In civil cases, there are no court-appointed attorneys. This is where Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) comes in. MLSA is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income clients in Montana with issues like divorce, domestic violence, eviction, public benefits, debt, and more. We have offices in Billings, Helena, and Missoula and …
If the Office of Public Assistance (OPA) has made a decision about your public benefits that you think is unfair, against the rules, or factually wrong, you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for a Fair Hearing. To learn more about the process, check out our MontanaLawHelp.org article titled Fair Hearings: How …
If you own your mobile home and rent the lot, you cannot be evicted for no reason. A recent Montana Supreme Court ruling says that lot landlords must follow state law on rental terminations. Montana state law does not allow rental terminations for no reason. Even if a lease says it allows no-cause terminations with …
If you gave someone the power to act as your agent (often called a Power of Attorney or POA) and you would like to revoke that power, we have a form you can use called How to Revoke a Power of Attorney Document. We also have an article titled Acting As Someone’s Agent if you …
Do you know where to find free help with filing your taxes? Here are two programs that may be able to help: 1. Tax Help Montana (THM) offers free preparation and filing services for low- to moderate-income taxpayers and seniors (age 60+). Find THM sites across the state by visiting RuralDynamics.org/taxes and clicking the purple …
Have you been served with eviction court papers? Learn what to do next: 1. Read the court paperwork to figure out your deadline to answer. Renters who have been served with eviction papers from the court only have FIVE business days to file a written Answer with the court. 2. Download, print, and fill out …
Federal education laws have been passed to help youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Some of the supports include: -Fee waivers for the SAT/ACT; -An initial deposit for tuition or dorm; -Housing during school breaks; and -Help with basic needs like clothing, food, and supplies for school. All Montana high schools and the …
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low to moderate income workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund. As of December 2023, approximately 64,000 Montanans received $139 million in EITC. The average amount received in …
We want to join SPARK in amplifying the call to KNOW IT, NAME IT, and STOP IT! Most stalking victims tell a friend or family member about the situation before seeking any formal help. Learn more about how to support a friend experiencing stalking. Stalking is illegal in all U.S. states and territories. Engaging in …
Do you know what to do if you have an approved court fee waiver and are still charged to file papers? If you cannot afford court fees, you can request a fee waiver using our free interactive form. This is also called a “Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and Fees” and it is …
