Montana Code Annotated
Part 1. Separation -- Dissolution of Marriage
40-4-104. Dissolution of marriage -- legal separation

40-4-104. Dissolution of marriage -- legal separation. (1) The district court shall enter a decree of dissolution of marriage if:
(a) the court finds that one of the parties, at the time the action was commenced, was domiciled in this state, as provided in 25-2-118, or was stationed in this state while a member of the armed services and that the domicile or military presence has been maintained for 90 days preceding the filing of the action;
(b) the court finds that the marriage is irretrievably broken, which findings must be supported by evidence:
(i) that the parties have lived separate and apart for a period of more than 180 days preceding the commencement of this proceeding; or
(ii) that there is serious marital discord that adversely affects the attitude of one or both of the parties towards the marriage; and
(c) to the extent it has jurisdiction to do so, the court has considered, approved, or made provision for parenting, the support of any child entitled to support, the maintenance of either spouse, and the disposition of property.
(2) If a party requests a decree of legal separation rather than a decree of dissolution of marriage, the court shall grant the decree in that form unless the other party objects.
History: En. 48-316 by Sec. 16, Ch. 536, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 48-316; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 392, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 343, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 314, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 350, L. 2019.

Structure Montana Code Annotated

Montana Code Annotated

Title 40. Family Law

Chapter 4. Termination of Marriage, Child Custody, Support

Part 1. Separation -- Dissolution of Marriage

40-4-101. Purposes

40-4-102. Uniformity of application and construction

40-4-103. Application of Montana Rules of Civil Procedure

40-4-104. Dissolution of marriage -- legal separation

40-4-105. Procedure -- commencement -- pleadings -- abolition of existing defenses

40-4-106. Renumbered 40-4-121

40-4-107. Irretrievable breakdown

40-4-108. Decree

40-4-109. Independence of provisions of decree or temporary order

40-4-110. Costs -- professional fees

40-4-111. through 40-4-120 reserved

40-4-121. Temporary order for maintenance or support, temporary injunction, or temporary restraining order

40-4-122. Forms -- distribution -- filing

40-4-123. Jurisdiction and venue

40-4-124. Review or removal -- district court

40-4-125. Registration of orders

40-4-126. Automatic economic restraining order

40-4-127. through 40-4-129 reserved

40-4-130. Summary dissolution -- conditions necessary at commencement of proceedings

40-4-131. Joint petition -- filing -- form -- contents

40-4-132. Revocation of joint petition -- termination of proceeding -- notice -- copy to other party

40-4-133. Hearing and final judgment -- entry -- effect

40-4-134. Final judgment as final adjudication of rights and obligations

40-4-135. Actions to set aside final judgment

40-4-136. Brochure to describe proceedings -- availability -- distribution -- contents and form