A&M Law Blog
Practical guides and legal insights from Misty Gaubatz and Ashley Hurlbert.
Why Montana Truck Accident Claims Are Different
A collision with a commercial truck is not just a bigger car crash. Different rules, more defendants, and evidence that is overwritten in weeks.
How a Montana Car Accident Settlement Actually Works
From the first adjuster call to the final release: what actually happens in a Montana injury settlement, and why the timing of the demand matters.
How Long Do You Have to File an Injury Claim in Montana?
Montana gives you a limited window to bring an injury claim, and it is shorter than most people assume once evidence starts disappearing.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Montana
The hours after a crash shape everything that follows. What to do at the scene, what to say to the insurer, and the mistake that costs people most.
How to Prepare for Your Montana Divorce: A Checklist
Getting organized before you begin can make a Montana divorce faster, calmer, and less expensive. Here's a practical checklist to prepare with confidence.
How to Modify a Custody Order in Montana
Life changes, and a parenting plan sometimes must change too. How to modify a Montana custody order, and what a court needs to see.
Montana Restraining Orders: What You Need to Know
An order of protection is a civil order, not a criminal charge. How Montana's protective orders work, whether you seek one or respond to one.
Felony vs. Misdemeanor in Montana: What's the Difference?
Montana sorts crimes into two categories, and the difference shapes everything from penalties to your long-term record. Here's how it works.
Grandparent Visitation Rights in Montana
Montana law allows grandparents to petition for contact with a grandchild in certain situations. Here's what that process looks like and what courts weigh.
What Is Montana Drug Court?
Montana's treatment courts are an alternative to traditional sentencing when charges are rooted in addiction. How drug court works, and who qualifies.
What to Do If You're Falsely Accused of a Crime in Montana
Being accused of something you didn't do is frightening, and what you do next matters. Here are the steps to protect yourself under Montana law.
Can Same-Sex Couples Adopt in Montana?
Yes, and here's how second-parent and stepparent adoption secures your family under Montana law.
Conditional Discharge in Montana
Conditional discharge and deferred sentences can keep a conviction off your record. Here's what to know in Montana.
Early Termination of Probation in Montana
If you've stayed compliant, you may not have to serve every day of probation. How early termination works in Montana.
Montana PFMA: What You Need to Know
Partner or Family Member Assault is Montana's primary domestic-violence charge. Here's what it means and what's at stake.
The Emotional Benefits of Cooperative Divorce
Divorce is hard enough. Here's how a cooperative process protects not just your finances, but your emotional well-being.
How We Invented Cooperative Family Law
The story behind the approach Misty Gaubatz and Ashley Hurlbert pioneered in Western Montana, and why they built it.
When Cooperative Divorce Doesn't Work
An honest look at the situations where the cooperative approach isn't the right fit, and what protects you better.
Montana Parenting Plans: The Cooperative Approach
What goes into a Montana parenting plan, and how the cooperative approach builds one that actually lasts.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Montana?
Arrested for DUI in Montana? Here's the step-by-step of what comes next, and why the first 24 hours matter most.
Cooperative Family Law for Military Families
Deployments, relocations, and military benefits add complexity to divorce. The cooperative approach can offer military families needed flexibility.
Cooperative Family Law and Complex Assets
A business, multiple properties, or significant retirement accounts don't rule out a cooperative divorce. Here's how complex estates are handled.
What to Expect at Your First Cooperative Family Law Meeting
Walking into your first cooperative meeting? Here's exactly what happens, who's in the room, and how to prepare.
The True Cost of Divorce in Montana
What does a divorce really cost in Montana, and why does the method you choose matter more than anything else?
How Cooperative Family Law Protects Children
The research is clear: it's conflict, not divorce itself, that harms children most. Here's how the cooperative approach is built to protect them.
5 Signs Your Divorce Can Be Resolved Cooperatively
Not every divorce needs a courtroom battle. Here are five signs that the cooperative approach could be the right fit for your family.
Cooperative vs. Collaborative Divorce: A Complete Guide
They sound alike and share a goal, but one key difference, who represents you, changes your cost and your risk. A complete guide.
What Is Cooperative Family Law?
Cooperative Family Law is the out-of-court, attorney-guided process we pioneered in Western Montana. Here's what it is, how it works, and who it's for.
Have a Legal Question?
Call us directly. We're happy to point you in the right direction. 406-830-3060.