Montana Legal Help Tools

You will be asked a series of questions in order to produce a restitution workbook that outlines your expenses as a crime victim.

Restitution is money that a court orders a defendant to pay to a crime victim or the Crime Victim Compensation Program, This workbook will help you estimate your expenses, but may not affect the amount the Court decides to set for restitution.

This tool is not a substitute for legal advice. The Court is not guaranteed to follow any estimates made by this tool.

Be prepared. It can take up to 10 minutes or longer to complete this tool, depending on your situation.

This process is designed to be completed in one sitting. We do not collect or store any of your personal data.

You will be asked about injuries, mental health costs, funeral expenses, lost or damaged property, and other topics.

You will be asked a series of questions in order to help you record existing and future expenses incurred because of the crime. The tool will estimate possible restitution costs for inclusion in criminal cases. A Court may order a defendant to pay some or all of these costs to the victim or to the Crime Victim Compensation Program.

This workbook cannot take the place of court-ordered restitution or a lawyer’s legal advice.

There is no claim or guarantee that using the calculator will help you get what you want.

Montana Legal Services Association is not responsible for what happens if you use this calculator.

You may need to provide information for both existing and future expenses related to the crime. The following are examples of documentation and other information you may need in order to successfully complete the workbook:

You can find the law about the right to restitution at Montana Code Annotated § 46-18-201..

MTCrimeVictimHelp

MLSA operates MTCrimeVictimHelp.org , a website with legal information and resources on restitution and other crime victim topics.

Montana Department of Justice

The State of Montana’s Department of Justice, Office for Victim Services , provides information about restitution and other resources for crime victims.

For more information about restitution and the criminal process in Montana, you can contact the following:

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA)

MLSA provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Montanans. Call the MLSA HelpLine toll free at 1-800-666-6899. HelpLine hours vary, you can apply any time at MontanaLawHelp.org.

Montana Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service

You may be able to find an attorney to help you by calling the State of Montana Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) at (406) 449-6577. Or visit LRIS online

AskKarla

If you're eligible for MLSA, you may also get legal advice by email from AskKarla. Go to AskKarla

This tool does not collect or store any personal information, but basic safety precautions should be taken into account:

Using a public computer

If you are using a public computer, be sure to close the browser when complete. Do not download your results to a public computer.

Browsing safety

If you feel unsafe in your household or in your relationship, this safe internet use information may help you keep yourself, your family, and your information safe.

• A victim advocate may be able to help you with this restitution workbook. You can find a Crime Victim Advocates near you using the MCADSV resource map.
• The Montana Department of Justice, Office for Victim Services Restitution Officer may also be able to answer questions about restitution. Contact the Restitution Officer at 406-444-7847
• If you need legal help, you can apply for free legal assistance from Montana Legal Services Association. Call the MLSA HelpLine toll free at 1-800-666-6899.