Except as provided in Rule 4, these rules
do not extend or limit the jurisdiction of the district courts or the venue of actions in those
courts.
Rule 82.Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
Enacted effective October 1, 2011 · Last verified June 26, 2026
In one sentenceRule 82 clarifies that, except as provided in Rule 4, these rules neither extend nor limit the jurisdiction of the district courts or the venue of actions in them.
Full Text of Rule 82
Plain-English Summary
Procedural rules are not supposed to change a court's power or the proper place to sue. Rule 82 makes that explicit: except as provided in Rule 4 (which sets out jurisdiction over persons and the bases for it), these rules neither extend nor limit the jurisdiction of the district courts or the venue of actions in those courts. Jurisdiction and venue are governed by constitutional and statutory law, not by these procedural rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Rules of Civil Procedure change a court's jurisdiction or venue?
No. Except as provided in Rule 4, these rules neither extend nor limit the district courts' jurisdiction or the venue of actions.
Source & verification. Reproduced verbatim from the Montana Code Annotated as
published by the State Law Library of Montana and the Montana Legislature. This rule has not been amended since its adoption.
Adopted by the Supreme Court of Montana (AF 07-0157). Last verified June 26, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as: jurisdiction unaffectedvenue unaffected