---
title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil legal aid capacity for Montana (FY2025)
license: CC0-1.0
source: Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025)
---

# Atlas Commons research objects — civil legal aid capacity for Montana (FY2025)

Montana's LSC-funded civil legal aid capacity from the LSC Basic Field grant directory, with each figure's status labeled so a consuming agent can weight it correctly: the measured LSC records (provider count, awarded grant dollars, service-area types, and the Census-based poverty population LSC allocates by); one computed figure — LSC funding per person in poverty — a transparent ratio neither LSC nor Census publishes, with its formula disclosed; and the interpretive boundary (what this funding/capacity surface is, and is not). Source: LSC Basic Field grant directory. CC0.

## Claims

### 1 LSC-funded civil legal aid providers received $1,779,366 in Montana (FY2025)

**RECORDED.** The LSC Basic Field grant directory records 1 LSC-funded civil legal aid grantees in Montana for fiscal year 2025, awarded $1,779,366 in total. A re-tally of published LSC grant awards.

Source: Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025) — https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/who-we-are/our-grantees
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025); superseded when Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025) publishes its next release.

### 129,805 people in poverty live in the LSC service areas covering Montana (FY2025)

**RECORDED.** The poverty population in the LSC Basic Field service areas covering Montana is 129,805, the figure LSC uses to allocate Basic Field grants. A Census/ACS-based poverty count summed across the state's service areas.

Source: Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory — poverty population (U.S. Census/ACS) — https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/who-we-are/our-grantees
Falsifier: Re-tally of LSC's published service-area poverty figures (occurred=true), from a named authority — BUT the underlying poverty count is a U.S. Census/ACS SURVEY ESTIMATE with sampling error, not a hard census enumeration. Superseded with each LSC grant cycle / ACS vintage.

### LSC grant counts by service-area type in Montana (FY2025): Agricultural Worker 1, Basic Field 1, Native American 1

**RECORDED.** Counts of the 1 LSC grants by LSC service-area type: Agricultural Worker 1, Basic Field 1, Native American 1. A count of grants per LSC-defined service-area category.

Source: Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025) — https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/who-we-are/our-grantees
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025); superseded when Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (FY2025) publishes its next release.

### LSC civil legal aid funding is $11.86 per person in poverty in Montana (FY2025) — a derived ratio

**DERIVED.** Dividing the $1,539,301 in LSC Basic Field funding for service areas with a reported poverty population by the 129,805 people in poverty there yields $11.86 of LSC civil legal aid funding per person in poverty in Montana. A transparent ratio neither LSC nor Census publishes. Both sides EXCLUDE the 1 grant with no LSC-reported poverty population, so the ratio stays set-consistent (it is the funding-to-poverty ratio over the service areas that have a poverty figure, not all grant dollars over a partial population).

Source: Justice Atlas — derived ratio (LSC allocation ÷ service-area poverty population, over the same set of grants) — https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/
Falsifier: occurred=FALSE (a constructed ratio, not an event) and adjudged=FALSE (the atlas's calculation, not an LSC/Census figure). Reproduce it: $1,539,301 ÷ 129,805 = $11.86. Falsified if either input is wrong; it counts ONLY LSC Basic Field funding for grants with a reported poverty figure, not total civil legal aid spending, so it understates total per-capita legal aid.

### What this legal-aid surface is — and is NOT — for Montana (the epistemic boundary)

**INTERPRETATION.** Every figure above describes LSC Basic Field grant CAPACITY and FUNDING for Montana (FY2025). It is NOT all civil legal aid (LSC funds only part of the field; it excludes non-LSC legal aid, pro bono, and self-help), NOT a measure of cases handled, outcomes, or unmet need, and NOT a statement of whether you personally qualify for legal aid. For eligibility and help, use LawHelp.org / your local LSC grantee; for the full justice gap, see LSC's Justice Gap research.

Source: Justice Atlas framing (over the LSC facts above) — https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/
Falsifier: occurred=FALSE (a framing, not an event) and adjudged=FALSE (the atlas's reading, not an LSC verdict) — the LOWEST-warrant claim here. The figures above are LSC records plus one disclosed derived ratio; the four-status labels each, and this is the only interpretation.

