Montana Code Annotated 2005

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     Rule 20. Filing and service.
     (a) Filing. Papers required or permitted to be filed must be placed in the custody of the clerk within the time fixed for filing. Filing may be accomplished by mail addressed to the clerk, but filing shall not be timely unless the papers are actually received within the time fixed for filing. If a motion requests relief which may be granted by a single judge, the judge may permit the motion to be filed with the judge, in which event the judge shall note thereon the dates of filing and shall thereafter transmit it to the clerk. Procedural motions may be filed by facsimile or other electronic means, provided the original document must be filed with the clerk within five business days of the receipt of the facsimile copy or the filing will be treated as void.
     (b) Service of all papers required. Copies of all papers, including any transcript, filed by any party and not required by these rules to be served by the clerk shall, at or before the time of filing, be served by the party or person acting for such party on all other parties to the appeal or review. Service on a party represented by counsel shall be made on counsel. In criminal cases appealed by the defendant and in appeals relating to termination of parental rights and abused, dependent, or neglected children cases, all transcripts, briefs, motions, and other papers shall be served on both the county attorney and the attorney general.
     (c) Manner of service. Service may be personal or by mail. Personal service includes delivery of the copy to a clerk or other responsible person at the office of counsel. Service by mail is complete on mailing.
     (d) Proof of service. Papers presented for filing shall contain acknowledgment of service by the person served or proof of service in the form of a statement of the date and manner of service and of the names of the persons served, certified by the person who made service. Proof of service may appear on or be affixed to the papers filed. The clerk may permit papers to be filed without acknowledgment of proof of service but shall require such to be filed promptly thereafter.
     (e) Number of copies to be filed. A signed original and seven copies of all motions (other than motions for extension of time), petitions for rehearing, and the answers or responses thereto, shall be filed with the clerk of the supreme court unless otherwise ordered by the court. The original only of motions for extension of time shall be filed. The number of copies of transcripts shall be in accordance with Rule 10(a) and the number of copies of briefs shall be in accordance with Rule 26(b).

     History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. 11020, Dec. 10, 1965, eff. Jan. 1, 1966; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. June 16, 1986, eff. Jan. 19, 1987; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Sept. 1, 1988, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. May 1, 1990, eff. May 1, 1990; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Mar. 26, 1993; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Nov. 22, 1994, eff. Feb. 1, 1995; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord., eff. June 23, 1997; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Nov. 9, 2000, eff. Jan. 1, 2001.

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