Right to counsel
Mont. Code Ann. § 40-6-119(1) states that in proceedings to determine parentage, “At the pretrial hearing and in further proceedings, any party may be represented by counsel. The court shall order the office of state public defender, pursuant to the Montana Public Defender Act, Title 47, chapter 1, to assign counsel for a party who is financially unable to obtain counsel.” See also Mont. Code Ann. § 47–1–104(4)(a)(ii). A public defender may be apppointed for indigent litigants on appeal as well. Mont. Code Ann. § 47–1–104(4)(c).