Montana Response to Petition

(4) Any answer to the petition must be served and filed within 20 days after the petition is filed. (5) Any reply to the answer must be served and filed within 10 days after the answer is filed.

If you do not respond to your spouse or partner's petition for divorce or separation or you file a response but reach an agreement, your case will be considered either a "default" or an "uncontested case." In a true default case, you are giving up your right to have any say in your divorce or legal separation case.

You can file an answer or a general denial. Filing an answer. You can file a motion In certain situations, you can respond to the lawsuit by filing a motion (a request) that usually tells the court that the plaintiff made a mistake in the lawsuit. Talk to a lawyer!

Fill out the forms. You have to fill out at least 2 forms, maybe more, to file your opposition. File the forms. Turn in your completed forms by mail or efiling. Serve the other party. Get ready for the hearing. Prepare an order.

Fill out your court forms. Have your forms reviewed. Make at least 2 copies of all your forms. File your forms with the court clerk. Serve your papers on the other parent. File your Proof of Service. Go to your court hearing.

If you decide to respond, you will have to pay the current filing fee. If you decide not to respond, then after 30 days from the date you were served with the Petition, the other party can enter you into a default status (which means that you can no longer respond).

Pull the header information from the plaintiff's petition. Title your Answer Answer to Plaintiff's Petition/Complaint. Center this title and make it bold. Introduce yourself. Admit, deny, or claim that you lack sufficient knowledge to admit or deny each of the plaintiff's numbered allegations.