Kelly J. Varnes (of counsel), obtained his J.D. from the University of Montana in 1983, and his B.A. in Political Science from Gonzaga University in 1980. Kelly was admitted to the Montana bar and U.S. District Court, District of Montana, in 1983, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, in 1987. He is a member of the panel of Federal Defenders for the State of Montana. In 2012, Kelly was awarded The John Adams Award for extraordinary service as a member of the Montana Criminal Justice Act panel. Kelly’s practice areas include Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Commercial Law, Accident and Personal Injury, and Divorce and Family Law.
Child Support
Jeff’s practice areas include General Civil Litigation, Accident and Personal Injury, Business Litigation, Family Law, Divorce, Parenting Plans, Grandparent and Third Party Parenting and Visitation Rights, Child Support, Adoption, Real Estate and Property Law, Construction Law, Commercial Law, Wills and Probate of Estates.
Child Custody and Visitation
Family Law – We represent clients in all aspects of family law including premarital agreements, divorce, property settlement agreements, legal separation, maintenance (alimony), parenting plans, child custody, guardianships and adoption. Our attorneys can help you establish or contest paternity. We can also help with child support calculations and appeals of CSED calculations.
Adoption
Paternity
Premarital Agreement
Guardianship
Spousal Support
Legal Separation
Child Abuse
With high honors, in Business Administration, with an emphasis on Marketing from the University of Montana in 1995, where he was also named the Outstanding Senior in Marketing. Jeff was admitted to the Montana bar in 1998 and the U.S. District Court, District of Montana in 2000. After graduation from law school, Jeff worked as a Law Clerk for the Hon. Susan P. Watters of the 13th Judicial District Court. Jeff was named to the Billings Gazette Forty under Forty for 2011. Before joining Hendrickson Law Firm, Jeff was a partner in the law firm of Towe, Ball, Mackey, Sommerfeld, and Turner, P.L.L.P, for thirteen years. His community service includes being a member of the Breakfast Exchange Club, which raises money to combat child abuse and to assist veterans.
Daniel is a native of Evanston, Wyoming. Daniel graduated high school in Evanston and participated in the Wyoming-Montana All-Star basketball game series in 2000. Daniel had a standout basketball career for the University of Great Falls and Lewis-Clark State College and was a two-time Academic All-American. The skills and traits that were instilled in him as part of his background in competitive athletics serves him well in the contentious legal fields of family law and criminal defense.
Wrongful Death
Sex Crimes
Criminal Defense – We defend clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses in municipal, state and federal court. We represent clients accused of assault, domestic violence, arson, robbery, burglary, murder, sex crimes, drug charges, homicide and a wide range of other criminal charges. Our experienced defense attorneys take your life and liberty seriously and provide you with the best possible defense.
Robbery
Burglary
Misdemeanors
Daniel has developed a well-regarded practice focused on family law and criminal defense since joining Hendrickson Law Firm. He has represented many clients in divorce and parenting cases with excellent results for his clients. He specializes in dissolution cases and high-conflict parenting plan cases. Daniel has successfully represented clients in serious felony and misdemeanor criminal matters at jury trials and in obtaining dismissals without proceeding to trial. He currently serves as a federal criminal defense attorney the Criminal Justice Act Panel (CJA) for the District of Montana and he is a Board member for the Montana Federal Defenders. Daniel has represented clients in family law and civil cases at the Montana Supreme Court. He has appeared at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Portland, Oregon as part of a criminal appellate matter that was decided in his favor.
Drug Crimes
Assault
Murder
Homicide
Years of criminal defense work, mostly involving felonies and major crimes, give David a weight of experience in complex cases and high‑stakes litigation. Achievements include an acquittal on a deliberate homicide charge following a six‑day trial, where the jury returned with a verdict of “not guilty” convinced that the defendant had acted in self‑defense. Effective communication with the client, strategic thinking in the long‑term, and teamwork made this outcome happen, and David continues to carry this outlook with him in his practice.
