Montana Legal Services Association https://www.mtlsa.org/ Montana’s Solution to Unmet Legal Aid Needs Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:45:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://www.mtlsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/favicon-50x50.png Montana Legal Services Association https://www.mtlsa.org/ 32 32 Negotiating a payment plan with a debt collector? https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/06/24/negotiating-a-payment-plan-with-a-debt-collector/ Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:45:13 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=17085 Here is what you need to know: If you can’t agree on a payment plan, the debt collector could file a lawsuit. If they win, they could get a court judgment and garnish your wages.  The law sets limits on how much they can take from your paycheck. If you’re not already being garnished, you …

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]]> 17085 Montana Free Press: Bozeman Considers Providing Legal Help to City’s Renters https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/05/20/montana-free-press-bozeman-considers-providing-legal-help-to-citys-renters/ Tue, 20 May 2025 21:28:22 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16987 Our Senior Housing Attorney, Amy Hall, speaks to how having the right to counsel in Evictions can impact both Bozeman renters and landlord alike in the current housing crisis.

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]]> 16987 Trauma-Informed Legal Assistance for Human Trafficking Survivors https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/05/08/trauma-informed-legal-assistance-for-human-trafficking-survivors/ Thu, 08 May 2025 19:58:42 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16900 Thank you to the Friendship Center for spotlighting our attorney Alix House!

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]]> 16900 Flathead Beacon: Federal Funding Freezes Have Chilling Effect on Rural Domestic Violence Resources https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/04/30/flathead-beacon-federal-funding-freezes-have-chilling-effect-on-rural-domestic-violence-resources/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:41:59 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16869 Federal funding freezes are making it harder for programs to help Montanans escaping domestic violence. Our Executive Director, Alison Paul, was recently featured in this article by the Flathead Beacon. Check out this article to learn more about how the uncertainty is impacting those rural communities.

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]]> 16869 Expungement Form for a Fresh Start https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/04/28/expungement-form-for-a-fresh-start/ Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:49:05 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16859 Do you have old misdemeanor convictions that are impacting your chances for employment, housing, and other opportunities? Expungement is a legal process that allows you to seal and remove past convictions from your criminal record. Clearing your record can provide a fresh start, and we now have a form to help you through the process! …

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]]> 16859 Frontline Justice: Spotlight on MLSA Community Justice Worker Hayden Ramsey https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/04/15/frontline-justice-spotlight-on-mlsa-community-justice-worker-hayden-ramsey/ Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:06:48 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16801 As a community justice worker who is trained to help people who fall on hard times to access the aid and rights they are legally entitled to, our Community Justice Worker Hayden Ramsey sees her job as prevention. We are so proud to have Hayden as part of our team! Read more of her story …

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]]> 16801 Q2 Billings: YHDP Navigator at Billings Public Schools Job Fair https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/04/08/q2-billings-yhdp-navigator-at-billings-public-schools-job-fair/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:25:17 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16806 Our amazing Youth Demonstration Project Navigator, Shay Reiser, shares how MLSA serves Billings residents across a number of legal needs. Check out the article by clicking here.

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]]> 16806 Court Costs and Fees https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/03/25/court-costs-and-fees/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:19:43 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16711 If you cannot afford court fees, you can request a fee waiver using our free interactive form. A fee waiver is also called a “Statement of Inability to Pay Court Costs and Fees” and it is how you ask the judge to allow you to file your paperwork without paying the fees. After you file …

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]]> 16711 🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀 https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/03/17/%f0%9f%8d%80-happy-st-patricks-day-%f0%9f%8d%80/ Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:59:44 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16679 This St. Patrick’s Day, we’re sharing the luck of the Irish with educators! We’ve created a free lesson plan to help high school students understand Montana’s legal system. 💼⚖️ In our article, “Basics of Montana’s Legal System and Courts,” you’ll find resources on: The importance of the law  The difference between criminal and civil issues …

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]]> 16679 National Consumer Protection Week https://www.mtlsa.org/2025/03/06/national-consumer-protection-week/ Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:58:41 +0000 https://www.mtlsa.org/?p=16654 Creditors must treat you fairly and honestly. The Montana Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) ensures consumers are protected from dishonest and unfair practices. Examples of unfair or deceptive actions include: Telling you not to make payments and then charging late fees for missed payments.  Not following the terms of your loan agreement.  If you think a …

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