To: (name of defendant–or if the defendant is a corporation, partnership or association name, an officer or agent authorized to receive service):

Why are you getting this?

A lawsuit has been filed against you, or the entity you represent, in this court under the number shown above. A copy of the complaint is attached.

This is not a summons, or an official notice from the court. It is a request that, to avoid expenses, you acknowledge and waive formal service of a summons by signing and returning the enclosed acknowledgment and waiver. To avoid these expenses, you must return the signed acknowledgment and waiver within 21 days (42 days if you are the State of Montana, a state agency, or a state officer or employee) from the date shown below, which is the date this notice was sent. Two copies of the acknowledgment and waiver are enclosed, along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, or other prepaid means for returning one copy. You may keep the other copy.

What happens next?

If you return the signed acknowledgment and waiver, I will file it with the court. The action will then proceed as if you had been served on the date the waiver is filed, but no summons will be served on you and you will have 21 days from the date you sign the acknowledgment and waiver (42 days if you are the State of Montana, a state agency, or a state officer or employee sued in an official capacity) to answer the complaint.

If you do not return the signed acknowledgment and waiver within the time indicated, I will arrange to have the summons and complaint served on you, and I will ask the court to require you, or the entity you represent, to pay the expenses of making service.

Please read the enclosed statement about the duty to avoid unnecessary expenses.

I certify that this request is being sent to you on the date below.

Date: __________________ ______________________________

Signature of the attorney or unrepresented party

________________________________________________

Printed name

________________________________________________

Relationship to entity or authority to receive service

________________________________________________

Address

________________________________________________

E-mail address

________________________________________________

Telephone number

Comment: Both Form 18B and the “Duty to Avoid Unnecessary Expenses of Serving a Summons” page should always accompany this form.