44-12-201. Petition to institute forfeiture proceedings -- summons -- service. A peace officer or an officer of an agency that seizes any property other than controlled substances under the provisions of this chapter shall, within 45 days of the seizure, file a petition to institute forfeiture proceedings with the clerk of the district court of the county in which the seizure occurs. The clerk shall issue a summons at the request of the petitioning party, who shall cause the same to be served upon all owners or claimants of the property by one of the following methods:
     (1) upon an owner or claimant whose name and address are known, by personal service of a copy of the petition and summons as provided in the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure;
     (2) upon an owner or claimant whose address is unknown but who is believed to have an interest in the property, by publication of the summons in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the seizure occurred or, if there is no such newspaper, by publication in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county, and by mailing a copy of the petition and summons to the most recent address of such owner or claimant, if any, shown in the records of the department of justice.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 529, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 563, L. 1985.