Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 25. CIVIL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 3. SERVICE OF PROCESS AND OTHER PAPERS

Part 5. Alternative Methods of Service

Designating Unknown Persons As Defendants

25-3-504. Designating unknown persons as defendants. (1) In the situations listed in Rule 4(o)(1), M.R.Civ.P., persons whose names are unknown to plaintiff may be made parties defendant, either on the filing of the complaint, cross-complaint, or complaint in intervention, as the case may be, or at any time thereafter by amendment thereof, by the name and description of unknown owners, unknown heirs, or unknown devisees of any deceased person or by all of such designations.

(2) (a) When persons are made parties defendant by the designation of unknown owners, it shall not be necessary to add to such designation in the title of the action a description of the property involved, whether real, personal, or mixed, of which such persons are claimed or supposed to be unknown owners or claimants or parties in interest, but a description of the property involved shall be included in the body of the summons for publication in the action.

(b) When persons are made defendant by the style and description of unknown heirs or devisees, there shall be added to such designation of them the name of the deceased person of whom they shall be claimed or supposed to be the heirs or devisees.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 105, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1943; R.C.M. 1947, 93-2819; amd. Sec. 86, Ch. 575, L. 1981.