Most Native Americans in Montana own some tribal trust land. That land is usually divided into small shares. When a trust land owner passes without a will, a Probate Judge decides what happens to the land based on complicated rules. Those rules can sometimes leave younger children without any land. In other cases, the Tribe …
Education Rights
The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law created to support students who are: sharing housing with extended family or friends; staying in motels or campgrounds; staying in shelters or transitional housing; and sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing. Students’ rights and required services include: Immediate school enrollment, even if students do …
Free Family Mediation
The Montana Family Transition Project, a partnership between MLSA and the Office of the Court Administrator, is a free family mediation program for separating couples with children. The program offers mediation, child support calculation, and legal advice for parents needing a parenting plan as part of their family law case. Mediation is an out-of-court way …
Did you know there is a new law to protect pregnant workers?
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is a federal law that went into effect June 27, 2023. It protects employees who have limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Some examples of reasonable accommodations include: Being able to sit or drink water; Receiving closer parking; Having flexible hours; Receiving uniforms and safety apparel …
Did you know that there is a fee to file court documents?
If you can’t afford to pay the fee you can ask the judge to allow you to file your paperwork without paying the fee by filing a fee waiver form. The form is also called a “Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and Fees.” You can use our free interactive form to write a …
Do you know how to prepare for student loan repayment?
The COVID-19 payment pause is ending on September 1st. In October, borrowers must resume payments for the first time in more than three years. Here are steps you can take to prepare: Check your loan information by logging into studentaid.gov. Your loans may have been transferred to a new loan servicer during the pandemic. Studentaid.gov …
Did you know you may be eligible for a property tax rebate?
The Property Tax Rebate is a rebate of up to $675 a year of property taxes paid on your primary residence. There are rebates available for property taxes paid for the 2022 and 2023 tax years. To qualify, you must have: -owned and lived in a Montana residence for at least seven months; -had property …
Did you know you can ask a basic legal question any time on AskKarla.org?
Here is how it works: 1. Go to askkarla.org. 2. Click “Get Help.” 3. Read about what the website offers. If it sounds like a right fit for you, click “Apply Now.” 4. Answer the eligibility screening questions. 5. Post your civil legal question. 6. You will receive an email when one of our awesome …
Did you know we have a free automated form to file for divorce?
You answer questions in an automated interview, and then the program produces a neatly typed, completed legal document for you. The interview will take you about 45 to 90 minutes to complete and then the document is ready for your review and signature. You can create an account to stop, save, and return to your …
Have you received a letter from your landlord telling you to move out? Have you been personally served with eviction court papers?
For this week’s legal tip, we would like to share the PDF of our Fact Sheet for Renters resource, which is a helpful one pager for renters in Montana. You can find the PDF by clicking here. For more detailed information and links to our free forms, check out the housing section of montanalawhelp.org. Need …