Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 28. CONTRACTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

CHAPTER 2. CONTRACTS

Part 9. Written Contracts

What Contracts Must Be In Writing

28-2-903. What contracts must be in writing. (1) The following agreements are invalid unless the agreement or some note or memorandum of the agreement is in writing and subscribed by the party to be charged or the party's agent:

(a) an agreement that by its terms is not to be performed within a year from the making of the agreement;

(b) a special promise to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another, except in the cases provided for in 28-11-105;

(c) an agreement made upon consideration of marriage other than a mutual promise to marry;

(d) an agreement for the leasing for a longer period than 1 year or for the sale of real property or of an interest in real property. The agreement, if made by an agent of the party sought to be charged, is invalid unless the authority of the agent is in writing and subscribed by the party sought to be charged.

(e) an agreement authorizing or employing an agent or broker to purchase or sell real estate for compensation or a commission.

(2) Evidence of an agreement described in subsections (1)(a) through (1)(d) is not admissible without the writing or secondary evidence of the writing's contents.

(3) Evidence is not admissible to charge a person upon a representation as to the credit of a third person unless the representation or some memorandum of the representation is in writing and either subscribed by or in the handwriting of the party to be charged.

(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to agreements subject to the Uniform Commercial Code.

History: (1)Subds. a to c; en. Secs. 12 to 14, p. 494, Bannack Stat.; re-en. Secs. 12 to 14, pp. 393, 394, Cod. Stat. 1871; re-en. Secs. 166 to 168, 5th Div. Rev. Stat. 1879; re-en. Secs. 223 to 225, 5th Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; amd. Sec. 2185, Civ. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 5017, Rev. C. 1907; Subd. d; en. Sec. 8., p. 493, Bannack Stat.; re-en. Sec. 8, p. 393, Cod. Stat. 1871; re-en. Sec. 162, 5th Div. Rev. Stat. 1879; re-en. Sec. 219, 5th Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; amd. Sec. 2185, Civ. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 5017, Rev. C. 1907; Subd. e; en. Sec. 2185, Civ. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 5017, Rev. C. 1907; all subdivisions re-en. Sec. 7519, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Civ. C. Sec. 1624; re-en. Sec. 7519, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 11-110, Ch. 264, L. 1963; Sec. 13-606, R.C.M. 1947; (2), (4)En. Sec. 3276, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 7969, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 10613, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 1973; re-en. Sec. 10613, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 11-171, Ch. 264, L. 1963; Sec. 93-1401-7, R.C.M. 1947; (3)En. Sec. 3277, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 7970, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 10614, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 1974; re-en. Sec. 10614, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-1401-8, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 13-606, 93-1401-7, 93-1401-8; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 117, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 786, Ch. 56, L. 2009.