Montana Justice and City Court Rules of Civil Procedure – 2026
A separate, simplified civil set for the courts of limited jurisdiction, at MCA Title 25, chapter 23. District court practice runs on the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure; justice and city courts run on these instead, and using the wrong set is a common newcomer error. Civil jurisdiction in those courts is capped at $15,000.
Browse all 24 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.
Part 1. Rules
Rule 1
Scope of rules
Rule 2
Commencement of action
Rule 3
Place of trial or venue
Rule 4
Persons -- jurisdiction -- process -- service
Rule 5
Service and filing of pleadings and other papers, excluding summons
Rule 6
Time
Rule 7
Pleadings allowed
Rule 8
Amendment of pleadings
Rule 9
Motions and other papers
Rule 10
Naming of parties to action
Rule 11
Substitution of parties
Rule 12
Joinder of claims and parties necessary for just adjudication
Rule 13
Discovery
Rule 14
Pretrial conferences
Rule 15
Right to jury trial
Rule 16
Failure to appear or proceed
Rule 17
Costs
Rule 18
Jury
Rule 19
Order of trial
Rule 20
Notice of trial
Rule 21
Entry of judgment
Rule 22
Relief from judgment
Rule 23
Execution
Rule 24
Appeal to district court