Big Horn County, Montana: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $7,000 (Justice Court / City Court small claims only). Court: Big Horn County Justice Court - Small Claims Division.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$7,000 (Justice Court / City Court small claims only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Montana	8 years.
State deposit return deadline	10 calendar days after termination / inspection path with no charges. after inspection there are no damages, no cleaning required, no unpaid rent, and tenant demonstrates no unpaid utilities. 30 calendar days after subsequent to the termination of a tenancy or subsequent to surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever occurs first. ordinary path when deductions or itemized list of rent/damage/cleaning charges apply.
Penalty formula	failure to provide the required written list of damage and cleaning charges: landlord forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the security deposit for damages or cleaning charges (MCA 70-25-203). Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to 70-25-206 (esp. §§ 70-25-202, 70-25-203)

Where to file

Big Horn County Justice Court - Small Claims Division

Courthouse city: Hardin

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

State court directory

Court page checked 2026-09-20

See how to file in Montana for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Big Horn County

County median gross rent: $686 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$423
1 bedroom	$572
2 bedrooms	$734
3 bedrooms	$802
4 bedrooms	$608

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $734; two months is $1,468. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $734.

State legal maximum deposit in Montana: No statutory cap in MCA Chapter 70-25.

Total households in Big Horn County: 3,691.

Renter households: 1,172 (31.8% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 25%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Big Horn County, $734 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $7,000 (Justice Court / City Court small claims only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Hardin
Lodge Grass

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Statewide help

Montana Legal Services Association
Free civil legal help for low-income Montanans, including rental repairs, deposits and evictions. At access, reduced staffing limits returned voicemails from new applicants to domestic-violence matters and evictions involving public housing or Section 8; the site says normal staffing resumes October 5.
Phone: (800) 666-6899

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Montana security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Montana: 8 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Montana law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Montana letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Montana small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free Montana template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Montana law (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to 70-25-206), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [10 calendar days / 30 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Big Horn County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Montana: 8 years.

Where do I file?

Big Horn County Justice Court - Small Claims Division. Courthouse city: Hardin. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.