Karen Ostby
Partner · Farm and ranch, Real estate, Small business
Land, ranches and the businesses that run on them. Karen drafts the deeds, leases and operating agreements, and she reads the water rights.
Bozeman law office
Everyday legal work for the Gallatin Valley
Three lawyers on Main Street handling wills, land, family, business and criminal cases for people from Belgrade to Big Sky. Call and tell us what's going on. We'll tell you plainly whether we can help.
- First half hour freeAt the office or by phone
- Saturday mornings9 to noon, by appointment
- Fees in writing firstBefore any work starts
- We drive outRanch, hospital or home
The first half hour costs nothing. If you hire us, a written fee agreement sets out our fees and any costs, like filing and recording fees, before we start.
What we handle
Six kinds of work, one front door
Most families and businesses here need a lawyer for more than one thing over the years. We handle these six, and we'll tell you who to call for anything else.
Wills and estates
A will, a trust if you need one, and the powers of attorney that let someone pay your bills or talk to your doctor.
Wills and living trusts
Powers of attorney and health care directives
Probate and estate settlement
Family law
Divorce, custody and support, worked out by agreement where we can and in court where we can't.
Divorce, contested and uncontested
Parenting plans and child support
Orders of protection
Real estate
Buying, selling or splitting land. We review the contract, clear the title questions and run the closing.
Purchase agreements and closings
Deeds, easements and boundary lines
Landlord and tenant matters
Farm and ranch
Passing the place to the next generation, leasing ground, and the water rights that come with it.
Farm and ranch succession
Grazing and crop leases
Water rights and ditch easements
Small business
Starting an LLC, signing a lease on Main Street, buying out a partner or selling the shop.
LLC and partnership setup
Commercial leases and contracts
Buying or selling a business
Criminal defense
DUI and traffic charges, misdemeanors and felonies, from the first appearance to the end of the case.
DUI and traffic charges
Misdemeanors and felonies
Juvenile cases and record sealing
The lawyers
Three lawyers, and you'll know which one is yours
Your matter stays with one lawyer from the first call to the last signature. When it touches another area, we walk down the hall.
Dale Vance
Partner · Criminal defense, DUI and traffic, Family law
Criminal charges, DUI and traffic cases, and the harder family matters. Dale is in court most mornings and returns calls in the afternoon.
Teresa Lucero
Associate · Wills and estates, Probate, Family law
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate, plus uncontested divorces and parenting plans. Teresa also meets clients in Spanish.
From clients
What people told us afterward
“Karen came out to look at the fence line herself before she wrote a word. The easement she drafted ended a ten-year argument with the neighbor.”
Wade H.Ranch easement
“Teresa brought the will to my mother's kitchen table and read every page out loud, in Spanish, before anyone signed.”
Lucia M.Wills for her parents
“After each court date Dale called me the same afternoon and told me what happened and what came next. I never had to guess.”
Cody R.DUI charge
Sample comments for illustration. Every client's case is different, and these don't promise a similar result in yours.
Questions
What people ask before they call
Short answers here. The longer ones are free for the first half hour.
What does a first meeting cost?
Nothing for the first half hour, in person or on the phone. We'll listen, tell you whether we can help, and give you a fee estimate in writing if you want to go ahead.
How do you charge?
It depends on the work. Wills, deeds and LLC setups are usually a set fee we quote before we start. Court cases are usually hourly against a retainer. Either way, you get it in writing before any work begins.
Can you meet on a Saturday or come to us?
Yes. We keep Saturday mornings open by appointment, and we'll drive out to a ranch, a care home or a hospital room when getting to town is hard.
Who will actually work on my case?
One of the three lawyers on this site, by name, from start to finish. Our paralegal helps with paperwork and scheduling, and you'll have her direct line too.
I was just charged with something. What should I do first?
Don't talk about the case with anyone but a lawyer, write down your court date, and call us. Bring every paper the officer or the court gave you.
Do you handle cases outside Gallatin County?
Often. We work in courts and on land across southwest Montana, and Karen is also admitted in Wyoming. Ask, and we'll tell you if the distance makes sense for you.
Do you speak Spanish?
Teresa does, for wills, estates and family matters. For other cases she can sit in on meetings with the lawyer handling yours.
Contact
Tell us what's going on
Leave a short note and a good time to reach you. One of the lawyers calls back, usually within a working day.
Phone(406) 555-0147
HoursMon–Fri, 8am–5pm
Sat, 9am–noon by appointment