Montana Divorce with Children
Everything you need to know about divorce with children in Montana — custody types, child support guidelines, parenting plans, and protecting your children through the process. Updated for 2026.
Types of Custody in Montana
Legal Custody
The right to make major decisions about your child's education, healthcare, religion, and welfare.
Physical Custody
Determines where the child lives on a day-to-day basis and the parenting time schedule.
"Best Interests of the Child" Factors
Montana courts consider multiple factors when determining custody arrangements:
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Divorce.ai helps you build a comprehensive parenting plan that meets Montana court requirements.
Child Support in Montana
Montana uses a variant of the income shares model (sometimes referred to as the Melson Formula approach) under ARM 37.62.101 et seq. Both parents' incomes are considered, along with parenting time and the number of children. The guidelines incorporate a self-support reserve for each parent and provide adjustments for long-distance parenting, health insurance, and childcare costs.
Official Montana child support calculator →Factors Considered
Additional Forms Required (Children)
| Form | Name |
|---|---|
| MP-113 | Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (With Children) |
| Parenting Plan | Proposed Parenting Plan |
| Child Support Guidelines Affidavit | Child Support Guidelines Financial Affidavit |
Protect your children through the process
Divorce.ai helps you create a child-focused parenting plan and prepares all custody-related Montana forms.
What Goes in a Parenting Plan?
A comprehensive parenting plan should cover:
Regular Parenting Schedule
Week-by-week schedule of where the child lives and when transitions occur.
Holiday & Vacation Schedule
How holidays, school breaks, and vacation time are divided between parents.
Decision-Making Authority
Who makes decisions about education, healthcare, extracurriculars, and religious upbringing.
Communication Rules
How the child communicates with the non-custodial parent (phone, video calls, etc.).
Transportation & Exchange
Who handles pickups/dropoffs and where exchanges occur.
Dispute Resolution
How disagreements about the parenting plan will be resolved (mediation first, then court).
Relocation Rules
Notice requirements and procedure if either parent wants to move.
Tips for Protecting Your Children During Divorce
Never speak negatively about the other parent in front of your children. It puts them in the middle and can harm your custody case.
Maintain routines. Keep school, activities, and daily routines as consistent as possible during the transition.
Communicate openly with your children in age-appropriate ways. Let them know the divorce is not their fault.
Consider counseling. A child therapist can help children process their emotions during this time.