Rule 18. Applications and manner of proceeding.
     (a) Application to district court. A party in a civil case who desires to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis shall file in the district court a motion for leave so to proceed together with an affidavit showing, in the detail prescribed by Form 2 of the Appendix of Forms, the party's inability to pay the fees and costs of the appeal or to give security therefor, the party's belief that the party is entitled to redress, and a statement of the issues the party intends to present on appeal. If the motion is granted, the party may proceed on appeal without further application to the supreme court and without payment of fees or costs or the giving of security therefor. If the motion is denied, the district court shall state the reasons for the denial.
     (b) Application to the supreme court. If the motion for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis is denied by the district court, a motion for leave so to proceed may be filed in the supreme court within 30 days after entry of the order of denial. The motion shall be accompanied by a copy of the affidavit filed in the district court and of the statement of reasons for denial given by the district court.
     (c) Form of briefs, appendices and other papers. Parties allowed to proceed in forma pauperis may file briefs, appendices and other papers in typewritten form. In any proceeding regarding the abuse and neglect of a child or for the termination of parental rights under Title 41, Chapter 3, MCA, or in any proceeding under Title 40, Chapter 6 (Uniform Parentage Act); Title 42 (Adoption); Title 52, Chapter 3, part 8 (Montana Elder and Persons With Developmental Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act); Title 53, Chapter 20 (Developmental Disabilities), Chapter 21 (Mentally Ill), and Chapter 24 (Alcoholism and Drug Dependence), only the initials of the child, parent(s) or individual party(ies), as the case may be, may be used.

     History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. 11020, Dec. 10, 1965, eff. Jan. 1, 1966; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. June 16, 1986, eff. Jan. 19, 1987; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. May 1, 1990, eff. May 1, 1990; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Feb. 7, 2002, eff. Mar. 15, 2002; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Dec. 17, 2002, eff. Feb. 1, 2003.