Civil procedure includes the procedures and rules that govern civil (non-criminal) litigation in state and federal courts. Many states have rules of civil procedure written by the state supreme court, for example, and other states include their rules of procedure in state statutes enacted by the state legislature.
In Montana (MT), civil procedure is governed by the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure (MRCP), which are promulgated by the Montana Supreme Court. These rules outline the procedures for conducting civil litigation in the state's district courts. They cover various aspects of the legal process, including the filing of lawsuits, service of process, motions, discovery, trial procedures, and appeals. Additionally, the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) contains statutes that may also affect civil litigation, such as statutes of limitations for filing certain types of lawsuits and laws governing specific areas of civil law. For federal cases, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) apply to civil litigation in the U.S. District Courts located in Montana. These federal rules are consistent across all federal courts in the United States and are designed to ensure fairness and efficiency in the federal civil justice system.