Montana Code 25-35-601. Commencement of action — assistance to claimant
25-35-601. Commencement of action — assistance to claimant. (1) A small claims action is commenced whenever any person appears before a justice of the peace or the justice’s clerk and executes a sworn small claims complaint in substantially the same form as set forth in 25-35-602.
Terms Used In Montana Code 25-35-601
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
(2)The justice shall assist any claimant in preparing the complaint or instruct the clerk to provide the assistance. The attorney general shall prepare a pamphlet explaining in plain language the procedures for prosecuting and defending a claim in small claims court and distribute copies of the pamphlet to each small claims court. The justice or the justice’s clerk shall give the plaintiff a copy when the plaintiff appears to execute a complaint, and a copy must be attached to the order of the court/notice to defendant.