Montana Title 70. Property § 70-29-206. Procedure in relation to lots and subdivisions

(1) The court shall thereupon direct the referees to survey and appraise the entire property to be partitioned by actual lots and subdivisions then existing in the actual possession of the several tenants in common, exclusive of the value of improvements thereon, first setting apart necessary portions of the property for ways, roads, and streets, as in 70-29-205 provided, and to report such survey and separate appraisement on each lot and subdivision to the court. The court may confirm, change, modify, or set aside the report in whole or in part and, if necessary, appoint new referees.

(2) When, after the final confirmation of the report of such survey and appraisement, it shall appear by evidence to the satisfaction of the court that an equitable partition of the whole property is impracticable and a sale of the site of such city, town, or any portion thereof will be for the best interest of the owners of the whole property, it shall order a sale thereof; provided that within 60 days thereafter any tenant in common or tenants in common having improvements erected on any town or city lot or subdivision included in such order of sale shall have the prior right to purchase the same at such appraised valuation and pay into court the amount so appraised as the value thereof, and upon such payment, the title shall vest in such purchaser or purchasers, and the court shall cause to be executed by said referees a deed for such lot or subdivision in fee and in severalty to such purchaser or purchasers. Such further proceedings shall then be had as to the remainder of the property and the money so paid to the court as by this chapter provided.