Statewide — all 56 counties
Issuance in 1–3 days
Filing fees advanced & included
Live support — info@served123.com
Quick answer

To domesticate a subpoena in Montana, submit your out-of-state subpoena to the clerk of the district court in the county where discovery is sought. Under Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c) the clerk promptly issues a matching Montana subpoena — no hearing and, in most cases, no local counsel. Montana adopted the Act by court rule (not a standalone statute) and imposes no reciprocity requirement; the subpoena need only mirror the foreign subpoena's terms and list all counsel.

Montana UIDDA Overview

Domesticating a Foreign Subpoena in Montana

Montana adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act as Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c), effective October 1, 2011 (Sup. Ct. Ord. AF 07-0157). Montana enacted it as a court rule rather than a freestanding statute — it lives in the Montana Code at Title 25, chapter 20 — so filings should cite Rule 28(c), not a “UIDDA statute” section. The Act lets an out-of-state litigant obtain an enforceable Montana subpoena for depositions, testimony, and records without a motion, a hearing, or (in most cases) local counsel.

Under Rule 28(c)(2), the foreign subpoena is submitted to a clerk of the district court in the Montana county where discovery is sought, and the clerk “shall promptly issue” a matching Montana subpoena. The rule is explicit that the request does not constitute an appearance in Montana's courts. The issued subpoena must incorporate the foreign subpoena's terms and be accompanied by the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all counsel of record and any unrepresented party.

The subpoena is served under Mont. R. Civ. P. 45 — by a sheriff or any non-party 18 or older — with the statutory witness fee and mileage tendered when attendance is commanded. Served 123 LLC manages every step across all 56 counties.

Montana is a clean UIDDA state — no reciprocity gate. The catches are citing the right authority (Rule 28(c), not a phantom statute), filing in the correct county, and the 14-day objection window. We handle all three on every order.

Montana UIDDA Framework

  • Rule 28(c)(1)Definitions — foreign subpoena, state, person
  • Rule 28(c)(2)Clerk issuance; mirror foreign terms + counsel info
  • Rule 28(c)(3)Service in compliance with Rule 45
  • Rule 28(c)(4)Rules 30, 31, 34, and 45 apply to the subpoena
  • Rule 28(c)(5)Quash, modify, or enforce in the discovery county

Why the Citation Matters

  • UIDDA = a court rule, not a statute
  • Cite Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c)
  • Codified in MCA Title 25, ch. 20
  • A phantom statute cite invites a kickback

What's Included

  • UIDDA eligibility & venue review
  • Montana subpoena prepared to Rule 28(c)
  • District-court clerk filing & in-person pickup
  • Up to 3 service attempts under Rule 45
  • Signed affidavit of service (PDF)
  • Real-time updates & live support
Step-by-Step

How It Works in Montana

From intake to affidavit — exactly what happens on every Montana order.

1

Submit Your Foreign Subpoena

Use the order form above or email info@served123.com. Include the originating state, the Montana county where discovery is sought, and your subpoena as a PDF. We confirm UIDDA eligibility and the correct county at intake.

2

Montana Subpoena Prepared

We prepare the Montana subpoena to conform to Rule 28(c), incorporating the foreign subpoena's terms and the contact information for all counsel and unrepresented parties.

3

Issuance

We submit the foreign subpoena to the clerk of the district court in the discovery county, who promptly issues the Montana subpoena. The request is not an appearance, and issuance typically takes 1–3 business days.

4

In-Person Retrieval

Our authorized representative retrieves the issued Montana subpoena in person from the clerk's office, confirms it is enforceable, and sends you a copy. No court appearance is required.

5

Service of Process

We dispatch through our Montana process-server network under Rule 45 — by a sheriff or a non-party 18 or older — with up to three diligent attempts per address. The statutory witness fee ($10 per day) and mileage under Mont. Code Ann. § 26-2-501 are tendered at service where attendance is commanded.

6

Affidavit of Service Delivered

You receive a signed, court-ready PDF affidavit of service confirming completion in full compliance with Montana law — ready for filing in your originating case.

Then & Now

Why the UIDDA Changed Everything

Before October 2011, reaching a Montana witness for an out-of-state case meant a slower court process. Rule 28(c) replaced it with a single clerk filing.

Before the UIDDA
  • Obtain a commission or letters rogatory from the home-state court
  • Open a separate proceeding in Montana to domesticate it
  • Often appear before a Montana judge to obtain an order
  • Frequently retain local Montana counsel to navigate it
  • Weeks of delay before a subpoena could even issue
With the UIDDA
  • Submit the foreign subpoena to the clerk of the district court
  • The clerk issues a matching Montana subpoena — no motion
  • No judge and no hearing in routine, uncontested matters
  • No local counsel required in most matters
  • Issuance in 1–3 business days
Legal Authority

Montana UIDDA — Full Reference

The Rule 28(c) framework, plus the rule that governs subpoena service and objection and the statute that sets witness fees — the authority we work from on every Montana order.

