Montana Title 85. Water Use § 85-7-105. Order and notice of hearing on petition

(1) On such petition being filed, the district court or judge thereof shall make an order fixing the time and place of hearing on the petition and directing that notice thereof be given. Thereupon the clerk of said court shall cause to be published at least once a week for 2 successive calendar weeks in some newspaper published in the county where the petition is filed a copy of such petition, together with a notice stating the time and place fixed by the district court when and where the hearing on said petition will be had. If any portion of the lands within the proposed district lies within any other county or counties, then said petition and notice shall be published as above provided in a newspaper published in each such other county. If there be no newspaper published in such county, said petition and notice may be published in an adjoining county.

(2) The first publication of said petition and notice shall be not less than 30 days prior to the time mentioned in said notice for said hearing.

(3) If any holder of title or evidence of title to lands within the proposed district is a nonresident of the county or counties in which the proposed district lies, the clerk of said court shall, within 3 days after the first publication aforesaid, mail a copy of said petition and notice to each such nonresident whose post-office address is stated in said petition.

(4) The certificate of the clerk of the district court, under the seal of the court, as to the facts of the publishing and mailing of said petition and notice, affixed to a copy of said notice, shall be sufficient evidence of such facts.