Rule 4. How appeals are taken.

(a) Filing notice of appeal. An appeal shall be taken by filing a timely notice of appeal in the municipal court.

(b) Joint or consolidated appeals. Two or more persons with interests making joinder practicable, may file a joint notice of appeal, or may join in appeal after filing separate timely notices of appeal, and they may thereafter proceed on appeal as a single appellant. Appeals may be consolidated by order of the district court upon its own motion or upon motion of a party, or by stipulation of the parties to the several appeals.

(c) Content of notice of appeal. The notice of appeal shall specify the party or parties taking the appeal; and shall designate the judgment, order or part thereof appealed from. Form 1 in the Appendix of forms is a suggested form of notice of appeal. An appeal shall not be dismissed for informality of form or title of the notice of appeal.

(d) Service of notice of appeal. The clerk of the municipal court shall serve a copy of the filing of notice of appeal by mailing a copy thereof to counsel of record of each party other than the appellant, or, if a party is not represented by counsel, to the party at the last known address of that party, and shall mail a copy of the notice to the clerk of the district court. The clerk of the municipal court shall note on each copy served, the date on which the notice of appeal was filed. If an appellant is represented by counsel, such counsel shall provide the clerk with sufficient copies of the notice of appeal to permit the clerk to comply with the requirements of this rule. Failure of the clerk to serve notice shall not affect the validity of the appeal. The notice shall be sufficient notwithstanding the death of a party or a party's counsel. The clerk shall note in the docket the names of the parties to whom the clerk mails copies, with the date of mailing.

(e) Appeal of protective order. Appeal of a protective order is governed by §§ 40-4-124 and 40-15-302, MCA.

(f) Appeal from judgment by default. There is no appeal from a judgment by default rendered in a municipal court except on questions of law which appear on the face of the papers or proceedings and except in cases when the municipal court has abused its discretion in setting aside or refusing to set aside a default or judgment.