AuthoritySubjectKey requirement
Rule 28(c)(1)DefinitionsDefines “foreign jurisdiction,” “foreign subpoena,” “state,” “person,” and “subpoena”
Rule 28(c)(2)IssuanceA foreign subpoena is submitted to a clerk of the district court in the discovery county, who promptly issues a Montana subpoena; it incorporates the foreign terms and lists all counsel; the request is not an appearance
Rule 28(c)(3)ServiceThe issued subpoena is served in compliance with Rule 45
Rule 28(c)(4)Deposition & productionRules 30, 31, 34, and 45 apply to subpoenas issued under the rule
Rule 28(c)(5)Application to courtMotions for a protective order or to enforce, quash, or modify go to the court for the county where discovery is conducted
Rule 45(d)(2)ObjectionA person commanded to produce may object in writing before the earlier of the compliance date or 14 days after service
Rule 45(d)(3)Quash or modifyThe court must quash or modify a subpoena that allows unreasonable time, requires a non-party to travel more than 100 miles, demands privileged matter, or imposes undue burden
Mont. Code Ann. § 26-2-501Witness feesWitnesses receive $10 per day plus a mileage allowance at the state rate under § 2-18-503
Mont. Code Ann. § 26-2-506Who paysWitness fees and mileage are paid by the party who caused the witness to be subpoenaed
Sup. Ct. Ord. AF 07-0157AdoptionAdopted Rule 28(c) effective October 1, 2011, enacting the UIDDA in Montana by court rule

Rule and statute citations verified against the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure and the Montana Code Annotated at the time of writing. Requirements may be amended by the Montana Supreme Court or the Legislature; we confirm current rules on every order.

Avoid the Rejection

Why Montana Domestications Get Bounced

A rejected filing or a quash motion can cost weeks and blow your discovery window. These are the Montana-specific errors we screen out before anything is submitted.

Citing a phantom statute

Montana adopted the UIDDA by court rule — Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c) — not a “25-20-401” statute that some services cite. We cite the correct authority.

Filing in the wrong county

The subpoena is submitted somewhere other than where discovery actually occurs. We file with the district-court clerk in the discovery county.

The wrong witness fee

Montana requires $10 per day plus mileage at the state rate (§ 26-2-501), tendered at service. We tender the correct amount.

Ignoring the 100-mile limit

A non-party can't be made to travel more than 100 miles, or the subpoena is subject to a quash (Rule 45(d)(3)). We flag it before filing.

Terms don't match the foreign subpoena

Rule 28(c)(2) requires the Montana subpoena to incorporate the foreign subpoena's terms and list all counsel. We mirror it exactly.

A non-civil matter

The UIDDA covers civil discovery only — not criminal or administrative proceedings. We confirm the matter qualifies up front.

Service Package

What's Included With Every Montana Order

End-to-end handling — no gaps, no hidden handoffs.

UIDDA & Venue Review

We confirm the matter qualifies under Rule 28(c) and identify the correct district court — the county where discovery is sought — before a dollar is spent.

Subpoena Preparation

We draft the Montana subpoena to conform to Rule 28(c), mirroring the foreign terms and counsel information.

Filing & In-Person Pickup

We submit to the correct district-court clerk and retrieve the issued subpoena in person, typically within 1-3 days.

Up to 3 Service Attempts

Three diligent attempts per address under Mont. R. Civ. P. 45, through our statewide process-server network.

Court-Ready Affidavit

A signed PDF affidavit of service confirming full compliance with Montana law — ready for filing.

Live Support

Our in-house team responds within minutes during business hours with real-time status at every stage.

Subpoena Types

Types We Domesticate in Montana

Every major subpoena type we domesticate in Montana under the UIDDA.

Subpoena Duces Tecum

Compels production of documents, records, or electronically stored information. A document-only subpoena requires no personal appearance unless a deposition is also commanded.

Subpoena Ad Testificandum

Requires personal appearance and testimony. The $10-per-day witness fee plus mileage (§ 26-2-501) is tendered at service.

Deposition Subpoenas

Requires a witness to appear for a recorded deposition — often combined with document production under Rule 45.

Corporate & Entity

Directs a Montana entity to designate a representative to testify. We serve registered agents statewide.

