Montana Title 2. Government Structure and Administration § 2-9-513. Insufficiency of sureties--action to vacate office

(1) Whenever it is shown by the affidavit of a credible witness or otherwise comes to the knowledge of the court, judge, board, person, or body whose duty it is to approve the official bond of any officer that one or more sureties on a bond given pursuant to the provisions of this part have, since the bond was approved, died, left the state, become insolvent, or from any other cause have become incompetent or insufficient sureties on the bond, the court, judge, board, officer, or other person may issue a citation to the officer requiring the officer on a day named in the citation, not less than 5 or more than 10 days after the citation was issued, to appear and show cause why the office should not be vacated. The citation must be served and the return of the citation must be made as in other cases.

(2) If the officer fails to appear and show good cause why the office should not be vacated on the day named or fails to give ample additional security, the court, judge, board, officer, or other person shall make an order vacating the office. The office must be filled as provided by law.