Legal Services

Results: 27

• Adult Protective Services (2)
  PH-6500.0500

  Adult Protective Services

  PH-6500.0500
  
  Social services programs that provide assistance for older adults, people with disabilities and other vulnerable individuals who are unable to act on their own behalf or manage their own affairs, or who are in immediate danger due to physical or emotional abuse, unsafe or hazardous living conditions, exploitation, neglect, self-neglect or abandonment. Included are APS programs that investigate cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation working closely with a wide variety of professionals including physicians, nurses, firefighters and law enforcement officers following receipt of a report from friends, neighbors or others concerned for their safety; and public and private guardianship/conservatorship programs that make provisions for people who have been judged to be incompetent by the court by assuming responsibility for the care and custody of the individuals and/or for the management of their estates.
• Advance Medical Directives (3)
  FT-2700.0500

  Advance Medical Directives

  FT-2700.0500
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who want to use the tools appropriate in their state to express their wishes regarding future medical treatment should they become incapacitated and/or to name the individual they would like to make health care decisions on their behalf. Included are programs that provide copies of necessary forms as well as those that help people complete them.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (2)
  FP-0700

  Alternative Dispute Resolution

  FP-0700
  
  Programs that offer procedures for settling disputes which serve as alternatives to a conventional court trial. ADR procedures are less costly than litigation, produce a settlement more quickly, allow for more flexibility, preserve relationships among parties, permit confidentiality and can produce solutions that are satisfactory to both parties rather than a winner and a loser.
• Child Support Assistance/Enforcement (2)
  FT-3000.1600

  Child Support Assistance/Enforcement

  FT-3000.1600
  
  Programs that provide assistance which helps to ensure that parents fulfill their mutual obligation to financially support and provide health care for their children. Included are services for people who want to locate an absent parent; establish paternity; establish a child support order; request that the non-custodial parent provide health insurance for a child in conjunction with a child support order; change the amount of a child support award; dispute a child support award; or enforce payment of child support monies in cases where the supporting parent is delinquent in paying or refuses to pay or make health insurance arrangements altogether. Child support is money paid by one parent to another for the maintenance, including the education, of their children following the dissolution of their marriage or other relationship. Non-custodial parents enrolled in an insurance plan at work may be required to include the child under this coverage while those not covered by any insurance plan may be required to obtain medical coverage, if available at a reasonable cost. Child support assistance/enforcement may be provided by private attorneys, legal clinics, family law facilitators' offices or child support enforcement programs which are available in all states, often as a component of the district attorney's office.
• Civil State Trial Courts (1)
  FC-8200.1500

  Civil State Trial Courts

  FC-8200.1500
  
  State trial courts of general jurisdiction that handle civil cases which involve personal injury, property damage or liability, medical or dental malpractice, real estate actions, equity suits such as injunction proceedings, specific performance contract disputes, administration of trusts and foreclosure on mortgages; and, in jurisdictions where there are no specialized courts, adoptions, probate, family law and psychiatric cases. In some states, a distinction is made between municipal civil courts which hear cases involving monetary claims lower than an established amount and superior civil courts which hear all other civil cases. The type of cases handled by civil trial courts varies by state.
• Comprehensive Family Law Services (2)
  FT-3000.1640

  Comprehensive Family Law Services

  FT-3000.1640
  
  Programs that provide information and advice, help with documents, legal counseling and/or representation and other forms of legal assistance which deal broadly with family law issues such as divorce and separation, child custody and access, and support payments rather than specializing in a particular issue that concerns relationships and rights within families.
• Concealed Weapons Permits (1)
  DF-7000.1470

  Concealed Weapons Permits

  DF-7000.1470
  
  Programs that issue permits which authorize individuals to carry guns, knives, tasers and other personal protection devices on their body and in their vehicle. The specific nature of the weapons which require a carry permit varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
• Court Ordered Parenting Programs (1)
  PH-6100.1600

  Court Ordered Parenting Programs

  PH-6100.1600
  
  Programs approved by the court that provide classes which utilize a specialized curriculum that assists families with family preservation and unification. The programs target families in which children are deemed at risk for abuse and neglect and enable parents to fulfill the requirements of court-ordered family preservation contracts.
• Divorce Assistance (1)
  FT-3000.1700

