Housing problems. These include evictions, lockouts, confiscation of personal property, seizures, discrimination in housing, disputes over repairs, rent, contracts, deposits or difficulties with social housing. * New self-help and DIY court forms to waive court fees and enforce the law against your landlord. For general legal information and resources, choose a topic below to get answers to your legal questions, find a legal aid office near you, court information, public forms and more. Legal aid organizations are nonprofit businesses that provide free legal aid to low-income clients with non-criminal problems, including cases in some of the following areas: The State Bar Association funds legal aid organizations throughout the state that provide legal services to low- and middle-income Californians. These organizations focus on your issues, from custody and family law to disability rights and veterans` benefits. Federally funded legal aid firms provide lawyers who are experts in helping low-income people with legal problems. For tips on how to find the right lawyer, questions to ask when hiring a lawyer, and how to avoid fraud, check out our free legal information. Non-criminal legal services for individuals who cannot afford a private lawyer are provided by SC Legal Services.
Some of the types of legal services that may be available include: evictions, bankruptcies, health issues, education, mortgage foreclosures, Social Security disability, employment issues, some limited divorce and custody issues, food stamps, and social issues. Legal Services programs do not deal with criminal matters; If you have questions about criminal law, see Public Defence Services. To help as many eligible people as possible, most legal aid agencies also use paralegals to help with their cases. Paralegals are not lawyers and cannot practise law, but they can represent clients at administrative hearings. For example, a paralegal may represent clients at hearings involving social assistance, supplementary security income or unemployment benefits. Paralegals can interview clients and let them know about their benefits. They also research and investigate cases and help negotiate with merchants, landlords or government officials. Paralegals are supervised by lawyers and help provide legal services to clients. In addition, legal aid cannot accept so-called “fee-generating” cases. In a fee-generating case, a lawyer`s fees are paid out of the money awarded to the winning party.
If you ask for legal help with your problem, you will be told whether it is a paid case or not. Legal aid offices do not deal with criminal cases. The court appoints a lawyer to handle criminal proceedings if the client cannot afford legal assistance. This section will help you understand the different types of cases that legal aid offices typically handle and the roles of paralegals and legal aid lawyers. We provide low-income North Carolina residents with free legal aid in civil cases involving basic human needs such as security, housing, income and more. This information has been created to give you general information about the law. It is not legal advice on a particular issue. If you have any questions about the law, you should consult a lawyer. If you don`t know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The number is 799-7100 in Richland or Lexington counties and 1-800-868-2284 in other parts of the state. Like private lawyers, legal aid lawyers and paralegals work to find the best possible solution to the case for their client.
And just like communications between private lawyers and their clients, communications between legal aid clients and their lawyers or paralegals are confidential. We help our clients retain the benefits to which they are legally entitled, and everyone should have access to a lawyer to help them resolve legal issues. If you need help with your legal problem and think you qualify for legal aid, call your nearest office to find out if you qualify. Status: October 2011 We do not handle criminal or civil matters on behalf of prisoners. We do not deal with personal or traffic cases. We do not handle divorce, alimony, spousal support and fair distribution cases except in exceptional circumstances (check out our free do-it-yourself divorce clinics). We do not process new claims for government benefits. We only handle immigration cases for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as survivors of human trafficking and their family members. Family law issues. These include divorce, adoption, custody, alimony, parental visitation or parenting time, domestic violence, guardianship, injunctions, defense in paternity claims, and amendment of decrees. Most legal aid agencies limit representation in divorce to certain types of situations.
Some offices do not accept divorce cases, except in cases of emergency. Information about the law or tools to solve simple legal problems. Income, family size and special financial needs are taken into account in determining whether a person is eligible for legal aid. Legal services are free for eligible low-income individuals, but clients are required to pay court fees where possible. Utilities. These include issues of welfare, food stamps, medical assistance, supplementary income, social security and unemployment benefits. If you have been denied benefits, asked to repay benefits, or feel you are not getting the benefits you deserve, a legal aid office may be able to help. If you have a civil law problem but can`t afford to hire a private lawyer, you can still access the legal system through your local legal advice and legal aid organization, which provides free or low-cost legal services to low-income people. Information on many of these local services can be found online at the websites listed below.
Here you will find information about the types of cases we handle. We regularly reassess our case priorities to ensure we are providing the best service to our clients, so this list may not include all types of cases we handle. If you have any questions or think you need legal help, call our toll-free helpline or submit an online request to see if we can help. Read our Anti-Discrimination Policy. Your rights if you have a legal problem involving money or debts Sometimes a legal aid office cannot accept a case because there are not enough legal aid lawyers available to provide help to all eligible people. However, in some communities, private lawyers volunteer their time to represent low-income clients free of charge and accept cases that the legal aid office cannot handle. These are the kinds of cases that legal aid agencies can often handle. However, the type of cases accepted by each legal aid unit may vary. The community, clients and legal aid staff worked together to identify the highest priority issues for low-income people in their area.
Visit the menu below and the rest of the VaLegalAid.org website for general information on civil law issues. Consumer problems. These include debt issues, contract or collateral issues, buy-outs, garnishment of wages, discrimination and advice in small claims and insolvency proceedings. This guide was created for people who live in Blue Ridge Legal Services` service area in the Shenandoah Valley, but can be used by people who live anywhere in Virginia. It is designed to help adults get their own birth certificate. This guide was created for people who live in Blue Ridge Legal Services` service area in the Shenandoah Valley, but can be used by people who live anywhere in Virginia. Your rights under U.S. and Georgia civil rights laws We help our clients find and maintain stable employment and obtain the wages and benefits to which they are entitled Your right to apply for public benefits and challenge benefit decisions Your rights in marriage or other relationships, with children and in situations of domestic violence Start here, to learn more about foreclosure. Eviction, money and debts, public services or victims` rights.
Your rights in the criminal justice system or as a victim of crime in Georgia The California courts website also has online resources that can help you find help. Problems of juvenile rights. This includes school expulsions and suspensions, as well as other conflicts involving schools. We help North Carolinans live in safe and affordable housing Your rights and benefits as a member of the military or veteran Your rights in end-of-life decisions about your property and health care Utility Helpline: 1-800-520-5292 Monday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday: 9h30-12h30 Wednesday: 9h30-12h30 Thursday: 13h-16h Your rights as an immigrant or person applying for citizenship in the United States Your rights in court and how to use the criminal and civil justice system in Georgia.