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Small claims in Silver Bow County covers money disputes up to $7,000 and runs on simplified procedures, and no attorneys at the hearing.
This page sets out the ceiling on claims, what the court charges, the courthouse that covers Silver Bow County, how notice reaches the other party, the time limits, and the filing steps. Squabble can prepare and lodge the paperwork when you decide to go ahead.
Small claims in Silver Bow County are heard at the courthouse below. When you file, the court confirms the right location for your case based on where the defendant lives or where your dispute happened.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Confirm the courthouse before you file. The court's own small-claims page carries its current filing location and hours, and Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
The nearest counties to Silver Bow County are Deer Lodge County and Jefferson County. Small claims filings from Silver Bow County are handled at Butte-Silver Bow City-County Government in Butte.
Filings here are on paper, brought to the counter or posted. Squabble assembles the packet so it is complete when it arrives.
The small claims list is heard in person, at the courthouse itself.
Bring copies of your evidence for the judge and the other side; some courts also accept electronic submission ahead of the hearing.
Residents of Silver Bow County, Montana, a county of about 36,134 people, can bring small claims cases through the Montana Small Claims Court, which handles disputes up to $7,000. The county seat and government offices are located at the Butte-Silver Bow City-County Government in Butte, at 155 W Granite St, 59701, which can be reached at (406) 497-6200 or online at http://www.co.silverbow.mt.us/. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday. The county includes the communities of Butte, Divide, Melrose, and Ramsay, and covers ZIP codes such as 59701, 59703, 59727, 59743, 59748, and 59750. Silver Bow County lies near Deer Lodge County, Jefferson County, and Granite County. Electronic filing is not available in this county, so filings are handled in person during the hours listed above. The court system processes claims that fall within the 7000 dollar limit set for small claims matters in Montana.
These 4 places sit inside Silver Bow County:
Butte, Divide, Melrose, Ramsay.
ZIP codes:
Silver Bow County is the 8th most populous of Montana's 56 counties, with about 36,134 residents. Butte-Silver Bow City-County Government, in Butte, is about 13 miles from the Jefferson County courthouse in Boulder.
If the other side lives just over the county line, the case may belong next door:
Small claims handles money owed between ordinary people and businesses. Procedure is kept light, no attorneys at the hearing, and claims are capped.
Maximum claim
Filing is generally possible in the county of the events or the county of the defendant.
A single argument stays a single case; it cannot be carved up to fit the limit.
The court decides who pays whom and how much. Anything beyond money goes to a higher court.
Neither side is represented by a lawyer at the hearing. You can consult one before or after.
Where a party is under 18, the court appoints a guardian to act.
Over the limit? Either bring the figure down to the maximum and remain in small claims, or file the whole amount in the regular civil court. The amount given up is usually gone for good.
They are the same across all 8 Silver Bow County ZIP codes, from 59701 onward. These are the limits for Silver Bow County, population about 36,134.
If someone owes you money, up to $7,000, small claims is built for it. These are the disputes residents bring most often.
Silver Bow County takes in Butte, Divide and Melrose and the rest of the county. Silver Bow County has about 36,134 residents.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Complete the claim form, choose the right court, and pay the filing fee.
Papers are delivered to the defendant, who may answer them or settle the matter first.
The hearing itself is short and informal. Some courts allow video. The ruling comes then or later in writing.
Everything below applies to a case filed in Silver Bow County, at the Butte courthouse. Butte-Silver Bow City-County Government lists (406) 497-6200 as its number.
After you file, the other party must be formally notified. This is called service of process. You generally cannot serve the papers yourself. The usual route in Montana is the sheriff or constable, email service where the court allows it, delivery arranged by the court or certified mail.
Who may serve depends on the court: law enforcement, a paid process server, the clerk by certified mail, or a disinterested adult. Costs and rules are local.
Every court fixes a minimum number of days between service and the hearing. The clerk will tell you what it is for your case.
A completed proof of service records who delivered the papers and when, and it is filed with the court beforehand.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
A Silver Bow County address carries one of its 8 ZIP codes, 59701, 59702 and 59703 among them. Deer Lodge County and Jefferson County are the counties nearest to Silver Bow County.
The right to bring a claim expires. The period is measured from the moment the dispute arose, and once it has run the court can refuse the case.
| Type of claim | Time limit to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral contract | 5 years |
| Property damage | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 3 years |
Silver Bow County, population about 36,134, is covered by the table above. The same periods apply in Silver Bow County as in nearby Deer Lodge County and Jefferson County, which are in the same state.
Money owed under a contract in Montana generally accrues interest at 10% per year before judgment (Mont. Code §27-1-211, §31-1-106).
A running total including interest can be worked out with the Squabble interest calculator.
The rate above is the one for Silver Bow County, population about 36,134. It is the same rate across all 8 Silver Bow County ZIP codes.
Check that the amount is within the limit and that you're inside the statute of limitations for your claim type.
Get the defendant's legal name right, set out the events, and break down how the figure is reached.
File with the Silver Bow County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $20–$30 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
Arrange service once your hearing date is set and file the proof of service with the court.
Sort the documents and exhibits in advance so they can be handed up in order.
Turn up on the day, in person or remotely where offered, present what happened, and take the decision.
Describe the dispute to Eleanor. Squabble drafts the paperwork, puts it through a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and lodges it with the court.
Start for FREE →You will meet a claim form, a proof of service, and possibly a fee waiver. What each is called depends on the court, and Squabble matches them to your courthouse.
Butte, Divide and Melrose are among the places in Silver Bow County that filings come from. Silver Bow County takes in filings from 8 ZIP codes, 59701 first in the list.
Expect a short, informal hearing with no attorneys present. The judge asks the questions.
Silver Bow County has about 36,134 residents. Butte, Divide and Melrose are among the Silver Bow County places a hearing can draw parties from.
A judgment is the court's decision. Collecting it is a separate step, with court-backed tools if the other side doesn't pay. Which tools are available depends on state law.
Wage garnishment, where the state permits it, sends part of the debtor's pay toward the judgment.
Money in the debtor's bank account can be seized under a levy the court orders.
Registering the judgment at county level can fix a lien on real estate the debtor holds.
You can also ask the court to order the debtor to appear and disclose income and assets under oath. An unpaid judgment generally keeps accruing interest at the rate state law sets until it's satisfied.
The judgment in a Silver Bow County case comes from Butte-Silver Bow City-County Government in Butte. Butte, Divide and Melrose are among the Silver Bow County places a judgment debtor may live in.
Information reviewed August 2026. Courts change fees, limits and procedures, so check the current details before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Silver Bow County case for you.