Business Formation and Planning – The attorneys at Hendrickson Law Firm can assist with all types of legal matters arising in the formation, financing, operation, combination and termination of businesses. We work in numerous aspects of the law including those involving corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and commercial transactions. Commercial transactions include the creation, purchase and sale of businesses, oil leases, contracts, and tax planning.
Business Disputes
Justin Stark was born and raised in Billings, Montana. Stark graduated from Lewis & Clark College and the University of Montana School of Law, where he was Editor in Chief of the Montana Law Review. Stark was a Law Clerk to The Honorable Jack D. Shanstrom, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Stark is admitted to practice in Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Stark practices in the areas of Business Law, Construction Law, and Litigation.
Business Transactions
Limited Liability Companies
Construction Contracts
Real Property – Hendrickson Law Firm can help with purchase and sale of real property, leases, foreclosures, project development, zoning litigation, creation of condominiums and PUDs, title insurance, title disputes, negotiating and drafting construction contracts, construction litigation, real estate litigation, enforcement of real estate contracts, quiet title actions and water rights. We can also provide assistance if you are buying or selling a ranch or business property.
Mark’s practice areas include Commercial Law, Real Estate Law, Mortgage Law, and Civil Litigation. Sample reported cases are
Construction Litigation
Arbitration and Mediation – Hendrickson Law Firm offers a full range of services for alternative dispute resolution and has several attorneys experienced in arbitration and mediation. We can help you resolve a wide variety of issues ranging from construction disputes and neighborhood disputes to probate contests and divorce settlements.
Katie Groepler – Katie is a paralegal with over 20 over years of experience in the legal field. She earned a Certificate of Completion in Paralegal studies from MSU‑B in 2003 and joined Hendrickson Law Firm in 2006. She is a member of the Paralegal Section of the State Bar of Montana. Katie assists our attorneys with family law, civil, landlord/tenant, criminal and personal injury litigation.
Medical Malpractice
Personal Injury – If you have suffered a serious injury in an accident, the personal injury attorneys at Hendrickson Law Firm can help you deal with your insurance company, your medical professionals and the at-fault driver or insurance company. We represent injured clients in slip and fall cases, car, truck, motorcycle and bicycle accidents as well as medical malpractice and wrongful death throughout the state of Montana.
Amy Budge – Amy is a Legal Assistant with 35 years of experience in the legal field. Amy assists our attorneys with multiple areas of law, including family law, probate, estate planning, real estate, civil, and general areas of practice.
Wills
Trusts
Civil Litigation – Our services include the full range of actions involved in litigation from assessing your case, investigation and alternative dispute resolution to litigation and appeals. We also litigate a wide variety of actions in the administrative arena, appellate litigation, construction issues, real estate litigation, contract litigation, personal injury, trusts and estates litigation, corporate litigation and general commercial litigation.
Power of Attorney
Probate & Estate Planning – We help people plan their estates, prepare wills, trusts, and powers of attorney (financial and medical). Hendrickson Law Firm’s skilled estate and tax attorneys will work with you to pass your ranch or business to your heirs and to minimize tax consequences at the time of death.
Probate
Robert E. Hendrickson (1918-2020) obtained his J.D. in 1942 and A.B. in 1940, both from Washburn University of Topeka, Kansas. He was admitted to the Kansas bar in 1942, the Montana bar in 1948, the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. District Court in 1957, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, in 1960. He was a member of the State Committee of Uniform Probate Code in 1970-1971, and in 1972-1973 served as president of the Yellowstone Valley Estate Planning Council. In 1976, Mr. Hendrickson was president of the Yellowstone County Bar Association and was a member of the Montana State Board of Trustees for the State Bar of Montana, from 1975-1977. He was also a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and was a Lt. Col., USAFR, Ret. His practice areas were Real Property Law, Estate Planning Law, and Probate Law.
Midfirst Bank, State Sav. Bank v. Ranieri, 257 Mont. 312, 848 P.2d 1046 (1993) (deficiency allowed upon foreclosure of Trust Indenture for rental property – no election of remedies bar when changing to judicial foreclosure). Author of “The De Facto Corporation Doctrine in Montana,” 39 Mont. Law Review 305.