Legal Aid in Billings, MT: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer

If you live in Billings (Yellowstone County) and cannot afford a private attorney, there are several nonprofit and public-service resources that provide free or low-cost civil legal aid. These organizations help with housing problems, eviction defense, unsafe/poor housing conditions, debt and consumer issues, domestic violence or protective orders, family law, public-benefits disputes, elder law, and more. Even when full representation isn’t possible, many offer clinics, limited-scope help, self-help tools, or free legal-advice hotlines. (You can also upload legal documents to the LegalClarity tool for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)

Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Billings & Yellowstone County

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA)

What they do: MLSA is the primary statewide civil-legal aid provider. They handle eviction defense, landlord/tenant disputes, housing problems, domestic violence, consumer/debt issues, public-benefits disputes, family law, elder-law matters, and more.

How to contact: You can apply online via mtlsa.org, or call their HelpLine at 1-800-666-6899 (Tue–Thu, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.). Local Billings office: 207 N. Broadway, Suite 430, Billings, MT 59101, phone (406) 248-7113.

Yellowstone County Self‑Help Law Center

What they do: Offers free self-help legal information, court forms, and guidance for civil, non-criminal matters — useful if you're representing yourself or need help with paperwork.

Contact: Located at 216 N. 29th Street, Billings, MT 59101. Phone: (406) 869-3531 or (406) 869-3532. Services by appointment — email yellowstonecountyselfhelp@mt.gov to schedule.

Yellowstone Area Bar Association Pro Bono Program

What they do: Administered through MLSA, this program connects eligible low-income Billings-area residents with volunteer attorneys for free civil legal help — including landlord/tenant issues, evictions, domestic violence, debt/consumer issues, benefits, family law, and more.

Contact: Phone: (406) 248-7113. Address: 2442 1st Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101.

Local Domestic Violence & Victim Support Resources (e.g., YWCA / Northern Lights Family Justice Center )

What they do: Offer legal advocacy, protection-order assistance, and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking in Billings. Good first call if you need emergency shelter, crisis support, or help navigating a protective-order filing.

Contact: YWCA / Northern Lights Family Justice Center: (406) 252-6303.

Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Billings

• Evictions and landlord/tenant disputes
• Unsafe or uninhabitable housing, housing-repair disputes
• Debt collection, repossession, creditor harassment, consumer protection issues
• Foreclosure or mortgage-related problems
• Domestic violence, sexual assault, protective orders, stalking
• Family-law issues: custody, child support, visitation, divorce (when eligible), guardianship
• Public-benefits issues: Medicaid/Medicaid appeals, SNAP/welfare denial, disability benefits disputes
• Elder-law issues: elder abuse, exploitation, long-term care, guardianship
• Access to justice for low-income, disabled, or vulnerable populations

What Legal Aid in Billings Usually Does **Not** Handle

• Criminal defense (felony, misdemeanor, DUI, traffic) — legal aid here is limited to civil matters.
• Personal-injury or medical-malpractice lawsuits (in most cases)
• Business or commercial litigation or large corporate lawsuits
• Complex immigration detention or removal defense (civil immigration support may be available via referral, but not guaranteed)

When Billings Residents Should Seek Legal Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice or unlawful-detainer lawsuit: Contact MLSA or the Pro Bono Program right away — eviction timelines can move fast.
• Your house becomes unsafe or landlord refuses repairs: Document everything and contact tenant-rights or housing-law aid immediately.
• You experience domestic violence or abuse: Reach out to victim-advocacy services (YWCA / Northern Lights) or legal-aid providers for protection-order help and support.
• You get debt-collection letters, garnishment, or repossession notices: Save all documents and call a legal-aid provider — many deadlines apply quickly.
• Your public benefits are denied or cut off: Benefits appeals often have short filing windows — act quickly.
• You are a senior, disabled, or vulnerable and facing exploitation or eviction: Early contact with elder-law or civil-rights aid is critical.

How to Prepare Before Calling or Applying for Help

1. Gather crucial documents: leases, eviction notices, rent receipts, repair requests, utility bills, housing code or repair reports, debt or collection letters, benefit denials, ID, pay stubs, medical or disability records (if applicable), court filings, police or protection-order reports, and any communication with landlords, creditors, or agencies.
2. Create a timeline: list when notices arrived, when problems began, when payments were missed, contact attempts, and any upcoming hearings or deadlines.
3. Prepare household & income information: number of people, income, benefits, dependents — necessary for determining eligibility for legal aid.
4. Write a short summary of your issue: 2–3 sentences explaining what happened and what kind of outcome you’re seeking (e.g., eviction defense, protective order, benefits appeal, debt defense, etc.).
5. Mark urgent factors: risk of homelessness, domestic violence, health or disability issues, vulnerable household members, upcoming court dates — these may increase priority for intake.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Self-help options: Use the Yellowstone County Self-Help Law Center for forms, guides, and referrals if representing yourself or doing DIY filings.
• Volunteer-attorney or Pro Bono Program: Request aid through the Yellowstone Area Bar Association Pro Bono Program via MLSA — limited-scope or full representation may be available when capacity allows.
• Court Self-Help Kiosks & Online Resources: Use statewide resources at MontanaLawHelp.org for forms and self-help guides.
• Community support services: For domestic violence, sheltering, or crisis help — contact local victim-advocacy centers like YWCA / Northern Lights Family Justice Center.
• LegalClarity document-explainer tool: Residents can upload legal paperwork for a plain-English explanation when they don’t have access to an attorney — informational only, not legal advice.

Conclusion: Where Billings Residents Should Start

If you live in Billings and need civil legal help but can’t afford a lawyer, begin by contacting Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 (or local office at (406) 248-7113). For self-help forms and info, use the Yellowstone County Self-Help Law Center. If legal aid is full or unavailable, try the Yellowstone Area Bar Association Pro Bono Program or use statewide resources via MontanaLawHelp.org. And whenever you just need to understand a legal document — whether a lease, eviction notice, debt letter, or court filing — using your LegalClarity upload tool can help you get a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.