2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 40. Family Law › Chapter 4. Termination of Marriage, Child Custody, Support › Part 1. Separation -- Dissolution of Marriage › 40-4-105. Procedure -- commencement -- pleadings -- abolition of existing defenses

40-4-105. Procedure -- commencement -- pleadings -- abolition of existing defenses.
(1) The verified petition in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation must allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken and must set forth:
(a) the age, occupation, and residence of each party and the party's length of residence in this state;
(b) the date of the marriage and the place at which it was registered;
(c) that the jurisdictional requirements of 40-4-104 exist and that the marriage is irretrievably broken in that either:
(i) the parties have lived separate and apart for a period of more than 180 days preceding the commencement of this proceeding; or
(ii) there is serious marital discord that adversely affects the attitude of one or both of the parties towards the marriage, and there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation;
(d) the names, ages, and addresses of all living children of the marriage and whether the wife is pregnant;
(e) any arrangements as to support of the children and maintenance of a spouse;
(f) a proposed parenting plan, if applicable;
(g) the relief sought; and
(h) the petitioner's acknowledgment that the automatic economic restraining order provided for in 40-4-126 applies to the petitioner on filing of the petition with the clerk of the district court.
(2) Either or both parties to the marriage may initiate the proceeding.
(3) If a proceeding is commenced by one of the parties, the other party must be served in the manner provided by the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure and may within 21 days after the date of service file a verified response. A decree may not be entered until 21 days after the date of service.
(4) Previously existing defenses to divorce and legal separation, including but not limited to condonation, connivance, collusion, recrimination, insanity, and lapse of time, are abolished.
(5) The court may join additional parties proper for the exercise of its authority to implement this chapter.
[(6) The social security number, if known, of a person subject to a decree of dissolution or a support order must be recorded in the records relating to the matter. The social security number may be included in the state case registry and vital statistics reporting form filed pursuant to 40-5-908(1). The recordkeeper shall keep the social security number from this source confidential, except that the number may be provided to the department of public health and human services for use in administering Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.]
(7) Documents filed before the court containing financial account information must comply with the privacy protection requirements of Rule 5.2 of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure. (Bracketed language terminates on occurrence of contingency--sec. 1, Ch. 27, L. 1999; sec. 12, Ch. 88, L. 2013.)
History: En. 48-317 by Sec. 17, Ch. 536, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 33, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 48-317; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 343, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 552, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 545, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 88, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 131, L. 2021.