What is Legal Aid?
Legal aid is a type of legal assistance offered to low-income individuals by the government and private organizations. Legal aid is offered by private nonprofit organizations in every state and is funded partly by the federal government. In certain cases, such as where a case is brought against the government, legal aid will be funded completely by the federal government. Legal Aid of Northwest Texas provides free, high-quality civil legal aid, and education to more than 100,000 low-income individuals and families throughout 114 counties in Northwest and West Central Texas, including Galveston County.
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas offers its services through several practice areas, including housing, public benefits, consumer, family law, foreclosure, education, employment, juvenile, public education, and tax law . The closest office to Galveston, Texas in which legal aid is provided is in Galveston’s neighboring city of League City, Texas, where the services offered are primarily focused on domestic violence, child custody, child support, divorce, guardianship, protective orders, bankrupcty, social security, discrimination, tax, wills, probate, creditors rights, and landlord/tenant laws.
In addition to the practice areas listed above, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas also helps those who may not qualify for legal aid to get legal assistance through a network of lawyers who provide some legal assistance free of charge and/or for reduced fees. Legal Aid may also provide assistance with paying an attorney, filing a complaint with the State Bar of Texas regarding attorney misconduct, or receiving free mediation services.
Clearly, legal aid plays a critical role in providing legal services to those individuals who cannot afford to pay for such services. Legal aid helps to ensure equal access to justice for those without equal footing when it comes to legal matters.
Legal Aid Eligibility In Galveston
Eligibility for legal aid in Galveston is based on a variety of criteria, though it is primarily focused on the income level of the person applying for help. Typically, applicants must fall below 125 percent of the federal poverty level in order to qualify for assistance.
The government sets this level annually. In 2017, for example, the threshold to fall below 125 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of four is $32,750.05. For a family of two, it is $25,285.16.
In addition to income requirements, individuals may be disqualified if they are not citizens or legal residents. Eligibility can also be affected in cases where items such as automobiles, real estate and bank account holdings are worth more than a predetermined threshold determined by the legal aid service.
What Legal Issues Are Covered By Legal Aid?
Legal aid services in Galveston are designed to provide assistance for a wide range of legal problems commonly experienced by low-income individuals and families. These services cover several different categories of law and dispute resolution, including:
Family law encompasses the area of the law that deals with individual and family legal issues. This can include marriage, divorce, separation, adoption, termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency, guardianship, conservatorship (for minor children) and dependency (abuse and neglect). If you require legal assistance related to family law, Legal Aid of Greater Houston is there to help.
Landlord-tenant law refers to the regulations that govern the rental of commercial and residential property. In most cases, it is the state that determines the laws pertaining to the regulation of landlord-tenant relationships.
Housing law generally pertains to regulations governing the development, use and conservation of land, including disputes over encroachment, boundary and nuisance limitations, management of natural resources and state authorities over zoning and land use. In the area of land use, housing law issues commonly center on rights to light and air, historic preservation, and allocation of public space.
Consumer law refers to the broad area of law that involves transaction of business, commercial paper and collections. Issues that fall under consumer law include advertising, fraud, product liability, privacy, credit counseling and bankruptcy.
Wills law refers to the aspect of estate law that pertains to the assessment and distribution of an estate after the owner’s death. This includes duties relative to the settlement of legal affairs and the execution of the will. Probate law is the official proving of a will. It includes duties relative to a binding action.
Probate law is the area of the law that relates to the settlement of an estate. This may include proving a will, interpreting and implementing a will, distributing assets, paying taxes, resolving claims, and distributing the residue.
How to Seek Legal Aid in Galveston
Applying for legal aid is somewhat easier than trying to find a free attorney in Galveston. If you go through the right organizations, they will help you understand how you can have free legal advice, and they may refer you to a pro bono lawyer who will represent you in a civil matter. These are not criminal defense attorneys. You must make less money than the limit for the legal aid organization you apply to serve. This is because legal aid is taxpayer funded and grants and donations from various agencies, charities, churches and non-profits.
You must be the right gender, ethnicity or have a disability that the organization financially supports legal counsel for in order to be considered as a pro bono client for legal aid. For example, if it’s aimed at minorities, they will not have a problem representing you. In most instances, you must have an annual income of less than $15 , 000 in order to retain a free legal aid attorney. But getting those kinds of legal services can be difficult.
To apply for legal aid, call 713-652-0077 or log on to the Texas Civil Rights Project online. The civil rights group calls its network "There’s a Lawyer in the House." You call and tell them your problem and if they can help you, they refer you to one of the free legal aid lawyers listed in their roster. Others in Austin and Houston feature criminal law, immigration law, civil rights, LGBT equality law and service related law. Legal Aid of Northwest Texas will first get an idea of your situation via phone and then invite you for free legal services, if they think you qualify. A few of these agencies retain sliding scales, so be sure to ask what the hourly rates are in case you don’t qualify for free legal services and can’t afford to hire a lawyer.
Legal Aid Resources in Galveston
Access to legal aid services in Galveston is offered through local legal aid organizations in the area, including the following:
• Texas Legal is a statewide non-profit organization offering legal aid services to low-income residents through its lawyer and law firm referral network. Texas Legal provides financial assistance to qualifying residents of various regions of the state for legal aid services, including representation in family, criminal, civil, probate, bankruptcy and foreclosure matters. Texas Legal’s headquarters is located at 9920 Southwest Freeway #101, Houston, TX 77074. Further information about the services offered by Texas Legal can be found on its website at www.texaslegal.org.
• Neighborhood Justice Program is a non-profit organization that offers free legal aid services to residents of the Houston-Galveston region of southern Texas. Its offices are located at 8303 Southwest Freeway, Suite 705, Houston, TX 77074. NJP primarily offers legal aid services to qualifying residents in the area of civil law. Additional information about the services it provides can be found on its website at www.njp.org.
Other Options
Because many individuals do not qualify for legal aid services, some communities offer other alternatives to legal aid. Pro bono legal services are provided by lawyers at no charge. Several Galveston County nonprofits utilize their trained volunteers to offer pro bono legal services to those in their service area. These organizations listings include the services they provide, eligibility requirements and the application process.
Volunteer Lawyers Program Pro BonoNet, established by the Legal Aid Society of NYC offers a searchable database for legal services including the Volunteer Lawyers Program in Galveston . Legal Aid Service of Galveston, Inc. offers free legal aid for persons who qualify under state and federal guidelines in civil legal matters. Their pro bono program for Galveston is currently accepting applications for the following types of legal matters: The Houston Bar Association offers a searchable directory of free legal services across Texas here. LawHelp.org search provides information on license issues including free legal services and clinics.
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