your damages plus attorney fees. These private claims generally must be brought within 2 years. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to weigh your options.
Is Legal Hotline a law firm or a free lawyer?
No. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender. The free call gives you legal information, not legal advice, and creates no attorney-client relationship. It's a fast way to understand Montana law and your options. If you decide you need a lawyer, we can help you arrange a paid consultation with a Montana-licensed attorney — a separate, optional step. Call 1-844-690-0555 to start.
Does it cost anything to call, and what languages do you support?
The call to 1-844-690-0555 is free and available 24/7 — no income test and no web form. The AI assistant can help in plain English and other languages, including Spanish where relevant. You get clear legal information about your Montana civil or housing matter whenever you need it, day or night.
I live on a reservation or my dispute touches tribal land. Does this still apply?
It can get more complicated. Montana has 7 reservations and 12 tribal nations, and tribal courts may have jurisdiction over matters in Indian Country, which can differ from state-court rules. It's important to identify the right court early. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for information, and we can point you toward the right resources, including the Montana Indian Law Portal.
We connect Montanans facing evictions, deposit disputes, injuries, and consumer problems with licensed local attorneys. If you practice Civil & Housing law in Montana and want to receive matched, ready-to-consult clients, you can join our referral network. Reach out to learn how it works — our priority is getting callers the right help, and that includes you.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
A 3-day notice, a 10-day answer window, a 2-year clock on a property claim — in Montana, the difference between keeping your home or your money and losing it often comes down to a single date. Call 1-844-690-0555 now, free and 24/7, and get clear legal information about exactly where you stand and what to do next. It's information, not advice, and it creates no attorney-client relationship — but it could be the most useful call you make today.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.