Montana Title 2. Government Structure and Administration § 2-9-523. Proceedings to obtain release

(1) A surety desiring to be released from liability on the bond of any county or township officer shall file a statement in writing, duly subscribed by the surety or someone on the surety's behalf setting forth the name and office of the bonded person, the amount for which the surety is liable, and the surety's desire to be released from further liability on account of the bond.

(2) A notice containing the object of the statement must be served personally on the principal unless the principal has left the state or the principal's whereabouts cannot after due and diligent search and inquiry be ascertained, in which case the notice may be served by publication once a week for four successive publications in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the bond is filed on record. The statement, except when the county clerk and recorder or county commissioners are principals, must be filed with the county clerk and recorder. When the county clerk and recorder or county commissioners are principals, the statement must be filed with the district court judge.

(3) A surety desiring to be released from liability on the bond of any city or town officer shall file and serve a similar statement with the city or town clerk or mayor.

(4) A surety desiring to be released from an executor's, administrator's, or guardian's bond or undertaking shall file and serve a similar statement with the proper officer, person, or authority with whom the bond is filed on record.

(5) All statements provided for in this section must be served personally on the principal as provided in this section if the principal can be found for service in the state. If the principal cannot be found in the state, the principal may be served by publication in a newspaper as provided in subsection (2) or, if a newspaper is not published in that county, then in a newspaper published in an adjoining county, without any order from any court or other authority. In all cases for which publication is provided, a printed or written notice posted in at least 10 conspicuous places in the county for the time specified for publication of the notice is considered legal notice.