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Navigating HOA Membership For prospective homeowners, the key to successfully navigating HOA membership lies in due diligence. Before purchasing a property, it's essential to thoroughly review the HOA's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs), understand the fee structure, and assess the association's financial health. Engaging in the community, attending board meetings, and staying informed about HOA affairs can empower homeowners to make the most of their HOA experience while mitigating potential risks. Homeowner associations are common and are almost always part of modern property developments and subdivisions. HOAs can offer substantial benefits, enhancing property values and community living. However, they also come with inherent risks and restrictions that prospective homeowners need to carefully consider. As with any significant investment, informed decision-making is the key to aligning your home purchase with your lifestyle and financial goals. Please feel free to reach out to Geiszler Steele, PC with your Homeowner Association questions.

the Separation of Powers doctrine is an institutional safeguard, a balance designed to prevent the concentration of power and to guard against tyranny.An independent judiciary ensures that laws are interpreted and applied without the influence of politics, popular sentiment, or personal interests. Its judgments are based on the principles enshrined in our Constitution and the established body of law. And for the judiciary to function at its best, we need an independent legal profession, lawyers and advocates who can argue cases, raise issues, and champion causes without fear of retribution, retaliation, or undue influence.

The Rule of Law underpins the protection of rights, fosters accountability and predictability, supports economic growth, and encourages public participation. By maintaining the Rule of Law, we cultivate a robust democratic society where justice, equality, and freedom thrive, forming the bedrock upon which democratic societies stand.

An independent judiciary is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting the principles of democracy. Judges must be able to make decisions based on the facts of the case and the law, rather than being swayed by outside pressures or opinions. This helps to ensure that legal decisions are made fairly and objectively, which is critical for maintaining public trust in the legal system.

Renting property to other individuals can often work as a successful means of generating income. However, not all professional relationships prove as successful, and landlord\-tenant disputes could cause issues. If such disagreements are not easily resolved, the possibility exists that legal acti...

You decided to start your own business. You've researched your market and have concepts for a marketing plan. You signed a lease for a commercial space and you've got your finances in order. You have done all the groundwork to get your business up and running. Now you are at the point where you n...

Employers have many responsibilities to which they must attend. Their positions can prove exceedingly stressful, and even though they may do their best to make their employees happy, contention and conflict can arise. Unfortunately, some situations may even bring about wrongful termination claims...

Most people dream of having a job they enjoy and look forward going to each day. Unfortunately, numerous individuals find themselves having to deal with jobs that they find less than satisfying simply due to needing to make ends meet. However, this dissatisfaction could potentially lead some Mont...

Employers have a great deal of responsibility when it comes to ensuring that their workers are treated fairly. They often take the time to implement policies and procedures in hopes of preventing unjust actions from occurring in the workplace. Unfortunately, even after taking such steps, discrimi...

Online retailing giant Amazon is acquiring Whole Foods Market Inc. for approximately $13.7 billion, the companies announced Friday morning. The announcement sent both companies' stocks tumbling, but that reaction may be premature. It seems both companies have something to gain from the deal. Amaz...

Business and employment contracts can often play a vital role in the running of businesses. As each side of the agreement knows what is expected as part of the employment agreement, there may be less likelihood for certain issues to arise. However, the possibility of contract disputes does exist,...

When the meat packaging company S&T Project Meats and Ranch House Meats was hit with a recall of its jerky products recently, it led to a discussion with Yellowstone County officials, according to the Billings Gazette. The company complains that it's unclear what it would need to do to solve the ...

Not everything in the workplace that is unfair is also illegal. That's a crucial tenet to remember about employment law, and it comes into play more than you might guess. Consider a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which covers Montana. In the recent case of Rizo ...

You've heard of the “Superfund” environmental cleanup law. It's called the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, and it allows the EPA to designate locations as hazardous waste sites that are uncontrolled or abandoned, set up plans to clean them up, and ...

A fundamental principle of contract law is that both parties have to have agreed or there simply is no contract. Consent, or a “meeting of the minds,” has traditionally been a required element of contracts. It doesn't protect you from making a bad bargain; it simply ensures you made a bargain you...

In September, Wells Fargo & Co. agreed to a $185 million regulatory settlement over its fake bank account scandal. Considering the profitability of the bank, some observers have expressed dismay at the affordability of that settlement, arguing that the amount the bank paid was probably less than ...

The partial demolition of the historic Missoula Mercantile building began in February and was already more than a third completed on March 3 — exactly a year after it was first proposed. The project will retain the historic pharmacy portion of the building while allowing the remainder to be demol...

Employers, landlords and construction company owners across western Montana rely on contracts to define professional relationships. However, some people get a little bit lax with regard to creating, reviewing or renewing these contracts when they feel like they have a history with the other party...

Land is an incredibly valuable asset for property owners across Montana. Whether you own one-quarter of an acre or tens of thousands of acres, every transaction involving that land has the potential to be complicated. One common complication that arises in real estate transactions across Montana ...

Running a business is an incredible responsibility, particularly when it comes to hiring and firing employees. The people who work for you are essential to the success of the company, so it is important that you take seriously the laws regarding employee protections. For instance, it can be criti...

The idea comes first, but forming a business is much more than just the product or service. There are business structures, employee and client contracts, insurance, location, branding and so much more. Before it gets off the ground, one of the most important things you'll do for your business is ...

In some situations, a property owner may find themselves without the ability to reasonably access public lands or portions of their own land without crossing onto another person's land. If this is the case, they may require what is known as an easement. When an individual attains an easement, the...