If you live in the above counties or have a legal problem in the above counties, you can apply for legal aid online. For more information and to apply for legal aid, please click on the link below. If you don`t qualify for free or low-cost legal aid, find out how to work with a private lawyer. CMLS is funded by Legal Services Corporation, which has certain rules and regulations that must be followed by our organization, who we can help and what legal issues we can help. CMLS assists clients in a wide range of civil law matters. We do not assist in criminal cases, child protection cases or immigration applications. CMLS regularly assesses the needs of its clients when deciding what types of cases our lawyers can accept. In some cases, you may be eligible for free legal aid if you can prove to a judge that you are eligible for „poor“ representation. In the case of indigent representation, you may have to reimburse the court for part of the cost of the legal services provided to you. The specific qualifications of lawyers provided by the courts vary considerably from state to state and sometimes between different courts in the state. If you can`t afford a lawyer, but you think you qualify for free legal aid, the following can help you move in the right direction. However, be sure to check with your local court or local legal aid program for more detailed information about admission.
Sometimes we receive special grants that allow us to provide legal aid to clients whose income is above 200% of the federal poverty line, but who still cannot hire a lawyer. Right now, we are able to help seniors (over the age of 60), veterans, individuals with federal tax problems and those with mortgage problems, even if their income exceeds our normal eligibility criteria. In general, we are able to help people whose total household income is 125% or less of the federal poverty line. Legal aid helps low-income people. Individuals with incomes below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible and eligible for assistance. Sometimes people can qualify with less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines. There are several HIV/AIDS legal counselling programs that provide free legal assistance to low-income clients infected with HIV or AIDS in areas such as estate planning, employment or housing discrimination, insurance difficulties, family law issues and other legal issues. If you need help with a legal issue, have a question you think a lawyer should answer, or if you`ve been sued and don`t know where to turn, call our helpline! Stateside Legal — the first website in the country to focus solely on federal rights and legal resources important to veterans — is funded by an LSC Technology Initiatives grant. This free service provides military families and veterans with access to a wide range of legal information and support.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has published a policy encouraging the use of the site as part of homeless veterans` services. Cases must be located in one of the districts served by CMLS. CMLS cannot accept cases outside of the 21 counties we serve. If you live in the CMLS service area and need assistance, please complete a service request by calling your local office or filling out an online file. CMLS will determine if we can help you. If you are located in one of the 21 counties where CMLS operates, but your case is located in another county or state, CMLS may refer your case to the appropriate legal aid office for possible assistance. U.S. veterans with mental and physical disabilities may be eligible for free legal assistance on issues ranging from rent assistance to child visitation issues. For eligibility criteria, check with your local veterans` association to see if you or a member of your household is eligible for free legal aid for a range of services.
The latest findings from New York confirm national data that less than 20% of all civil justice needs are met by low-income families and individuals. In 2013, more than 1.8 million litigants were unrepresented by attorneys in civil litigation in New York State courts. Legal Aid Chicago also works with volunteer lawyers and community organizations to provide free legal clinics and assistance services. Please see our list of legal clinics and support services. Contact us to find out if you are eligible for our services. Non-Texas residents can search the National Directory of Legal Aid Organizations or the American Bar Association`s Legal Referral Service for legal assistance. Government studies consistently show that a higher percentage (80%) of the civilian needs of the eligible population are not met. A recent study by the Boston Bar Association found that in Massachusetts, civil legal aid programs reject 64% of eligible cases. Nearly 33,000 low-income Massachusetts residents have been denied attorney assistance in vital eviction cases; Seizure; and family law, such as child abuse and domestic violence. People seeking help in family law matters were turned away 80% of the time.
There are no income requirements to qualify. The only requirement is that the adult or child seeking services must have a diagnosed mental or behavioural problem. If your income is currently below the national average for the number of people in your household, you may be eligible for free legal aid. Most legal aid clinics and pro bono lawyers (private lawyers who offer free legal aid) serve people whose household income is less than 125% of the government-recognized poverty line. The exceptions are Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher income thresholds. There are specialized legal aid organizations and programs for communities such as veterans, survivors of sexual assault, seniors and people with disabilities. To be eligible for these services, you must meet these requirements. And even if you qualify for free legal aid, you may have a hard time finding a free legal aid agency that can handle your case – especially if the agency has limited staff and resources, or if your legal problem is not part of what the agency covers.
You may be entitled to free legal aid from a court-appointed lawyer or public defender if your freedom is threatened (in other words, you must go to prison). A public defender is a lawyer who represents defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, and the Constitution guarantees the right to legal assistance in certain cases. Created by FindLaw`s team of writers and legal writers| Last updated: 20. June 2016 If you are currently receiving financial assistance through other public assistance programs such as SSI/SSP, Food Stamps Program, County Relief, Older Americans Act, and Developmentally Disabled Assistance Act, you may be eligible for additional free legal services in your state.