These forms may be used for personal, non-commercial purposes ONLY.
Power of Attorney for Care, Custody or Property of a Minor Child
Power of Attorney – Financial (Form), link to Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
Power of Attorney – Medical (Form), link to Montana DPHHS.
Guardianship of a Minor Packet from the Montana Supreme Court Commission on Self-Represented Litigants and Montana Legal Services Association.
Guardian Annual Accounting Form – Small Estate
Guardian Annual Accounting Form – Standard
PRACTICAL Tool for Lawyers, from the American Bar Association (ABA)
Supported Decision-Making Agreement Form, from the Center for Public Representation
Montana law provides options for protecting individuals needing assistance with decision-making, such as minors and incapacitated adults. These options include Full or Limited Guardianship, Conservatorship, Power of Attorney, and other Less Restrictive Alternatives such as Supported Decision Making.
In 2021, Montana made important updates to its guardianship laws. See SB31: Require consideration of less restrictive options in guardianship proceedings, and Amended sections 72-5-305, 72-5-316, 72-5-319, and 72-5-321, MCA.
Terms & Definitions
Conservator means a person who is appointed by a court to manage the estate of a protected person. MCA 72-1-103 (8)
Guardian means a person who has qualified as a guardian of a minor or incapacitated person pursuant to testamentary or court appointment but excludes one who is merely a guardian ad litem. MCA 72-1-103 (21)
Incapacitated person is a legal term defined as any person who is impaired by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, or other cause, except minority, to the extent that the person lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning the person or which cause has so impaired the person's judgment that the person is incapable of realizing and making a rational decision with respect to the person's need for treatment. MCA 72-5-101 (1)
Less Restrictive Alternative means an approach to meeting a person's needs that restricts fewer rights of the person than would the appointment of a guardian. The term includes supported decisionmaking, appropriate technological assistance, and appointment of a representative payee. MCA 72-5-305 (3)
Minor means a person who is under 18 years of age. MCA 72-1-103 (30)
Protected person means a minor or other person for whom a conservator has been appointed or other protective order has been made. MCA 72-5-101 (2)
Purpose and basis for guardianship. Guardianship for an incapacitated person may be used only as is necessary to promote and protect the well-being of the person. The guardianship must be designed to encourage the development of maximum self-reliance and independence in the person and may be ordered only to the extent that the person's actual mental and physical limitations require it. An incapacitated person for whom a guardian has been appointed is not presumed to be incompetent and retains all legal and civil rights except those that have been expressly limited by court order or have been specifically granted to the guardian by the court. MCA 72-5-306
Supported Decision Making means assistance from one or more persons of a person's choosing in: (a) understanding the nature and consequences of potential personal and financial decisions, which enables the person to make the decisions; and (b) communicating a decision, once made, if consistent with the person's wishes. MCA 72-5-305 (5)
Ward is a legal term used for a person for whom a guardian has been appointed. A "minor ward" is a minor for whom a guardian has been appointed solely because of minority. MCA 72-5-101 (5)
MCA Title 72, Chapter 5. UPC—Persons under Disability Guardianship and Conservatorship
MCA Title 72, Chapter 5, Part 2. Guardians of Minors
MCA Title 72, Chapter 5, Part 3. Guardians of Incapacitated Persons
MCA Title 72, Chapter 5, Part 4. Protection of Property of Minors and Persons Under Disability (Conservatorship)
MCA title 72, Chapter 31, Part 3. Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Statutory Form Power of Attorney, MCA 72-31-353
University of Montana Rural Institute: A Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Alternative Approaches to Guardianship Factsheet, from the University of Montana Rural Institute
Guardianship/Supported Decision Making, resource links and video from Disability Rights Montana
Overview of Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship (acl.gov) from the ABA Commission on Law and Aging
How to Help an Aging Parent, from AARP
Supported Decision-Making Teams: Setting the Wheels in Motion, Suzanne M. Francisco and Jonathan G. Martinis
Legal Service Developer Program of Montana DPHHS, Office on Aging
Legal Topics for Seniors from MontanaLawHelp.org