RULE 4. PERSONS SUBJECT TO JURISDICTION - PROCESS - SERVICE
A. Definition of Person. As used in this rule, the word "person," whether or not a citizen or resident of this state and whether or not organized under the laws of this state, includes an individual whether operating in the individual's own name or under a trade name; an individual's agent or personal representative; a corporation; a limited liability company; a business trust; an estate; a trust; a partnership; an unincorporated association; and any two or more persons having a joint or common interest or any other legal or commercial entity.
B. Jurisdiction of Persons.
(1) Subject to Jurisdiction. All persons found within the state of Montana are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state. In addition, any person is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state as to any claim for relief arising from the doing personally, through an employee, or through an agent, of any of the following acts:
(a) the transaction of any business within this state;
(b) the commission of an act which results in accrual within this state of a court action;
(c) the ownership, use or possession of any property, or of any interest therein, situated within this state;
(d) contracting to insure any person, property or risk located within this state at the time of contracting;
(e) entering into a contract for services to be rendered or for materials to be furnished in this state by such person; or
(f) acting as director, manager, trustee, or other officer of any corporation organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business within this state, or as personal representative of any estate within this state
(2) Acquisition of Jurisdiction. Jurisdiction may be acquired by our courts over any person through service of process as herein provided; or by the voluntary appearance in an action by any person either personally, or through an attorney, or through any other authorized officer, agent or employee.
C. Process.
(1) Summons - Issuance. Upon or after filing the complaint the plaintiff or, if the plaintiff is represented by an attorney, the plaintiff's attorney shall present a summons to the clerk for issuance. If the summons is in proper form, the clerk shall issue it and deliver it to the plaintiff or to the plaintiff's attorney who shall thereafter deliver it for service upon the defendant in the manner prescribed by these rules. Issuance and service of the summons shall be accomplished within the times prescribed by Rule E of these rules. Upon request, the clerk shall issue separate or additional summons against any parties designated in the original action, or against any additional parties who may be brought into the action, which separate or additional summons shall also be served in the manner and within the times prescribed by these rules. The party requesting issuance of the summons shall bear the burden of having it properly issued and served.
(2) Summons - Form. The summons shall be signed by the clerk, be under the seal of the court, contain the name of the court and the names of the parties, be directed to the defendant, state the name and address of the plaintiff's attorney, if any, otherwise the plaintiff's address, and the time within which these rules require the defendant to appear and defend, and shall notify the defendant that in case of the defendant's failure to do so judgment by default will be rendered against the defendant for the relief demanded in the complaint. In an action brought to quiet title to real estate, there shall be added to the foregoing, the following: "This action is brought for the purpose of quieting title to land situated in . . . County, Montana, and described as follows: (Here insert descriptions of land.)." For exceptions to this form of summons see 4D(4) "Other service," set forth hereinafter.
D. Service.
(1) By whom served.
(a) Service of all process shall be made in the county where the party to be served is found by a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, or any other person over the age of 18 not a party to the action.
(b)(i) A summons and complaint may also be served upon a defendant who is an individual other than a minor or an incompetent person or upon a domestic or foreign corporation or partnership or other unincorporated association by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the person to be served, together with two copies of a notice and acknowledgment conforming substantially to form 18-A and a return envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the sender. If no acknowledgment of service under this subdivision of this rule is received by the sender within 20 days after the date of mailing the summons and complaint, service of such summons and complaint shall be made by one of the persons mentioned in Rule 4D(1)(a) in the manner prescribed by Rule 4D(2) and Rule 4D(3).
(ii) Unless good cause is shown for not doing so, the court shall order the payment of costs of the personal service by the person served if such person does not complete and return within 20 days after mailing, the notice and acknowledgment of receipt of summons.
(iii) The notice and acknowledgment of receipt of summons and complaint shall be signed and dated. Service of summons and complaint will be deemed complete on the date of signature of the defendant as shown on the acknowledgment.
