Intervention
We review a district court's order granting or denying a motion to intervene for abuse of discretion. Connell v. Dept. of Soc. & Rehab. Servs., 2003 MT 361, ¶ 13, 319 Mont. 69, 81 P.3d 1279. Under M. R. Civ. P. 24, intervention may be either as a matter of right or by permission of the court. In re C.C.L.B., 2001 MT 66, ¶ 14, 305 Mont. 22, 22 P.3d 646. A party seeking intervention as a matter of right must make a prima facie showing of a direct, substantial, legally protectable interest in the proceedings. In re C.C.L.B., ¶ 16. A district court's determination regarding whether a party has made this showing is a conclusion of law which we review for correctness. In re C.C.L.B., ¶ 16. When intervention is sought by permission of the court, timeliness is a threshold issue. In re C.C.L.B., ¶ 22. The district court's determination of timeliness is reviewed for abuse of discretion. In re C.C.L.B., ¶ 23.