Mont. Code Ann. § 81-5-108

Within 20 days after the service of the petition and summons or publication of the summons, as provided in 81-5-104, the owner or claimant of the seized property shall file a verified answer to the allegations concerning the use of the property contained in the petition to institute forfeiture proceedings. Only one 20-day extension of the time for filing the answer may be granted, and failure to answer within 20 days or within the 20-day extension bars the owner or claimants from presenting evidence at any subsequent evidentiary hearing unless extraordinary circumstances exist.