This week, April 2-8, is National Public Health Week. Health care is obviously a major issue nationwide, and many overlapping issues exist between a person’s health, legal rights, and economic status. One approach to addressing these overlapping issues is a medical-legal partnership. In this kind of partnership, a medical provider refers patients to a partner …
Valentine’s Day Tax Help for Veterans
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the state will give priority to veterans who need help preparing their tax returns this Valentine’s Day. Participating sites are located in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Butte, Kalispell, Havre, Hamilton, Miles City, and Helena. To qualify for services, the veteran must have less than $50,000 in household income …
Montana Supreme Court Accepting Comments on Two Proposals
The first is the proposed creation of a pro bono appellate program. The proposed program description states that the Court and its staff may, after briefing is complete, identify issues where additional briefing with the assistance of an attorney to a self-represented litigant would be beneficial to the Court. Then the Court’s Pro Se Law …
National Roof Over Your Head Day
This Saturday, December 3, is National Roof Over Your Head Day, a day of appreciation for the things we have, including the roof over our heads. As Montana enters the winter season, shelter from the cold, ice and snow becomes increasingly important. Helena residents are currently planning a “Longest Night” event on December 22 to …
Veterans and Military Families
As Veterans’ Day approaches, it is important to remember that veterans, people currently serving with the Armed Forces, and families of veterans and military personnel often have legal issues. There are laws and programs that only apply to veterans and military families, such as Veterans Administration benefits and associated regulations. Other times, a veteran or …
A Message From the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
[Note: As part of a series of posts relating to October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this is a guest blog entry from Sarah Rossi of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. MLSA thanks Sarah and the Coalition for this contribution.]October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Most people are NOT aware that domestic …
Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission
This post is by guest author Matt Dale, Director of the Montana Office of Consumer Protection & Victim Services, as part of the MLSA Advocacy Blog’s focus on domestic violence issues this October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. MLSA thanks Matt for this contribution.This October we remember those who have died at the hands of their …
Report on Domestic Violence Against Native Women in Montana
In June of 2009, several Montana leaders came together to hold the Honoring Native Women by Stopping the Violence Conference. This is a link to a report that was written after the conference, entitled The Empty Shawl: Honoring Native Women By Stopping the Violence Against Them.The report includes specific examples of violence as told by …
Part Three of MLSA’s Foreclosure Series: Your Options: Leaving Your Home
By Beth Hayes, Staff Attorney, Montana Legal ServicesYou might be in a situation where it is not realistic for you to keep your home. There are still options available to you to avoid foreclosure and prevent further damage. Assumption: Assumption is an option for a third party to take over your loan. When a mortgage …
Part Two of MLSA’s Foreclosure Series: Your Options: Keeping Your Home
By Beth Hayes, Staff Attorney, Montana Legal ServicesThe first thing to consider is whether or not you want to keep your home, and whether you are realistically able to do so. If you want to keep your home, and are realistically able to do so, there are many retention options available to you: Forbearance: Forbearance …