Free Legal Assistance Available for Georgia Disaster Victims

ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 17 -- The State Bar of Georgia issued the following news release:

A toll free legal aid hotline is now available to victims of Georgia's recently declared disaster areas in Baker, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Miller and Seminole Counties. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in disaster related matters, is a partnership between the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

Victims facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call 1-866-584-8027 (toll free) or 404-527-8793 (local) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to request assistance. When connected to the hotline voicemail, callers should identify that they are seeking disaster-related legal assistance, give brief details of the assistance needed and in which Georgia county they are located. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with Georgia lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal assistance. Victims may also request assistance online by emailing yld@gabar.org.

The type of legal assistance available includes:

* Assistance with securing government benefits available to disaster victims;

* Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims;

* Help with home repair contracts and contractors;

* Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;

* Assistance in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures;

* Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems; and

* Counseling on landlord-tenant problems.

Background:

When the president declares a major disaster the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division establishes a toll-free number for disaster victims to request legal assistance. The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, in turn, partners with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteers in affected areas to handle victims' cases.

Victims should be aware that there are limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.