Family Legal Alliance Guardians

In today’s secular culture, our Judeo-Christian values are under attack. Unfortunately, lawfare has become a common strategy to hinder, attack, or destroy the work of the body of Christ in Montana.  Bible-centric churches, principled Christian schools, faith-based pregnancy resource centers, and other Judeo-Christian organizations can sometimes become targets for legal attack or regulatory compliance issues. 

Traditional legal services place an incredible burden on faith-based organizations.  Law firms and attorneys generally charge for their services on an hourly basis, and there are only a handful of lawyers who understand the unique nature of Christian ministries. 

The Family Legal Alliance Guardians program was designed to provide competent legal assistance and resources to churches, schools, and other faith-based organizations for an affordable monthly price. Each membership agreement with allied organizations is tailored to meet your organization’s needs. 

An Initiative of the Montana Family Foundation

The Montana Family Foundation’s Family Legal Alliance Guardians program is a members-only alliance network for Montana churches, Christian schools, and faith-based organizations.  By joining the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program your organization will be granted exclusive access to legal counsel, document review and preparation, legal resources and educational materials, and updates on new developments from Montana’s Legislature. 

Legal Services 

The Legal Department at the Montana Family Foundation provides allied organizations with guidance on a variety of issues, including religious liberty, marriage and family, educational freedom, and life.  Legal services include:

  • Document Review and Preparation:  Upon request, attorneys with the Montana Family Foundation will review your organization’s governing documents, like bylaws or articles of incorporation, to ensure compliance with law and regulation.  Further, document preparation services can be provided, depending on the needs of your organization. 

  • Legal Consultation:  When legal issues arise, allied organizations will have access to one-on-one legal consultation with a Montana Family Foundation attorney. 

  • Case Evaluation & Prospective Representation:  If your organization becomes involved in a legal dispute, a Montana Family Foundation attorney will be available to assess your claims and defenses, make recommendations, and potentially provide representation.  In the sole discretion of the Montana Family Foundation, an attorney employed by the Montana Family Foundation may provide representation for your organization for litigated matters.  However, litigation services are not included in the scope of services provided for Family Legal Alliance Guardians program members.  Any litigation services provided by the Montana Family Foundation will be subject to a separate and distinct attorney-client engagement agreement, not included in the membership scope of services for the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program.    

  • Advocacy Opportunities:  Even if your organization is not directly involved in a specific legal matter, the Montana Family Foundation will provide opportunities for your organization to influence ongoing litigation and appeals through amicus curiae briefing opportunities.  Your organization can sign on to these important briefs to provide your perspective on important policy issues for district courts, the Montana Supreme Court, and even the United States Supreme Court. 

Legal Resources and Education

In addition to the legal counsel services provided to members of the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program, the Montana Family Foundation will also provide additional legal resources and policy training materials to keep your organization well-informed.  

  • Legal Guides and Resources:  Equip your organization with general legal guides and resource materials to ensure that you are informed about the latest legislative and regulatory changes in Montana. 

  • Training and Events:  Gain access to exclusive in-person and online training and events aimed at educating your organization regarding various hot-button legal issues.  

  • Congregational Support: The Montana Family Foundation’s expansive grassroots network may also be available to assist your organization with special events, initiatives, or other volunteer opportunities. 

Scope of Services

  • Legal review of church or ministry bylaws and policies related to protecting your organization’s religious liberty
  • Access to legal counsel for consultation and evaluation of transactional legal issues or issues related to religious liberty
  • Case evaluation for legal issues involving your organization’s religious liberty (excluding litigation)
  • On a case-by-case basis, and at the exclusive discretion of the Montana Family Foundation, legal representation of your organization for matters that require litigation or may require litigation. 

The Family Legal Alliance Guardians program is not an insurance program and the Montana Family Foundation is not an insurance company.  The Montana Family Foundation cannot guarantee legal representation in every situation and does not provide casualty payments for a lawsuit.  Any legal representation undertaken by the Montana Family Foundation is without additional cost to Family Legal Alliance Guardians program members. 

Some member organizational legal matters may involve administrative tribunals such as tax agencies or regulatory commissions.  The Montana Family Foundation may, but is not obligated to, represent Family Legal Alliance Guardians program member organizations before administrative agencies or administrative tribunals.  The Montana Family Foundation will use best efforts to identify alternative legal counsel to represent Family Legal Alliance Guardians program members in such administrative or regulatory matters, but cannot guarantee that alternative legal counsel will be obtained free of charge. 

Matters for which the Montana Family Foundation does not provide legal representation for include, but are not limited to: 

  • Intra-ministry, inter-ministry, or denominational disputes or negotiations
  • Allegations of child abuse or criminal prosecutions unrelated to religious liberty
  • Tax advice, tax audits, or investigations that do not relate to religious liberty
  • Start-up and filing requirements for organizations 
  • Advice regarding corporate structure or general liability issues unrelated to religious liberty
  • General advice regarding government contracts or grant agreements 
  • International legal matters or compliance with international law
  • Land use cases wherein discrimination or unequal treatment is not presented 
  • Child protection policies 
  • Security policies 
  • Issues related to government overreach generally that do not pertain to religious liberty
  • Matters where the requested representation is prohibited under applicable rules of professional conduct, including matters that could present a conflict of interest with current or former clients 
  • Matters outside the jurisdiction of Montana state district court, Montana federal district court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, or the United States Supreme Court. 
  • Other matters not specifically covered in the scope of services

The Montana Family Foundation has the sole authority to determine whether a request for legal advice or representation falls within the scope of services offered, or can otherwise be accepted, by the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program. 

Membership in the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program provides members with access to the Montana Family Foundation Legal Department who will provide legal guidance as relative to each situation and as determined on a case by case basis by the Legal Department.  The Montana Family Foundation reserves the authority to direct the specific course of representation including, but not limited to, whether to litigate any particular legal matter.  By joining, and per Montana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2(c), which the Montana Family Foundation Legal Department operates under, Family Legal Alliance Guardians program members hereby provide informed consent to this limited representation. 

The Montana Family Foundation reserves the right to terminate any membership agreements and/or add, change, or remove rules, conditions of membership, scope of services, and all services offered by and through the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program at any time and in its sole discretion.  In the event of membership termination, the Montana Family Foundation shall only be obligated to return to a former member any prepaid but unused membership dues, without penalty or interest. 

As licensed professionals, the Montana Family Foundation’s Legal Department attorneys have ethical duties and obligations that can occasionally limit their ability to provide representation.  For instance, an attorney may be unable to represent a client if the requested legal representation would create a conflict of interest with one or more current or former clients, including other Family Legal Alliance Guardians program members.  In situations where a conflict of interest is unavoidable, the Montana Family Foundation Legal Department will use best efforts to provide a referral to an alternative legal counsel, although the Montana Family Foundation cannot guarantee that the alternative legal counsel will offer his or her services free of charge. 

Publicity of Membership

The details of the relationship between Family Legal Alliance Guardians program members and the Montana Family Foundation would only be publicized if a member provides the Montana Family Foundation with express written permission to use their name and/or endorsement of the program in any materials.  Any publication will only occur with the full knowledge and consent of the member.  

Application for Membership

A membership application is required to gather essential information about you and your organization to ensure that you receive membership benefits.  The membership application also ensures that your organization subscribes to the Montana Family Foundation’s statement of faith and mission statement.  This is the first step toward obtaining access to the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program membership.  All members must also execute a membership agreement to complete registration and access for the Family Legal Alliance Guardians program.