In Spring 2024, Montana Legal Services Association contracted with Erin Farris-Olsen of EFO Consulting to provide updates to multiple MLSA form packets. Erin Farris-Olsen was the former Court Help program administrator from 2010-2014 and Equal Justice Coordinator for the State Bar of Montana. Erin was part of the Commission on Self Represented Litigant Committee’s Forms Sub Committee that carried out the 2015 update to the self-represented litigant forms. Since there have been many changes in the forms, court process, available resources (especially the MLSA Family Transition Project) and our communities since that time, Erin worked closely with Self Help Staff in proposing this round of edits.

The edits themselves represent an attempt to balance legal requirements, the reality of litigant’s lives, the need for form simplicity to achieve accuracy, and the Montana Supreme Court mandate that discretion is offered to self represented litigants navigating our courts.

We’re certain we didn’t get everything right and appreciate your valuable time in providing feedback.