In states like Montana, the prescription for healthier patients may be lawyers. “Without legal help along the way, the woman would have just been like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’” Kallie Dale-Ramos, Medical-Legal Partnership Staff Attorney.
Renters Face Financial Constraints Due to COVID-19
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread across Montana, many Montanans are now facing a new worry: being able to afford rent come April 1. With many workers laid off or forced to take unpaid leave following business and school closures, incomes for many families have plummeted, leaving them unsure of how they will pay …
Breaking the Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence
For survivors of intimate partner violence, having access to civil legal aid is often essential in allowing them to break the cycle of violence and abuse. MLSA Board Member Alissa Chambers recently shared why she thinks civil legal aid is so important in addressing domestic violence throughout Montana: “As an attorney, I have seen firsthand …
Accessing Justice on Tribal Land
For people living on tribal land throughout the US, figuring out in which court a legal case will be heard can be confusing. A dizzying array of treaties, federal laws and case law determine where a case will be heard and even, in criminal cases, what charges will be filed. In many cases, such as …
MLSA Receives Disaster Preparedness Grant
On June 6, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced that the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) will receive $250,000 in grant funding to help low-income communities in Montana prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. Four other civil legal aid organizations in the Midwest – Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Arkansas – will also …
New Technology Funding Will Help Increase Legal Services to Rural Crime Victims
Helena MT – Rural crime victims in Montana will soon have more services and information to help them navigate their complex situations. The National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) recently awarded $749,156 over two years to the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) to implement innovative technology to deliver no-cost legal services and information to crime …
Veterans Who Received Disability Payments May Be Eligible for Tax Refunds
Yesterday the IRS advised veterans that they may be eligible for a refund if they received a one-time lump-sum disability severance payment after 1991. Veterans must submit an amended tax return to claim the refund within one year of receiving notification from the Department of Defense about their eligibility for a refund. Generally taxpayers can …
MLSA Adds New Health Centers to Medical Legal Partnership
Butte MT, Hardin MT – The Montana Healthcare Foundation recently awarded $100,000 over two years to the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) to support expansion of the Montana Health Justice Partnership. Health centers in Butte and Hardin, Montana, will now be partners in the successful program. The grant will fund a new part-time paralegal and …
IRS Has Refunds of Over $3.6 Million for Montanans Who Have Not Filed Their 2014 Taxes
The IRS has announced that about 3,500 Montanans have an average refund of $808 available to them if they file their 2014 taxes before April 17, 2018. You will lose your right to a refund for your 2014 taxes if you don't file before April 18th. For more information on 2014 refunds, visit: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-refunds-worth-one-point-one-billion-dollars-waiting-to-be-claimed-by-those-who-have-not-filed-2014-federal-income-tax-returns. If …
MLSA meets with Montana Delegation in Washington D.C.
MLSA Executive Director Alison Paul, Development Director Michelle Potts, and Board Member Andy Patten recently traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Montana's US and Congressional Delegation. Over the course of two days, MLSA's staff met with Senator Tester, Senator Daines, and Representative Gianforte, first at the weekly Montana Coffee (pictured below) and then in …