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File an Ethics Complaint

REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark, which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.

Any person, whether a member or not, having reason to believe that a member is guilty of a violation of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, may file a complaint with GAR’s Professional Standards Administrator.

Ethics complaints must be filed with GAR within one hundred eighty (180) days after the facts constituting the matter complained of could have been known in the exercise of reasonable diligence or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the conclusion of the transaction, whichever is later.

In formulating your complaint, please follow the instructions below:

  1. Complete, sign, and date the Ethics Complaint Form.
  2. Name the specific article(s) of the Code of Ethics and how you feel each article was violated. This is important so that our Grievance Committee can determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant the holding of a Professional Standards Hearing.
  3. Attach a one-page written timeline summary and/or statement of what transpired to make you feel an ethics violation occurred.
  4. Black and white and/or color copies are acceptable.
  5. Email all documents to Rob@GallatinRealtors.com or U.S. Mail. Certified Return Receipt is recommended if you wish confirmation of receipt.

IMPORTANT: When a REALTOR® is charged with a violation of the Code of Ethics, the complaining party may not recover damages, either actual or punitive, nor does GAR have the authority to suspend or revoke a REALTOR®’s license with the State of Montana. Should a REALTOR® be found guilty of violating one or more articles of the Code of Ethics, they will be required to pay an Administrative Fee of $100 for the first violation in a three-year timeframe, $250 for the second violation in a three-year timeframe, and $500 for the third violation in a three-year timeframe. The Administrative Fee will be in addition to, and not part of, any disciplinary sanction imposed.

Possible disciplinary sanctions could include a Letter of Warning, a Letter of Reprimand, a fine up to $15,000 payable to GAR, required attendance at an educational class, suspension, termination, or expulsion from GAR. The Hearing Panel can also recommend to the Board of Directors that the disciplined member be put on probation. Probation is not a form of discipline. When a member is put on probation the discipline recommended by the Hearing Panel is held in abeyance for a stipulated period of time not longer than one (1) year. Any subsequent finding of a violation of the Code of Ethics during the probationary period may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, result in the imposition of the suspended discipline.

Once a complaint is received by GAR, it will be presented to the Grievance Committee for their review at the next available meeting. The Grievance Committee will decide if the complaint should move forward to a hearing of the Professional Standards Committee.

Questions? Please contact Rob Wigton, Chief Executive Officer via email: Rob@GallatinRealtors.com or by phone at 406-585-0033 ext. 1006.

You can also visit NAR's Code of Ethics & Professional Standards Resource Page for more information.