North Dakota vs South Dakota: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in North Dakota and South Dakota — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: North Dakota vs South Dakota
| Metric | North Dakota | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $135 | $150 | ✓ North Dakota |
| Annual Report | $50 | $50 | Tie |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $135 | $150 | ✓ North Dakota |
Filing Fee
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
Annual Report
It's a tie
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
North Dakota: North Dakota requires an annual report every year — don't miss the deadline.
South Dakota: South Dakota's foreign qualification fee ($750) is one of the highest in the US — 5× the domestic fee.
North Dakota: Moderate fees and low business competition in many sectors.
South Dakota: No state income tax and no personal income tax.
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Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: North Dakota vs South Dakota
| Metric | North Dakota | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $15,000 | $12,000 | ✓ North Dakota |
| Min Filing Fee | $35 | $40 | ✓ North Dakota |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: North Dakota vs South Dakota
| Metric | North Dakota | South Dakota | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $80 | $95 | ✓ North Dakota |
| Sheriff Service | $30 | $30 | Tie |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
It's a tie
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: North Dakota vs South Dakota
| Metric | North Dakota | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $10 |
| RON Fee | $5 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee