Which Montana court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Justice Court / City Court: Small Claims | Up to $7,000 | Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502 |
| Limited civil | Justice Court | Up to $15,000 | Mont. Code Ann. § 3-10-301 |
| General civil | District Court Over $15,000. | No limit | Mont. Const. art. VII |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 21 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (M. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
18 Montana forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Montana practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Complaint(pattern) M. R. Civ. P. 3, 8: District Court; Justice Court to $15,000 (MCA 3-10-301): initiating pleading
- SummonsM. R. Civ. P. 4 / 12(a)(1): 21-day answer
- Civil Cover SheetMontana District Court: required at filing
- Return of ServiceM. R. Civ. P. 4(p): proof of service
- Affidavit of Inability to Pay Filing FeesMont. Code Ann. § 25-10-404: fee waiver
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalM. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1): voluntary dismissal
- Request for Entry of Default and Motion for Default JudgmentM. R. Civ. P. 55: two-stage default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentM. R. Civ. P. 55(b): 10% interest (§ 25-9-205)
- Writ of Execution with Garnishment (Earnings)Mont. Code Ann. Title 25, ch. 13: 25% / 30x fed min wage (§ 25-13-614)
- Writ of Execution (Financial Institution)Mont. Code Ann. Title 25, ch. 13: § 25-13-608 exemptions
- Examination of Judgment DebtorMont. Code Ann. § 25-14-101: post-judgment asset discovery
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Montana matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Complaint · Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint · Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Request for Entry of Default and Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Writ of Execution with Garnishment (Earnings) · Writ of Execution (Financial Institution) · Examination of Judgment Debtor
Fee Waiver
Affidavit of Inability to Pay Filing Fees
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Montana county are in the 1Court Directory: Montana.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.