Between November 1 and April 1, regulated utility companies like NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, and Energy West must get approval from Montana’s Public Service Commission (PSC) before shutting off utilities for non-payment. The PSC won’t allow utility companies to turn off utilities if: The customer’s income is at or below the federal poverty guideline The …
Amending a Parenting Plan with What’s Next Text
Want helpful reminders and step-by-step texts on amending a parenting plan sent right to your phone? Our texting program What’s Next Text can guide you through what to do and when, so you can take the important steps to move forward with amending your parenting plan. Text START to 406-430-3127 to begin. Need help? Montana …
If a child tells you they’ve been sexually abused
This post discusses childhood sexual abuse. Please take care of yourself. This legal tip has been adapted from the Montana Child Sexual Assault Response Team’s “Child Sexual Assault FAQ.” If a child tells you that they have been sexually abused, here are some guidelines of what to do: Stay calm and keep your voice normal. …
Medicaid Resources
Changes are here for Medicaid in Montana, and we’ve got you covered. MontanaLawHelp.org has a number of resources to help you navigate Medicaid in Montana. We have information on: Community engagement requirements Administrative hearings Health insurance coverage calculator Applying for Medicaid Renewals and redeterminations Healthy Montana Kids Eligibility for Medicaid And more Visit MontanaLawHelp.org/issues/public-assistance/medicaid to learn …
Fair Housing Act protected characteristics
Under the Fair Housing Act, there are seven federally protected characteristics: Race Color Religion Sex Disability Familial status (having children under 18 in the household or pregnancy) National origin This means that it’s illegal to discriminate against or deny someone housing based on any of these protected characteristics. The Fair Housing Act applies to the …
Montana State Courts Data Breach
On September 2, 2026, the Montana Supreme Court released a statement detailing the discovery of unauthorized access to court data. The case management system that was affected is used for E-filing, the electronic filing system for Montana’s court system. The system is also used by the Montana Supreme Court for its appellate cases. If you …
Crime victim rights
Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) offers civil legal crime victim services. Our services can include enforcing a victim’s right to privacy, to notice and information, and to participate in the case. We can assist with victim compensation, restitution, and preparing for a trial against the offender. Types of crimes we may be able to help …
Notice to vacate vs. papers filed in court seeking eviction
A notice to vacate is different than an eviction lawsuit filed in court. Here’s how to respond to each of them. A notice to vacate, sometimes called a notice of termination, comes from your landlord, and will tell you that they’re terminating your rental agreement. It is usually in the form of a letter, but …
Timeline of a foreclosure
For most Montanans, a mortgage company cannot officially begin the foreclosure process until you are 120 days (about 4 months) behind on your payments. Then, in most cases, the mortgage company can begin the foreclosure process just by providing public notice of the foreclosure. Next, the mortgage company must send you a letter 120 days …
Find legal providers
In addition to legal information and court forms, MontanaLawHelp.org also allows you to search for other legal providers and local resources in Montana. These are providers from DV shelters to tribal courts to legal services for veterans. To get to our Legal Providers page, scroll down on the homepage of MontanaLawHelp.org. Click on the green …