  Divorce Assistance

  FT-3000.1700
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who are initiating or responding to a suit for an annulment of their marriage, which establishes that a marital status never existed; a legal separation, which suspends the marriage so far as concerns the cohabitation of the two parties; or a divorce, which totally dissolves the marriage relationship. These programs may also discuss and represent the individual's interests regarding distribution of property assets and parenting issues regarding any children.
• Domestic Violence Protective/Restraining Orders (1)
  FT-6940.1900

  Domestic Violence Protective/Restraining Orders

  FT-6940.1900
  
  Programs that help adults obtain an order from the police or the courts that protects them from abuse or threats of abuse from a current or former spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, someone they have a child with, someone they live with or someone they are related to through blood or marriage. Included are emergency protective orders that police can obtain from the court to provide immediate protection to an abused family member for five to seven days until an application for a temporary restraining order can be made in court; longer-term temporary restraining orders issued in civil court that forbid contact with the protected person until the propriety of granting a permanent injunction can be evaluated; permanent or after-hearing restraining orders that make a short-term injunction granted in the temporary restraining order permanent (or specify the amount of time they will remain in effect); and criminal temporary protective orders which apply in situations where an abusive individual has been arrested and faces trial.
• Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services (1)
  FT-3000.1750

  Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services

  FT-3000.1750
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance and/or representation in court proceedings for individuals who have been abused in an intimate relationship and/or for people who are facing a summary conviction offence or criminal charge for perpetrating abuse. Included are domestic violence law clinics and other legal assistance programs that represent victims of domestic abuse at restraining order hearings or in other civil or criminal actions involving charges against an abuser. Most also represent the person's interests in complexities that arise as part of the legal process such as restitution, payment of debts or child support, custody and visitation and property control. Some programs may also represent victims of domestic abuse who have been charged with a crime and/or handle cases involving accusations of child abuse filed by one parent against the other, abuse of an elderly person by an adult child or abuse of an adult child by a parent.
• Elder Law (3)
  FT-2450

  Elder Law

  FT-2450
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance for individuals who need assistance in the area of law which relates to the rights and needs of older adults, especially in the areas of age discrimination, consumer fraud, estate planning and management, living trusts, trust administration, probate, property law, retirement planning, pension benefits, Social Security benefits, Medicaid and Medicare, disability planning, long-term care alternatives, health care decisions, elder abuse, guardianships and conservatorships.
• Eviction Prevention Legal Assistance (2)
  FT-4500.1800

  Eviction Prevention Legal Assistance

  FT-4500.1800
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people are being evicted, either wrongfully or with reason, from their apartments or other rental property. Also included are programs that attempt to prevent eviction and possible homelessness by providing mediation services to negotiate a compromise between an individual and the landlord.
• General Benefits Assistance (1)
  FT-1000.2500

  General Benefits Assistance

  FT-1000.2500
  
  Programs that focus broadly on helping individuals who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining grants, payments, services or other benefits for which they are eligible rather than offering more specialized services relating to a particular type of benefit.
• General Legal Aid (1)
  FT-3200

  General Legal Aid

  FT-3200
  
  Programs that provide legal counseling and/or representation for low-income individuals who need assistance in routine legal matters, usually in the area of bankruptcy, housing, public benefits, family law, elder law or immigration/naturalization.
• Immigration/Naturalization Legal Services (1)
  FT-3600

  Immigration/Naturalization Legal Services

  FT-3600
  
  Programs that provide legal assistance for immigrants, nonimmigrant visa applicants, asylum seekers and lawful permanent residents who are seeking naturalization. Services are generally provided by nonprofit immigration law offices and may involve information and consultation about benefits under immigration law including procedures for obtaining student, visitor and employment-based visas; family immigration; asylee status; lawful permanent residence status; or citizenship.
• Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution (1)
  FT-4500.4600

  Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution

  FT-4500.4600
  
  Programs that help tenants and landlords resolve disputes regarding security and other rental deposits, unsanitary conditions, failure to make repairs, privacy, notice requirements, excessive rent increases, nonpayment of rent, neglect or damage to property, overcrowding or other grievances.
• Lawyer Referral Services (2)
  FT-4800

  Lawyer Referral Services

  FT-4800
  
  Programs that maintain lists of private attorneys and link people who need legal assistance with lawyers who specialize in the required area of law.
• Legal Counseling (2)
  FP-4000

  Legal Counseling

  FP-4000
  
  Programs that are staffed by lawyers who offer information and guidance regarding legal matters, proposed lines of conduct, claims or contentions including opinions on the party's rights, responsibilities and liabilities; and who offer suggestions for an appropriate course of action, but do not represent clients in court.
• Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs (2)
  FT-4950

  Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs

  FT-4950
  
  Programs that investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing facilities, residential care homes, assisted living facilities and other supervised living facilities for older adults. The program also promotes policies and practices that improve the quality of life, health, safety, welfare and rights of residents; monitors laws, regulations and policies that affect those who live in long-term care facilities; provides the public with information about long-term care options; and promotes the development of consumer organizations concerned about long-term care. Under the federal Older Americans Act, every state is required to have an Ombudsman Program that addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long term care system.
• Patient Rights Assistance (5)
  FT-6200

  Patient Rights Assistance

  FT-6200
  
  Programs that provide information, education, advocacy and/or other forms of legal assistance which relate to the rights of people who are patients in a health or mental health care facility, who are residents of convalescent or other long or short-term care facilities including adult residential care homes, or who are incapacitated and are being cared for at home by family members. Services may also be available to significant others of these individuals.
• Self Representation Assistance (1)
  FP-8000

  Self Representation Assistance

  FP-8000
  
  Programs that train people to represent themselves in court when initiating or responding to a specific type of civil litigation.
• Small Claims Courts (2)
  FC-8200.8100-800

  Small Claims Courts

  FC-8200.8100-800
  
  State courts that hear civil cases involving no more than $5,000 and which require parties to the action to present their own cases. The judge hears both sides and renders a judgment.
• Tenant Rights Information/Counseling (1)
  FT-4500.8550

  Tenant Rights Information/Counseling

  FT-4500.8550
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance for tenants who need to know their rights and responsibilities regarding leases and rental agreements, deposits, legal eviction procedures, measures to protect themselves from unlawful or retaliatory evictions, rent withholding rights, rent control requirements, privacy rights and other issues that may be of particular interest to tenants. Tenant rights counseling may also include assistance in completing forms, advice regarding a particular dispute and contact with the offending landlord to provide notification that she or he is not in compliance with landlord/tenant laws.
• Traffic Courts (2)
  FC-8200.8100-900

  Traffic Courts

  FC-8200.8100-900
  
  State courts that hear cases which involve metropolitan area traffic violations.
• Trust Preparation Assistance (3)
  FT-2700.8600

  Trust Preparation Assistance

  FT-2700.8600
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who want to prepare a trust which transfers all or some of their property to a trustee who holds or manages that property on behalf of a beneficiary (which may include the individual who initiates the trust). The rights of beneficiaries and the rights, powers and responsibilities of the trustee are included in the trust document. Trusts may be revocable (can be altered or revoked) or irrevocable (cannot be altered or canceled once written but carry special tax benefits); can take effect immediately or can be established as standby trusts, ready to receive assets if the individual becomes disabled; can be established as testamentary trusts which take effect after the death of the individual under the terms or conditions of his/her will; or can be supplemental benefits or luxury trusts which are used to transfer assets to a person who may receive public benefits and could be used to fund items not covered by the benefits without affecting the individual's benefit eligibility.
• Will Preparation Assistance (3)
  FT-2700.9500

  Will Preparation Assistance

  FT-2700.9500
  
  Programs that provide assistance on an individual or group basis for people who want to draft a Last Will and Testament which leaves instructions for the disposition of their property following their death and need assistance in ensuring that the document is properly written. Also included are programs that provide copies of the Last Will and Testament form that is valid in their jurisdiction.