Southwest Montana News

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has announced the schedule for its annual Kelly Moorse Memorial Legal Document Clinic in 2023. The clinics will take place in Columbus, Dillon, Havre, Poplar, and Glasgow. The first clinic is set for April 27 at the Stillwater County Pavilion in Columbus.

Katy Lovell, Director of the DPHHS Legal Services Developer Program, stated, “This is a free service DPHHS provides to Montanans in need of preparing legal documents.” She emphasized the importance of completing this work ahead of medical emergencies and regularly reviewing documents to keep them current.

The program targets older adults aged 60 and above, enrolled Tribal members, and adults with disabilities. Volunteer legal professionals assist participants with estate planning documents during these clinics. They help draft, review, notarize, and copy each document.

DPHHS highlighted that a lack of knowledge about estate planning documents such as Powers of Attorney (POAs), guardianships, living wills, and health directives contributes significantly to senior exploitation in Montana.

Each clinic includes a one-day training session on screening for senior exploitation followed by a day where trained legal professionals help seniors complete their estate planning documents. Lovell noted that "those exploiting seniors often use a POA to control a senior’s entire life," despite the document not granting such authority legally.

In 2022 alone, 944 cases involving 3,295 legal issues were opened by DPHHS. Estate planning was among the most requested services alongside abuse/neglect/exploitation cases and others like landlord/tenant disputes and Medicaid eligibility.

During these clinics, education extends beyond seniors to financial institutions and law enforcement on what POAs permit or prohibit. This initiative serves as an access point for reporting financial exploitation or abuse.

Lovell remarked on the prevalence of financial exploitation among seniors in Montana due to its large elderly population: “Financial exploitation presents a significant threat to older Americans,” she said. Victims typically lose around $120,000.

She urged anyone suspecting financial exploitation to contact DPHHS - Adult Protective Services immediately at www.aps.mt.gov or call 1-844-277-9300.

Estate planning services are available year-round through phone clinics at no cost; over 2,450 documents were completed last year via these channels.

For more information on upcoming clinics or registration details contact Katy Lovell at 406-444-7787 or 1-800-332-2272. Space is limited so appointments must be made in advance.