Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 27. CIVIL LIABILITY, REMEDIES, AND LIMITATIONS

CHAPTER 2. STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS

Part 2. Time Limits on Specific Kinds of Actions

Actions To Enforce Penalty Or Forfeiture Or Other Statutory Liability

27-2-211. Actions to enforce penalty or forfeiture or other statutory liability. (1) Within 2 years is the period prescribed for the commencement of an action upon:

(a) a statute for a penalty or forfeiture when the action is given to an individual or to an individual and the state, except when the statute imposing it prescribes a different limitation;

(b) a statute or an undertaking in a criminal action for a forfeiture or penalty to the state;

(c) a liability created by statute other than:

(i) a penalty or forfeiture; or

(ii) a statutory debt created by the payment of public assistance.

(2) The period prescribed for the commencement of an action by a municipal corporation for the violation of any city or town ordinance is within 1 year.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, actions against directors or stockholders of a corporation to recover a penalty or forfeiture imposed or to enforce a liability created by law must be brought within 3 years after the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts upon which the penalty of forfeiture attached or the liability was created.

(4) Unless fraud is involved or unless a support obligation has been entered, an action to enforce a statutory debt created by the payment of public assistance must be brought within 5 years from the date the debt arises. If fraud is involved, an action must be brought within 5 years of the discovery of the fraud. If a support obligation has been entered, an action must be brought within 10 years of the termination of the support obligation or within 10 years from entry of a lump-sum judgment or order for support arrears, whichever is later.

History: Ap. p. Sec. 515, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6448, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9032, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 340; re-en. Sec. 9032, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-2606, R.C.M. 1947; Ap. p. Sec. 1, p. 50, L. 1893; re-en. Sec. 524, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 128, L. 1903; re-en. Sec. 6449, Rev. C. 1907; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 47, L. 1917; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 172, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 9033, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 338; re-en. Sec. 9033, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 423, L. 1975; Sec. 93-2607, R.C.M. 1947; Ap. p. Sec. 516, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; amd. Sec. 1, p. 144, L. 1899; re-en. Sec. 6450, Rev. C. 1907; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 47, L. 1917; re-en. Sec. 9034, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 340; re-en. Sec. 9034, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-2608, R.C.M. 1947; Ap. p. Sec. 554, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6471, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9061, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 359; re-en. Sec. 9061, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-2715, R.C.M. 1947; Ap. p. Sec. 510, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6443, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9027, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 335; re-en. Sec. 9027, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-2601, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 93-2601(part), 93-2606(1), (2), 93-2607(1), 93-2608(part), 93-2715; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 12, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 190, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 631, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 60, L. 1995.