{"data":{"id":"us-mt/25-35-508","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"25-35-508","heading":"Interpleader actions.","body":"(1) As used in this chapter, interpleader actions determine the rights of rival claimants to a fund held by a disinterested party and may be maintained in the small claims division of the justice's court when any person appears before a justice of the peace and executes an affidavit setting forth the nature and basis of the claim.\n(2) The person filing the interpleader affidavit shall deposit the funds with the justice of the peace at the same time the interpleader affidavit is filed.\n(3) The interpleader must be substantially in the following form:\nIN THE SMALL CLAIMS DIVISION OF THE JUSTICE'S COURT OF ......... COUNTY, MONTANA BEFORE ..............., JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.\n.....................,\nPlaintiff\nvs.\n....................., INTERPLEADER AFFIDAVIT\nDefendant\nand\n.....................,\nDefendant\n)\nState of Montana) ss\n)\n................., being duly sworn, deposes and says: That ................, a defendant, resides at ................ That ................, a defendant, resides at ................ That the plaintiff has custody or possession of money in the amount of $....., held pursuant to the following:\n..................................................................\n..................................................................\n...................................................................\nThat the defendants claim or may claim to be entitled to the money. That the plaintiff deposits into the court $....., which represents the amount of money in dispute.\nThat the plaintiff resides at the address shown.\n........................\nAffiant\nSubscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ......., 20...\n.........................\nJustice of the Peace\n..........................\nClerk\nORDER\nThe State of Montana to the within named defendants, greeting:\nYou are directed to appear and answer the interpleader claim at my office in ............... (name, building, or residence), in ................., County of ..............., State of Montana, on the ....... day of ........, 20..., at the hour of ......(AM)(PM) and to have with you all books, papers, and witnesses needed by you to establish your claim to the money.\nYou are further notified that in case you do not appear, judgment will be given against you as follows:\nDetermining or foreclosing your claim to the above-described money, as well as the disposition of the money, and in addition, for costs of the action.\nDated this ....... day of .............., 20...\n........................\nJustice of the Peace\n.........................\nClerk","path":["TITLE 25. CIVIL PROCEDURE","CHAPTER 35. SMALL CLAIMS PROCEDURE -- JUSTICE'S COURT","Part 5. General Provisions"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0350/part_0050/section_0080/0250-0350-0050-0080.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:50:18Z","sha256":"99842ea5468fe2befc4f422633494a7466c6e3af5f395a9b1729bc3a72f49a17","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/25-35-506","next":"us-mt/25-35-601"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}