2019 Montana Code Annotated
Title 70. Property
Chapter 28. Quieting Title to Real Property
Part 1. Quieting Title Generally
70-28-112. Costs -- attorney fees

70-28-112. Costs -- attorney fees. (1) If the defendant in a quiet title action disclaims in the answer any interest or estate in the property or allows judgment to be taken against the defendant without answer, the plaintiff may not recover costs. However, in actions that the plaintiff has brought under 30 U.S.C. 30 to determine an adverse claim, the plaintiff shall recover costs if the defendant does not relinquish in the proper United States land office or disclaim in writing any interest or estate in the property within 20 days from the filing of the adverse claim in the land office.

(2) The plaintiff in a quiet title action may recover costs and attorney fees if the defendant wrongfully filed a statement with the county clerk and recorder for transfer of property that had been owned in a joint tenancy severed under 72-2-814(2)(b). To be eligible to recover costs and fees, the plaintiff must have notified the defendant by certified mail that the defendant may be ordered to pay the plaintiff's costs and fees associated with a quiet title action unless the defendant executes documents to transfer the property to the plaintiff within 30 days or by a date mutually agreed to by the parties. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to joint tenancies revived under 72-2-814(5) unless subsequently severed. The provisions of this subsection do not preempt other remedies.

History: En. Sec. 234, p. 92, Bannack Stat.; re-en. Sec. 255, p. 188, L. 1867; re-en. Sec. 304, p. 93, Cod. Stat. 1871; re-en. Sec. 355, p. 138, L. 1877; re-en. Sec. 355, 1st Div. Rev. Stat. 1879; amd. Sec. 367, 1st Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; re-en. Sec. 1311, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6871, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9489, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 739; re-en. Sec. 9489, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 93-6213; amd. Sec. 2205, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 148, L. 2019.