What can Legal Services Developer Program do for you?

Lisa Baxter

Action for Eastern Montana

The Legal Service Developer Program is housed under the Aging Services Bureau of the Department of Public Health and Human Services of Montana. The program provides legal advice and assistance to Montanans older than 60, their caregivers, family members and professionals with questions about elder law, or legal issues being experienced by an older adult. Services can also be provided to adults with a disability. Advice can be provided on a wide range of issues including consumer finance, landlord/tenant, probate information and questions on estate planning documents. The program does not provide advice on family law, medical malpractice or criminal law. The program focuses on advice and does not provide direct representation.

The Legal Service Developer Program has received several grants through the Montana Board of Crime Control to address financial exploitation among Montanan’s older adults. The Senior Financial Defense Grant project focuses on training professionals in aging services, as well as professionals who may encounter older adults. The project conducts training in communities across the state in partnership with Adult Protective Services that is evidence-based, victim-centered and trauma informed. This training is accredited for Continuing Legal Education Credits, Nursing Continuing Education Credits, and Continuing Education Credits for social workers and is offered free of charge. The project funds estate-planning clinics which serve as a vehicle to address current exploitation as well as form relationships with older Montanans across the state.

The Legal Service Developer Program provides estate planning services to older adults. The services are offered both over the phone and in-person. All estate planning services are provided by specially trained legal professionals and volunteers. Documents include revocable transfer on death deeds, declaration of homesteads, powers of attorney for financial and health care, declaration of living wills and simple wills. Other documents can be completed as necessary and include affidavits to terminate joint tenancy and affidavits for collection of personal property. The program has age requirements but not income requirements. In-person legal document clinics will be offered in Lewistown, Deer Lodge, Glendive, Miles City, Hamilton and Emigrant in 2021. Phone clinics are available year around, to Montanans across the state.

The Legal Service Developer Programs provides various trainings and legal education opportunities throughout the year. Previously recorded trainings are available on the website https://dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aging/legalservicesdeveloper and include sessions on guardianships, working with adults with limited capacity, working with adults with disabilities, Social Security and many other elder law topics. The website also contains estate planning forms and relevant information.

For more information, interested parties can contact Katy Lovell, Legal Service Developer at 406-444-7787, klovell@mt.gov or, Senior Financial Defense Project Coordinator Richard Heitstuman at richard.heitstuman@mt.gov.