Rule 52.Findings and Conclusions by the Court; Judgment on Partial Findings

Enacted effective October 1, 2011 · Last amended July 1, 2017 · Last verified June 26, 2026

In one sentenceRule 52 requires a court deciding a case without a jury to find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately, sets the clearly-erroneous standard for reviewing those findings on appeal, and allows judgment on partial findings.

Full Text of Rule 52

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) Findings and Conclusions.

(1) In General. In an action tried on the facts without a jury or with an advisory jury, the court must find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately. The findings and conclusions may be stated on the record after the close of the evidence or may appear in an opinion or a memorandum of decision filed by the court. Judgment must be entered under Rule 58.

(2) For an Interlocutory Injunction. In granting or refusing an interlocutory injunction, the court must similarly state the findings and conclusions that support its action.

(3) For a Motion. The court is not required to state findings or conclusions when ruling on a motion unless these rules provide otherwise. When ruling on a motion under Rule 12 or 56, a court shall specify the grounds therefor with sufficient particularity as to apprise the parties and any appellate court of the rationale underlying the ruling. This may be done in the body of the order or in an attached opinion.

(4) Effect of a Master’s Findings. A master’s findings, to the extent adopted by the court, must be considered the court’s findings.

(5) Questioning the Evidentiary Support. A party may later question the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the findings, whether or not the party requested findings, objected to them, moved to amend them, or moved for partial findings.

(6) Setting Aside the Findings. Findings of fact, whether based on oral or other evidence, must not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, and the reviewing court must give due regard to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the witnesses’ credibility.

(b) Amended or Additional Findings. On a party’s motion filed no later than 28 days after the entry of judgment, the court may amend its findings -- or make additional findings -- and may amend the judgment accordingly. The motion may accompany a motion for a new trial under Rule 59.

(c) Judgment on Partial Finding. If a party has been fully heard on an issue during a nonjury trial and the court finds against the party on that issue, the court may enter judgment against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue. The court may, however, decline to render any judgment until the close of the evidence. A judgment on partial findings must be supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law as required by Rule 52(a).

(d) Time for determining motions. Motions provided under subdivision (b) of this rule must be determined within the time provided by Rule 59 in the cases of motions for new trial and amendment of judgment and if the court fails to rule on the motion within the 60-day period, the motion must be deemed denied.

End

Plain-English Summary

When a judge rather than a jury decides the facts, Rule 52 demands a reasoned decision. In an action tried without a jury (or with an advisory jury), the court must find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately — on the record after the evidence closes, or in a written opinion — with judgment then entered under Rule 58. When ruling on a Rule 12 or Rule 56 motion, the court must likewise specify its grounds with enough particularity to inform the parties and any appellate court of its reasoning.

Those findings are durable on appeal: a finding of fact — whether based on live testimony or other evidence — must not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, with due regard for the trial court's chance to judge the witnesses' credibility. A party may move within 28 days for amended or additional findings (and the motion is deemed denied if not ruled on within 60 days). The rule also allows judgment on partial findings — the nonjury counterpart to judgment as a matter of law — once a party has been fully heard on a dispositive issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a judge have to explain a decision after a bench trial?

Yes. In a nonjury trial, the court must find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately, either on the record or in a written opinion.

What is the standard for overturning a judge's factual findings on appeal?

Clearly erroneous — the reviewing court gives due regard to the trial court's opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses.

Source & verification. Reproduced verbatim from the Montana Code Annotated as published by the State Law Library of Montana and the Montana Legislature. Adopted by the Supreme Court of Montana (AF 07-0157). Last verified June 26, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: findings of factconclusions of lawclearly erroneousjudgment on partial findings