North Dakota vs Wyoming: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in North Dakota and Wyoming — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: North Dakota vs Wyoming
| Metric | North Dakota | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $135 | $100 | ✓ Wyoming |
| Annual Report | $50 | $62 | ✓ North Dakota |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $135 | $100 | ✓ Wyoming |
Filing Fee
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Annual Report
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
North Dakota: North Dakota requires an annual report every year — don't miss the deadline.
Wyoming: Wyoming's $62 annual report scales with assets. Also: if you operate in another state, you MUST foreign-qualify there too.
North Dakota: Moderate fees and low business competition in many sectors.
Wyoming: No state income tax, no franchise tax, strong privacy laws, low fees — top choice for anonymous and multi-state LLCs.
Ready to Form Your LLC?
Let a trusted formation service handle the paperwork for your chosen state — starting at $39 + state fees.
Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: North Dakota vs Wyoming
| Metric | North Dakota | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $15,000 | $6,000 | ✓ North Dakota |
| Min Filing Fee | $35 | $25 | ✓ Wyoming |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 8 yrs | ✓ Wyoming |
Max Claim Limit
✓ North Dakota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Contract SOL
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: North Dakota vs Wyoming
| Metric | North Dakota | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $80 | $100 | ✓ 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 Wyoming
| Metric | North Dakota | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $0 |
| RON Fee | $5 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee