Chouinard & Winderl, P.C.

11/12/2025

✨ Who saw the northern lights last night?!

✨ Post your pics in the comments, we want to see them! 👇🏼

✨ Rumor has it, they’ll be out again tonight, if you missed them. 🌄

06/17/2025

⚖️ Did you know- our team is more than legal professionals, we’re your neighbors, friends, and active members of the Bitterroot Valley community. We take pride in providing personalized, client centered legal services while staying deeply involved in the place we call home.

🎈We believe that giving back is essential. Our attorneys and staff volunteer their time and support other charitable causes including:

✅ Casting For Recovery - Western MT
✅ Ravalli County Recycling Board
✅ Bitterroot Stockgrowers Board
✅ Bitterroot Club Basketball
✅ Ravalli County Fair
✅ Hamilton Broncs Volleyball
✅ Corvallis Blue Devils Baseball

Thank you for trusting us as fellow community members with your legal needs!

03/13/2025

☀️ It’s starting to look a lot like spring in the Bitterroot Valley!

☀️We understand the concerns of small businesses, farmers and ranchers, and Montana property owners.

☀️Contact us to speak with an attorney who understands, and can relate, to your specific legal needs.

10/11/2024

As our negotiations with the Washington Commanders and NFL continue to move forward, we want to say THANK YOU to Big Creek Coffee Hamilton for fueling our meetings …Serving coffee is standard. Serving World Class Coffee from Big Creek advances the conversation!

10/07/2024

Thank you, Mission Bistro, for impressing us all with a world class dinner while representatives of the Washington Commanders and NFL were in town for our two-day meeting!

10/02/2024

The dedication of a permanent memorial giving Walter “Blackie” Wetzel full credit for designing and creating the iconic Warrior logo used by the Washington NFL franchise for decades marks a significant turning point. Negotiations continue.

The Walter "Blackie" Wetzel Memorial was unveiled by the Washington Commanders on Sept. 15 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.

09/15/2024

💥BIG NEWS!

💥Last week,the office of Chouinard & Winderl, P.C. hosted representatives from the Washington Commanders and the NFL in furtherance of the relationship between the NFL franchise and the family of Walter “Blackie” Wetzel.

💥We are honored to represent the Estate of Walter “Blackie” Wetzel and hope to be providing updates on more progress soon.

The Commanders will unveil a memorial to the late Blackie Wetzel, a member of the Blackfeet tribe who designed a warrior logo for the Washington franchise in the early 1970s.

09/11/2024

We hope to have big news to share in the coming days, but we can disclose at this time that the attorneys of Chouinard & Winderl P.C. are working hard to represent Montana families on a national stage. We have just concluded an historic meeting on their behalf at our offices right here in Hamilton, Montana. In anticipation of this event, we wanted to feature Montana artists and their work. Thank you to the artists of Corwin Galleries, 315 W Main St, Hamilton, MT 59840 / https://corwingalleries.com/, for helping stage our office for this high profile event! Your hand selected original works are stunning and served as a remarkable representation of Montana talent!

08/15/2024

Estate planning in Montana involves several key considerations to ensure the proper management and distribution of assets upon an individual's death. Here are some important aspects to consider:

Wills and Trusts: Creating a will is a fundamental part of estate planning, as it specifies how an individual's assets will be distributed. Trusts, including living trusts, can also be established to manage assets during a person's lifetime and after death, providing more control over the distribution process.

Probate Process: Montana offers probate shortcuts for small estates, making it easier for survivors to transfer property. Understanding the probate process, including informal and formal proceedings, is crucial for estate planning.

Beneficiary Designations: It's important to designate beneficiaries for assets like life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and employee benefit plans. This can streamline the transfer of assets and potentially avoid probate.

Power of Attorney and Advance Directives: Establishing a financial power of attorney allows someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Advance directives, or living wills, provide instructions for medical care if you are unable to communicate your wishes.

Special Considerations for Families: Blended families and families with minor or special needs children may face unique challenges. Estate plans should address these situations, ensuring that all family members are considered and provided for appropriately.

Montana-Specific Laws: Understanding Montana's specific laws regarding estate planning, such as the Montana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) and livestock brand ownership laws, is important for comprehensive planning.

By addressing these elements, you can create an effective estate plan that meets your personal and family needs.

If you need help with your Estate Planning, give us a call, we can help.

08/07/2024

Our team is deeply meshed into the fabric of our community. This morning we’re grateful for the ground-soaking rain the Bitterroot Valley received last night. May it replenish our reservoirs, make our gardens bountiful, dampen the wildfires in our vicinity, and wash the dust from what has been a hot, dry, summer thus far.