Mont. Judicial Branch, Answering Your Landlord's Complaint to Evict You

If the paragraphs in the Complaint are numbered, you can list the
paragraph numbers in the blanks instead of rewriting what is written in
the Complaint. For example, in paragraph 1 of the Answer form, you
could list “2, 5, 6, 8,” on the blank line, which would tell the court you
admit those paragraphs in the Complaint are true. If a paragraph is only
partly true, write what part you admit and explain why the rest of the
paragraph is not true.

If the paragraphs in the Complaint are not numbered, you need to
write what parts of the Complaint you are admitting, denying, or saying
you do not know enough about. Whatever you write in your answer
should be true. For example, suppose that the Complaint says you
have lived in the rental since July 1, 2009, you owe $900 in rent, and
the landlord owns 10 rentals. In your answer, you write what’s true. You
could admit you lived in the rental since July 1, 2009, deny you owe
$900 in rent, and say you do not know if the landlord owns 10 rentals.

on the Answer form for any affirmative defenses that are true.
Look at page 3 of this packet to learn more about affirmative
defenses.

WARNING: If you admit everything in the Complaint and do not have an
affirmative defense, there will not be a hearing, and the judge will tell you
to move out. By admitting everything, you are telling the judge that you
agree with what the landlord has said in the Complaint. If you admit
everything, then the judge won’t need to hold a hearing to find out what is
true.

Sign the Answer.

□ You must fill out and sign the top part of the Proof of
Service in front of a notary. The notary will fill out the
bottom part that begins with “SIGNED AND
SWORN.”