Montana is a:

Montana is not a lien theory state; in a lien theory state, the borrower retains full legal title throughout the mortgage period, and the lender holds only a lien (a security interest) against the property. States like Florida and New York follow lien theory, requiring judicial foreclosure proceedings that are significantly longer and more costly than the non-judicial process available in title theory states like Montana.

Montana does not follow the intermediate theory, which is a hybrid approach used in states like Georgia and North Carolina, where the borrower retains title but the lender can take possession upon default without a full judicial foreclosure. The intermediate theory represents a middle ground that Montana's statutes do not reflect.

'Hybrid state' is not a recognized legal classification in mortgage law, and Montana's statutory framework clearly places it within the title theory category. While some states have elements that blend theories in practice, Montana's use of deeds of trust and non-judicial foreclosure firmly aligns it with title theory.