CBI Inc. v. Sharon McCrea

¶23 The law in this state is that courts will construe exemption laws liberally in favor of the debtors for whose benefit they were enacted, so long as plain legislative mandates are not disregarded. See e.g. In re Archer, 2006 MT 82, ¶ 15, 332 Mont. 1, 136 P.3d 563; Neel v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn. of Great Falls, 207 Mont. 376, 383, 675 P.2d 96, 100 (1984); Oregon Mortgage Co. v. Dunbar, 87 Mont. 603, 606, 289 P. 559, 560 (1930). For as long as Montana has been a state, its Constitution has required the Legislature to “enact liberal homestead and exemption laws.” 1972 Mont. Const, art.…