(2) Personal service within the state. The summons and complaint shall be served together. The plaintiff shall furnish the person making service with such copies as are necessary. Service shall be made as follows:
(a) Upon an individual other than an infant or an incompetent person, by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally or by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process, provided that if the agent is one designated by statute to receive service, such further notice as the statute requires shall be given.
(b) Upon a minor over the age of 14 years, by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the minor personally, and by leaving a copy thereof at the minor's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some adult of suitable discretion then residing therein, or by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process.
(c) Upon a minor under the age of 14 years, by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the minor's guardian, if the minor has one within the state, and if not, then to the minor's father or mother or other person or agency having the minor's care or control, or with whom the minor resides, or if service cannot be made upon any of them, then as provided by order of the court.
(d) Upon a person who has been adjudged of unsound mind by a court of this state, or for whom a guardian has been appointed in this state by reason of incompetency, by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the person's guardian, if there be a guardian residing in this state appointed and acting under the laws of this state. If there be no such guardian, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the incompetent person, with or without personal service on the incompetent, as the court may direct. When a party is alleged to be of unsound mind, but has not been so adjudged by a court of this state, such party may be brought into court by service of process personally upon that party. The court may also stay any action pending against a person on learning that such person is of unsound mind.
(e) Upon a domestic corporation, partnership or other unincorporated association, or upon a foreign corporation, partnership or other unincorporated association, established by the laws of any other state or country, and having a place of business within this state or doing business herein either permanently or temporarily, or which was doing business herein either permanently, or temporarily at the time the claim for relief accrued: (i) by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an officer, director, superintendent or managing or general agent, or partner, or associate for such corporation, partnership, or association; or by leaving such copies at the office or place of business of the corporation, partnership, or association within the state with the person in charge of such office; or (ii) by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the registered agent of said corporation named on the records of the secretary of state, or to any other agent or attorney in fact authorized by appointment or by statute to receive or accept service on behalf of the corporation, partnership, or association, provided that if the agent or attorney in fact is one designated by statute to receive service, such further notice as the statute requires shall also be given; or (iii) if the sheriff shall make return that no person upon whom service may be made can be found in the county, then service may be made by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at any office of the corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association within this state with the person in charge of such office; or (iv) if the suit is against a corporation whose charter or right to do business in the state has expired or been forfeited, by delivering a copy thereof to any one of the persons who have become trustees for the corporation and its stockholders or members.
(f) When a claim for relief is pending in any court of this state against a corporation organized under the laws of this state, or against a corporation organized under the laws of any other state or country, that has filed a copy of its charter in the office of the secretary of state of Montana and qualified to do business in Montana; or against a corporation organized under the laws of any other state or country which is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state under the provisions of Rule 4B above, even though such corporation has never qualified to do business in Montana; or against a national banking corporation which, through insolvency or lapse of charter, has ceased to do business in Montana; and none of the persons designated in D(2)(e) immediately above can with the exercise of reasonable diligence be found within Montana, the party causing summons to be issued shall exercise reasonable diligence to ascertain the last known address of any such person. Upon the filing with the clerk of court in which the claim for relief is pending of an affidavit reciting that none of the persons designated in D(2)(e) can after due diligence be found within Montana upon whom service of process can be made, and reciting the last known address of any such person, or reciting that after the exercise of reasonable diligence no such address for any such person could be found, and there has also been deposited with the said clerk the sum of $5 to be paid to the secretary of state as a fee for each of said defendants for whom the secretary of state is to receive said service, then the clerk of court shall issue an order directing process to be served upon the secretary of state of the state of Montana or, in the secretary of state's absence from the secretary of state's office, upon the deputy secretary of state of the state of Montana. Such affidavit