Standing Masters -- Findings Of Fact And Conclusions Of Law -- Orders -- Contents And Filing -- Review -- Stipulations As To Findings

3-5-126. Standing masters -- findings of fact and conclusions of law -- orders -- contents and filing -- review -- stipulations as to findings. (1) Subject to the order of reference, the standing master shall submit findings of fact and conclusions of law, following a hearing upon the matters submitted to the standing master by the order of reference. When a hearing is not required, the standing master shall submit an order upon the matters submitted to the standing master by the order of reference. The standing master shall file the findings and conclusions or order with the clerk of the court and serve copies on all parties. All contested proceedings before the standing master must be recorded. The standing master shall, at the expense of the district court, file a recording of the proceedings and of the evidence and the original exhibits. The cost of the preparation of a duplicate of the recording is the responsibility of the objecting party. The objecting party shall serve a copy of the duplicate recording on adverse parties at the objecting party's expense.

(2) Within 10 days after being served with notice of the filing of the findings and conclusions or order, any party may serve written specific objections upon the other parties or may apply to the court for an extension to serve. Application to the court for action upon the findings and conclusions or order and upon the filing of specific objections to the findings and conclusions or order must be by motion and upon notice as prescribed in Rule 6(c) of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure. The court, after a hearing, may adopt the findings and conclusions or order and may modify, reject in whole or in part, receive further evidence, or recommit the findings and conclusions or order with instructions.

(3) The effect of a standing master's report is the same whether or not the parties have consented to the reference, but when the parties stipulate that a standing master's findings of fact are final, only questions of law arising upon the findings and conclusions may be considered.