Who We Serve

Who Uses Our Montana Service

From solo practitioners to Fortune 500 legal teams — all relying on Served 123 LLC for Montana domestication across all 56 counties.

Law Firms

Running multi-state cases that need testimony or records from witnesses across Montana's 56 counties.

Corporate Legal

In-house teams handling cross-jurisdictional discovery through Montana's district courts.

Insurance Defense

Claims teams pulling Montana medical records, depositions, and expert subpoenas under the UIDDA.

Records Retrieval

Organizations needing end-to-end Montana domestication and records production.

Solo Practitioners

Attorneys who need dependable Montana coverage without a local vendor network across the state.

Litigation Support

Support firms outsourcing Montana subpoena domestication for their attorney clients.

Statewide Coverage

Every Montana County

We file and serve in all 56 Montana counties — across the state's 22 judicial districts, metro and rural alike. A few of the district courts we work in most often:

Yellowstone · Billings
Missoula
Gallatin · Bozeman
Flathead · Kalispell
Cascade · Great Falls
Lewis & Clark · Helena
Silver Bow · Butte
Ravalli · Hamilton
Lake · Polson
Lincoln · Libby
Park · Livingston
Custer · Miles City
Dawson · Glendive
Hill · Havre
Fergus · Lewistown
Beaverhead · Dillon
Carbon · Red Lodge
Sanders · Thompson Falls
Big Horn · Hardin
Roosevelt · Wolf Point

Don't see your county? We cover all 56 across Montana's 22 judicial districts — just send your subpoena and the county where discovery is sought.

Common Questions

Montana Subpoena Domestication FAQ

Straight answers on domesticating and serving an out-of-state subpoena in Montana under the UIDDA.

Yes. Montana adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act as Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c), effective October 1, 2011. It standardizes how an out-of-state subpoena is issued and served in Montana for civil discovery.
A court rule. Montana enacted the Act as Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c) (codified in the Montana Code at Title 25, chapter 20), not as a freestanding “UIDDA statute.” Filings should cite Rule 28(c) — a common error is citing a code section that does not exist.
With the clerk of the district court in the Montana county where the discovery is to be conducted (Rule 28(c)(2)). The clerk issues a matching Montana subpoena for service.
The clerk of the district court issues it upon submission of the foreign subpoena. Under Rule 45 the clerk issues the subpoena signed but otherwise in blank; an attorney may also issue and sign one as an officer of the court.
Not for routine, uncontested matters. The clerk issues the subpoena on submission of the foreign subpoena, and the request is not an appearance; local counsel is generally needed only if the subpoena is contested or must be enforced. Served 123 LLC handles preparation, filing, retrieval, and service.
There is no single statewide fillable civil subpoena form. Under Rule 45 the district-court clerk issues the subpoena (signed, in blank) to the requesting party, or an attorney issues it as an officer of the court. We prepare it correctly for your matter.
No. Montana adopted the standard uniform act, so there is no reciprocity condition — any out-of-state subpoena from a court of record can be domesticated.
Under Mont. R. Civ. P. 45, by a sheriff or any non-party who is at least 18. If attendance is commanded, the one-day witness fee and mileage are tendered at the time of service.
Under Mont. Code Ann. § 26-2-501, a witness receives $10 per day plus a mileage allowance at the state rate set by § 2-18-503. The party who subpoenas the witness pays the fee (§ 26-2-506), and we advance it for you.
Yes. Under Rule 45(d)(3), a subpoena that requires a non-party to travel more than 100 miles from where they reside, work, or regularly transact business is subject to being quashed or modified.
Once the clerk receives the foreign subpoena, a matching Montana subpoena is typically issued within 1-3 business days.
A person commanded to produce may serve a written objection before the earlier of the compliance date or 14 days after service (Rule 45(d)(2)). Motions to quash, modify, or for a protective order go to the court for the county where discovery is conducted (Rule 28(c)(5)).
Yes. A person commanded only to produce documents or permit inspection need not appear in person unless also commanded to attend a deposition, hearing, or trial (Rule 45).
No. Rule 28(c)(2) states that requesting issuance of a subpoena under the Act does not constitute an appearance in the courts of Montana.

Domesticate Your Montana Subpoena

Send the originating state, the Montana county, and your subpoena PDF. We confirm eligibility, prepare the Montana subpoena to Rule 28(c), file with the district-court clerk, and serve statewide — usually within days.

Served 123 LLC is a process service and litigation-support company, not a law firm. This page is general information about Montana procedure, not legal advice.

© Served 123 LLC — nationwide subpoena domestication and service of process. Authority cited: Montana's Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, Mont. R. Civ. P. 28(c). All 50 states · Subpoena domestication FAQ