Rule 82.Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
Enacted effective October 1, 2011 · Last verified June 26, 2026
Full Text of Rule 82
Plain-English Summary
Procedural rules are not supposed to change a court's power or the proper place to sue. Rule 82 makes that explicit: except as provided in Rule 4 (which sets out jurisdiction over persons and the bases for it), these rules neither extend nor limit the jurisdiction of the district courts or the venue of actions in those courts. Jurisdiction and venue are governed by constitutional and statutory law, not by these procedural rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Rules of Civil Procedure change a court's jurisdiction or venue?
No. Except as provided in Rule 4, these rules neither extend nor limit the district courts' jurisdiction or the venue of actions.
Where do jurisdiction and venue come from, if not these rules?
From the Montana Constitution and statutes. Rule 82 confirms these procedural rules do not supply or restrict jurisdiction or venue themselves, apart from Rule 4's jurisdictional provisions.