shall be sufficient evidence of the diligence of inquiry made by affiant, if the affidavit recites that diligent inquiry was made, and the affidavit need not detail the facts constituting such inquiry. Whenever service is also to be made through publication as provided in 4D(5), or upon other persons as provided in 4D(6), the affidavit herein required may be combined in the same instrument with the affidavit required under 4D(5)(c) and 4D(6). The said clerk of court shall then mail to the secretary of state the original summons, one copy of the summons and one copy of the affidavit for the files of the secretary of state, one copy of the summons attached to a copy of the complaint for each of the defendants to be served by service upon the secretary of state, and the fee for service, to the office of the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall mail copy of the summons and complaint by certified or registered mail with a return receipt requested to the last known address of any of the persons designated in D(2)(e) above, if known, or, if none such is known and it is a corporation not organized in Montana, to the secretary of state of the state in which such corporation was originally incorporated, if known; and the secretary of state shall make a return as hereinafter provided under Rule 4D(6). When service is so made, it shall be deemed personal service on such corporation, and the said secretary of state, or a deputy when the secretary is absent from the secretary of state's office, is hereby appointed agent of such corporation for service of process in cases herein before mentioned. In any action where due diligence has been exercised to locate and serve any of the persons designated in D(2)(e) above, service shall be deemed complete upon said corporation regardless of the receipt of any return receipt or advice of refusal of the addressee to receive the process mailed, as is hereinafter required by 4D(6); provided, however, that except in those actions where any of the persons designated in D(2)(e) above have been located and served personally as herein above provided, then service by publication shall also be made as provided hereafter in 4D(5)(d) and 4D(5)(h); the first publication must be made within 60 days from the date the original summons is mailed to the secretary of state as herein provided, and if said first publication is not so made, the action shall be deemed dismissed as to any such party intended to be served by such publication; and service shall be complete upon the date of the last publication of summons.
When service of process is made as herein provided, and there is no appearance thereafter made by any attorney for such corporation, service of all other notices required by law to be served in such action may be served upon the secretary of state.
(g) Upon a city, village, town, school district, county, or public agency or board of any such public bodies, by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to any commissioner, trustee, board member, mayor or head of the legislative department thereof.
(h) Upon the state, or any state board or state agency, by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the attorney general and to any other party which may be prescribed by statute.
(i) Upon an estate by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the personal representative thereof; upon a trust by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to any trustee thereof.
(3) Personal service outside the state. Where service upon any person cannot, with due diligence, be made personally within this state, service of summons and complaint may be made by service outside this state in the manner provided for service within this state, with the same force and effect as though service had been made within this state. Where service by publication is permitted as hereinafter provided, personal service of a summons and complaint upon the defendant out of the state shall be equivalent to and shall dispense with the procedures and the publication and mailing provided for hereafter in 4(5)(c), 4(5)(d) and 4(5)(e) of this rule.
(4) Other service. All process in any form of action shall be served in the manner specified in this rule with the exception that whenever a statute of this state or an order of the court or a citation by the court made pursuant thereto provides for the service of a notice or of an order or of a citation in lieu of summons upon any person, service shall be made under the circumstances and in the manner prescribed by the statute or order or citation; and with the further exception that all persons are required to comply with the provisions hereafter prescribed in D(5)(h), and with the provisions of 33-1-603, 33-1-613, 33-1-614, 33-2-314, 33-2-315, 70-28-207, 70-28-208, 70-28-209, and 70-28-212, Montana Code Annotated, when the action pertains to the provisions of such sections.
(5) Service by publication--when permitted--effect--manner--proof.
(a) When permitted. A defendant, whether known or unknown, who has not been served under the foregoing subsections of this rule can be served by publication in the following situations only:
(i) When the subject of the action is real or personal property in this state and the defendant has or claims a lien or interest, actual or contingent, therein, or the relief demanded consists wholly or partially in excluding the defendant from any interest therein. This subsection shall apply whether any such defendant is known or unknown.
(ii) When the action is to foreclose, redeem from or satisfy a mortgage, claim or lien upon real or personal property within this state.
(iii) When the action is for dissolution or for a declaration of invalidity of a marriage of a resident of this state or for modification of a decree of dissolution granted by a court of this state.
