This Saturday, December 3, is National Roof Over Your Head Day, a day of appreciation for the things we have, including the roof over our heads. As Montana enters the winter season, shelter from the cold, ice and snow becomes increasingly important. Helena residents are currently planning a “Longest Night” event on December 22 to …
Veterans and Military Families
As Veterans’ Day approaches, it is important to remember that veterans, people currently serving with the Armed Forces, and families of veterans and military personnel often have legal issues. There are laws and programs that only apply to veterans and military families, such as Veterans Administration benefits and associated regulations. Other times, a veteran or …
A Message From the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
[Note: As part of a series of posts relating to October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this is a guest blog entry from Sarah Rossi of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. MLSA thanks Sarah and the Coalition for this contribution.]October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Most people are NOT aware that domestic …
Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission
This post is by guest author Matt Dale, Director of the Montana Office of Consumer Protection & Victim Services, as part of the MLSA Advocacy Blog’s focus on domestic violence issues this October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. MLSA thanks Matt for this contribution.This October we remember those who have died at the hands of their …
Report on Domestic Violence Against Native Women in Montana
In June of 2009, several Montana leaders came together to hold the Honoring Native Women by Stopping the Violence Conference. This is a link to a report that was written after the conference, entitled The Empty Shawl: Honoring Native Women By Stopping the Violence Against Them.The report includes specific examples of violence as told by …
Part Three of MLSA’s Foreclosure Series: Your Options: Leaving Your Home
By Beth Hayes, Staff Attorney, Montana Legal ServicesYou might be in a situation where it is not realistic for you to keep your home. There are still options available to you to avoid foreclosure and prevent further damage. Assumption: Assumption is an option for a third party to take over your loan. When a mortgage …
Part Two of MLSA’s Foreclosure Series: Your Options: Keeping Your Home
By Beth Hayes, Staff Attorney, Montana Legal ServicesThe first thing to consider is whether or not you want to keep your home, and whether you are realistically able to do so. If you want to keep your home, and are realistically able to do so, there are many retention options available to you: Forbearance: Forbearance …
Part One Of MLSA’s Three Part Foreclosure Series: Foreclosure Procedure in Montana
By Beth Hayes, Staff Attorney, Montana Legal ServicesForeclosure is when a mortgage lender sells a borrower’s property to satisfy an unpaid debt on a mortgage. Foreclosure happens when a homeowner defaults on the mortgage. Default is another way of saying you are behind on your payments. About 15 days after you default, the lender will …
MLSA’s File Your Own Bankruptcy Program: A New Approach to Helping Debtors Find a Fresh Start
By: Jessie Lundberg, Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow, Montana Legal Services Association – Consumer Law Unit Bankruptcy is a powerful word. It carries many connotations, most often negative. For many, it symbolizes failure. Crisis. Even personal and moral shortcomings. After all, what kind of a deadbeat runs up a bunch of bills they can’t pay?Everyday Montanans like:Bill, a Viet …
Bankruptcy in Montana: Increasing Demand Necessitates Innovation in Services
A large percentage of the clients that seek services from MLSA each year have some sort of consumer related issue. Of our clients with consumer issues, many of them are asking for assistance with filing for bankruptcy. What we experience at MLSA is similar to what Rural Dynamics Inc reported in their recent blog entry. …