Turning 18 is usually when people become legal adults. Parents typically lose their authority when a child reaches the age of majority. Most legal adults will retain their independence their entire lifetime. However, there are some adults who require more help than...
Southwest Montana Legal Blog
Divorce is the perfect time to revisit an estate plan
Getting married is one of the top reasons that people sit down to create their first estate plan, although having children is also a compelling reason. New families can feel much more secure when the spouses or parents have an estate plan or last will in place. Quite...
Creating an advance directive that protects you and your family
Estate planning is not just about divvying up what you own among the people that you love. It is also the process that protects you if your health gets bad and solidifies protections for the people you care about both legally and emotionally. Too many people in...
Nervous about planning for death? Here’s some guidance
For much of our lives we live in the moment. While we might plan for major life events and retirement, most people don’t give much thought to what life will look like for their loved one’s once they’re gone. As we age, though, concerns about our loved ones’ futures...
Worried about the future of your farm or business? Consider this
Are you worried about the future of your loved ones, as well as your assets such as your farm, ranch, truck or business? If so, you're not alone. In fact, a number of people are concerned about these same matters, and if they're not, then they should be. Those who...
Is your farm a point of concern in your upcoming divorce?
Farming takes a lot of work and commitment. This profession and its necessary activities may have played important roles in your life since you were a young child. As you grew up, the family farm may have passed on to you, or you may have purchased your own land and...
The estate planning mistakes that could cause you trouble
Planning for the future is not always an easy task. Estate planning can be an emotional and difficult process, especially for people who do not want to think about passing away someday or what will happen if they experience incapacitation. However, there are...
Be wary of unused water rights on a property
A water right can be a key element associated with many Montana properties. It grants the owner the legal right to take a certain amount of water from a specific source, for a prescribed use across a defined section of land. Some water rights have persisted for more...
Can a negative easement help ease neighborly disputes?
At some point, most people will have a disagreement with a neighbor. For residents of rural Montana, land and home are things of great personal value and pride. As a property owner, you want to be able to enjoy your property the best you can, and sometimes, your...
How gun trusts have evolved
Gun trusts are not dissimilar to other trusts – a grantor places property into a trust under the administration of a trustee to be distributed to a beneficiary.There are differences, however. A gun trust can have multiple trustees and can last more than one...