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Alternative Dispute Resolution in Montana Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner has said, "Courts in this country should not be the places where the resolution of disputes begins. They should be the places where disputes end - after alternative methods of resolving disputes have been considered and tried." |
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Bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a form of legal relief for a person who owes more debts than he or she can repay. An important purpose of the bankruptcy laws is to allow eligible debtors to either reorganize their financial affairs, or to get a fresh financial start. The person whose debts are addressed in a bankruptcy is called the debtor. The term "bankrupt" is no longer used. |
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Client Bill of Rights Your relationship with your lawyer is governed both by the agreement you make with the lawyer and by the laws and rules that govern the lawyer's conduct. Those laws and rules give you rights that you should know about before you agree to retain an attorney. |
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Divorce in Montana Montana has a "no fault" divorce law. To grant a divorce, the court must determine a) that the couple has lived separate and apart for more than 180 consecutive days before the petition for divorce is filed; or b) there is serious marital discord between the parties and no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. |
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How Lawyers Set Their Fees Many persons fail to seek needed legal advice because they are uncertain about the cost of a lawyer's service. They try to save legal fees by doing their own legal work, or by depending on a non-lawyer for legal advice. Too often, these persons find out later that they are involved in a serious legal problem that could have been prevented had they seen an attorney first. As a result, they may end up spending days in court, with the increased costs involved, and face the possibility of losing substantially more than what a lawyer's initial advice would have cost. |
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Purchasing Your Home For most people, the purchase of a home is their largest single life- time investment. There are many complex aspects of a residential real estate transaction. However, with competent assistance and advice, the purchase of a home can be a pleasant and rewarding experience. |
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Renting A House or an Apartment Questions often arise as to the legal rights of tenants and landlords. This section discusses some of the questions most commonly asked. |
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Small Claims Court This is a court designed especially for suits of $3,000 or less. Small claims court was established to provide a speedy remedy for small claims without having to hire a lawyer and without the necessity of a formal trial. |
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Wills & Probate Generally, anyone 18 or older can make a will. To make a will, you must be "of sound mind" which means that you understand such things as the general nature and value of your estate, the people who would be the the natural objects of your affection, and to whom you are leaving your estate in your will. |
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When You Need A Lawyer Whether buying a home, drawing up a will, or doing any one of the many things that require professional legal assistance, almost everyone - sooner or later - needs the help of a lawyer. This section is designed to give some basic information about lawyers so you can take better advantage of the services they can provide. |
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State of Montana Local Bar Associations www.montanabar.org |
Designed by Amy Cuchine