(iv) When the defendant has property within this state which has been attached or has a debtor within this state, who has been garnished. Jurisdiction under this subsection may be independent of or supplementary to jurisdiction acquired under subsections (5)(a)(i), (5)(a)(ii), and (5)(a)(iii) herein.
(b) Effect of service by publication. When a defendant, whether known or unknown, has been served by publication as provided in this rule, any court of this state having jurisdiction may render a decree which will adjudicate any interest of such defendant in the status, property, or thing acted upon, but it may not bind the defendant personally to the personal jurisdiction of the court unless some ground for the exercise of personal jurisdiction exists.
(c) Filing of Pleading and Affidavit for Service by Publication; and Order for Publication. Before service of the summons by publication is authorized in any case, there shall be filed with the clerk in the district court of the county in which the action is commenced (i) a pleading setting forth a claim in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant in one of the situations defined in (5)(a) above; and (ii) in situations defined in (5)(a)(i), (5)(a)(ii), (5)(a)(iii), upon return of the summons showing the failure to find any defendant designated in the complaint, an affidavit stating that such defendant resides out of the state, or has departed from the state, or cannot, after due diligence, be found within the state, or conceals defendant's person to avoid the service of summons; or, if the defendant is a domestic or foreign corporation, that none of the persons designated in D(2)(e) above can, after due diligence, be found within the state; or, if the defendant is an unknown claimant, by showing that the affiant has made diligent search and inquiry for all persons who claim, or might claim any right, title, estate, or interest in, or lien, or encumbrance upon, such property, or any thereof, adverse to plaintiff's ownership, or any cloud upon plaintiff's title thereto, whether such claim or possible claim be present or contingent, including any right of dower, inchoate or accrued, and that the affiant has specifically named as defendants in such action all such persons whose names can be ascertained; such affidavit shall be sufficient evidence of the diligence of any inquiry made by the affiant, if the affidavit recite the fact that diligent inquiry was made, and it need not detail the facts constituting such inquiry, and if desired, it may be combined in one instrument with the affidavit required under 4D(2)(f), or 4D(6); and (iii) in the situation defined in (5)(a)(iv) above, there must be first presented to the court proof that a valid attachment or garnishment has been effected. Upon complying herewith, the plaintiff may obtain an order for the service of summons to be made upon the defendants by publication, which order may be issued by either the judge or the clerk of the court.
(d) Number of Publications. Service of the summons by publication may be made by publishing the same three times, once each week for 3 successive weeks, in a newspaper published in the county in which the action is pending, if a newspaper is published in such county, and if no newspaper is published in such county then in a newspaper published in an adjoining county and having a general circulation therein.
(e) Mailing Summons and Complaint. A copy of the summons for publication and complaint, at any time after the filing of the affidavit for publication and not later than 10 days after the first publication of the summons, shall be deposited in some post office in this state, postage prepaid, and directed to the defendant at defendant's place of residence unless the affidavit for publication states that the residence of the defendant is unknown. If the defendant is a corporation, and personal service cannot with due diligence be effected within Montana on any of the persons designated in D(2)(e) above, then service may be completed on said corporation by service upon the secretary of state in the manner, and following the procedure outlined in D(2)(f) above.
(f) Time When First Publication or Service Outside State Must Be Made. The first publication of summons, or personal service of the summons and complaint upon the defendant out of the state, must be made within 60 days after the filing of the affidavit for publication. If not so made, the action shall be deemed dismissed as to any party intended to be served by such publication.
(g) When Service by Publication or Outside State Complete. Service by publication is complete on the date of the last publication of the summons, or in case of personal service of the summons and complaint upon the defendant out of the state, on the date of such service.
(h) Additional Information to Be Published. In addition to the form of summons prescribed above in "C. Process, (2) Summons - Form," the published summons shall state in general terms the nature of the action, and in all cases where publication of summons is made in an action in which the title to, or any interest in or lien upon real property is involved, or affected, or brought into question, the publication shall also contain a description of the real property involved, affected or brought into question thereby, and a statement of the object of the action.