### Montana sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3))

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Montana is 2 years. Note: Same 2-year limit applies to assault, battery, false imprisonment, seduction.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 2 years (from discovery) civil statute of limitations for fraud (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-203)

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-203, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Montana is 2 years (from discovery). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent-concealment tolling under § 27-2-102.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0030/0270-0020-0020-0030.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 2 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-207)

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-207, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Montana is 2 years. Note: Two-year limit applies to trespass and damage to real or personal property.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0070/0270-0020-0020-0070.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 3 years (within 5 from injury) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-205)

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-205, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Montana is 3 years (within 5 from injury). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 5 year(s) may also bar the claim; Concealment exception eliminates 5-year cap; minors under 4 get clock to age 8.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0050/0270-0020-0020-0050.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204)

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Montana is 3 years. Note: Libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, seduction: 2 years.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204)

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Montana is 3 years. Note: Realty-improvement repose under § 27-2-208 (10 years).. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(2))

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(2), the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Montana is 3 years. Note: Homicide-related WD: 10 years under § 27-2-204(2).. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 5 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2))

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Montana is 5 years. Note: Other non-contract obligations not in writing: 3 years under § 27-2-202(3).. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Montana sets a 8 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1))

**RECORDED.** Under Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Montana is 8 years. Note: UCC sales of goods: 4 years under § 30-2-725.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling.

Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html
Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release.

### Why these statute-of-limitations periods are NOT your deadline (the L5 boundary)

**INTERPRETATION.** The periods above are the statutes Montana has on the books. They do NOT tell you YOUR deadline. When a claim "accrues" (starts the clock), whether the discovery rule, tolling, a minor/incapacity, or a statute of repose changes it, and which cause of action even applies, are fact-specific legal determinations. A missed deadline can permanently bar a claim. This atlas informs and routes — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for a licensed attorney. If you may have a claim, consult an attorney in Montana immediately; for free civil legal aid see this state's legal-aid page.

Source: Justice Atlas framing (over the statutes above) — https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/
Falsifier: occurred=FALSE (a framing/legal boundary, not an event) and adjudged=FALSE (the atlas's reading, not a court's ruling on any case) — the lowest-warrant claim. The period+citation claims above are recorded statutes (verifiable at the cited code); this boundary is the only interpretation on the SOL data.

---

Every claim above carries a four-status warrant (RECORDED / MODELED / DERIVED / INTERPRETATION) and a named source you can re-fetch — this is a research object, not a flat fact. Structured: `https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/states/mt.jsonld`

## Data

### Montana — every legal-aid indicator (typed)

Each official figure for this state with its four-status warrant and named source. RECORDED = a re-tally of published LSC/Census values; DERIVED = an in-house ratio (allocation ÷ service-area poverty population).

| indicator | value | warrant | source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LSC-funded providers (distinct organizations) | 1 | RECORDED | Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory |
| LSC service-area grants | 3 | RECORDED | Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory |
| Total LSC allocation (USD) | 1779366 | RECORDED | Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory |
| Poverty population in service areas | 129805 | RECORDED | Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory (U.S. Census/ACS) |
| LSC funding per person in poverty (USD) | 13.707992758368322 | DERIVED | Justice Atlas — allocation ÷ poverty population |
| Fiscal year | 2025 | — | Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Basic Field grant directory |

### Montana — LSC grants by service-area type (RECORDED)

Counts of the state's LSC grants by LSC-defined service-area category — a count of grants per program type.

| service_area_type | grant_count |
| --- | --- |
| Agricultural Worker | 1 |
| Basic Field | 1 |
| Native American | 1 |

### Montana — LSC-funded legal-aid grants (RECORDED)

The full LSC Basic Field grant directory for this state: one row per grant (an organization may hold more than one). Allocation is the awarded grant amount; poverty population is the Census/ACS figure LSC allocates by (blank where LSC does not report it for that service area).

| organization | service_area | service_area_type | allocation_usd | poverty_population |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Montana Legal Services Association | MT-1 | Basic Field | 1359362 | 114631 |
| Montana Legal Services Association | NMT-1 | Native American | 240065 |  |
| Montana Legal Services Association | MMT | Agricultural Worker | 179939 | 15174 |