Montana lesson 3 of 6
File the Articles of Organization through ePass Montana
The document that creates a Montana LLC is the Articles of Organization, filed online through ePass Montana for a $35 state fee. You will need to create an ePass account before you can submit the filing.
What the filing asks for
The Articles of Organization cover the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office address, and whether it will be member-managed or manager-managed. A general purpose statement is normally sufficient without listing every planned activity.
- Members and managers are not required to be listed individually on the Articles
- The organizer filing the document does not need to be an owner of the LLC
- A series LLC adds $50 for each series member named in the filing, on top of the base $35 fee
Filing route and turnaround
ePass Montana is the only route for a standard LLC filing; Montana does not maintain a routine paper-filing track for this document. Check the Secretary of State's current processing time and any expedited service options on the fee schedule before you file, since turnaround can vary with filing volume.
After approval
Keep your confirmation and entity identification number, since the Department of Revenue and your bank will both reference it. Montana does not require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but adopting one internally is what actually governs ownership, voting and distributions rather than relying on the default rules in the Montana Limited Liability Company Act.
Key takeaways
- The Articles of Organization costs $35 and is filed only through ePass Montana.
- A series LLC adds $50 per named series member to the base fee.
- An operating agreement is not filed with the state but is worth adopting internally.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Montana to form a Montana LLC?
No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the registered agent must have a physical Montana street address.
Can I file Montana's Articles of Organization on paper?
No. Montana processes standard LLC formation filings through the ePass Montana online portal rather than accepting routine paper submissions.
Official sources
Or let us file your Montana LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team