If you cannot afford a lawyer for your divorce, Montana has legitimate places to turn: a statewide legal aid organization, free court self-help centers, a bar referral service, and a process for waiving court fees. None of them can serve everyone, and they do different things. This page, part of our Montana Divorce Guide, describes each one as its own website describes it.
The Resources at a Glance
| Resource | What it offers | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) | Free civil legal services for low-income Montanans. | Online application at mtlsa.org, or the HelpLine, 1-800-666-6899. |
| MontanaLawHelp.org | Free legal information and court forms on civil topics. A project of MLSA and partners. | Online. |
| AskKarla.org | An online platform where people who meet MLSA's income requirements can ask civil legal questions answered by pro bono attorneys. | Online. |
| Court Help Program | Free legal information and forms from the Montana Supreme Court for people handling a civil case themselves. No legal advice. | Self-help centers statewide and courts.mt.gov. |
| Missoula County Self-Help Center | The Court Help Program's Missoula location. | Missoula County Courthouse, 200 W Broadway, Room 206. 406-258-3428. |
| Licensed Lawyer Montana | The State Bar of Montana's lawyer referral service, free to the public. | Through the State Bar of Montana. |
| Fee waiver | Relief from prepaying court fees for a person unable to pay. | Affidavit and financial statement filed with the court (MCA § 25-10-404). |
Montana Legal Services Association
MLSA describes itself as "providing free civil legal services to low-income Montanans." Its website says you can apply by filling out an online application, which puts you on its call back list, or by calling the HelpLine at 1-800-666-6899. The site lists limited HelpLine hours and says that if you cannot get through you should keep trying or use the online form. It also asks applicants with an urgent deadline to note it on the application.
MLSA runs several related services:
- MontanaLawHelp.org, which MLSA describes as providing general legal information and legal forms for a variety of civil topics.
- AskKarla.org, described as an online advice platform that lets individuals who meet MLSA's income requirements ask civil legal questions that are then answered by qualified pro bono attorneys.
- The Family Transition Project, which MLSA's application page mentions for people interested in mediation to resolve a parenting plan issue. It has its own application.
Eligibility depends on income and on what MLSA can take on. Applying is not the same as being accepted, so apply early and keep working on your case in the meantime.
The Court Help Program and Self-Help Centers
The Court Help Program is, in its own words, "a free service provided by the Montana Supreme Court to assist people with civil, non-criminal legal problems." There is no income test in that description. It is for anyone who cannot afford an attorney or chooses not to hire one.
Know its limit. The program states: "While we cannot give you legal advice or represent you in court, we can provide you with legal information and direct you to resources that will help you help yourself." Staff can point you to the right forms and explain procedure. They cannot tell you what to ask for or whether an agreement is fair to you.
The program lists self-help centers in Missoula, Helena, Great Falls, Kalispell, Billings, and Bozeman, along with other locations. The Missoula County Self-Help Center is in the Missoula County Courthouse at 200 W Broadway, Room 206, and its listed number is 406-258-3428. Our articles on filing for divorce without a lawyer and divorce court in Missoula County explain the steps the forms are for.
Finding a Private Lawyer: The State Bar's Referral Service
The State Bar of Montana says it "provides a lawyer referral service, Licensed Lawyer Montana, which is available free of charge to the public." The Bar adds that it does not recommend specific attorneys, and that only attorneys who opt in and maintain malpractice insurance are part of the program. The service is free. The lawyers you find through it are private lawyers who charge for their work.
Hiring a private lawyer does not have to mean hiring one for everything. Rule 1.2(c) of the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct allows a lawyer to limit the scope of the representation if the limitation is reasonable and the client gives informed consent. Paying for a review of your agreement before you sign, or for help with one hearing, costs less than full representation. See limited scope representation.
Pro Bono Help and Fee Waivers
The Fourth Judicial District's local rules describe a program of the Western Montana Bar Association's Pro Bono Committee. It can provide a pro bono attorney to conduct a settlement conference, or a lawyer to represent a party in a case. To qualify, an Affidavit of Inability to Pay Filing Fees and Other Costs and Order must be filed in the case, and the court makes the referral if it determines the case requires the help only an attorney can provide. The rule is candid that a request "does not guarantee an attorney will be available" (Local Rule 9(C)).
Court fees are a separate hurdle. Montana law lets a person ask for a waiver by filing an affidavit, supported by a financial statement, stating that the person has a good cause of action or defense and is unable to pay the costs (MCA § 25-10-404(1)). A person represented by an entity that provides free legal services to indigent persons does not have to file the financial statement (MCA § 25-10-404(3)). Our article on divorce filing fees and fee waivers has the details.
If your spouse has far more financial resources than you do, the court may order your spouse to pay a reasonable amount toward your costs and professional fees (MCA § 40-4-110). See can my spouse pay my attorney fees.
What About the Law School?
People sometimes ask about a law school clinic. The University of Montana's law school describes a clinical program with three in-house clinics, in Indian Law, Veterans Advocacy, and Land Use and Natural Resources, and a set of external placements where third-year students work under supervising attorneys at government and nonprofit offices. Its clinic page does not list a general divorce clinic that takes applications from the public. For a divorce, start with MLSA or a self-help center.
If Safety Is Part of the Picture
If you are leaving an abusive relationship, say so when you apply for help, so the people helping you can take it into account. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. Our Montana Domestic Violence Guide explains orders of protection.
One caution. Be careful about paying anyone who is not a licensed attorney for advice about your divorce. The organizations on this page are the legitimate starting points, and a short conversation with a lawyer, covered in do I need a lawyer for divorce, can tell you how much help your case needs.
This page describes resources as their own websites describe them and explains Montana law in general as of the 2025 Montana Code Annotated. Programs change their hours and eligibility rules, so confirm details with each organization. It is not legal advice about your specific case.