State Bar of Texas: Free Legal Assistance Available for Tropical Storm Imelda Survivors in 7 Southeast Texas Counties
A toll-free legal assistance hotline is available to people affected by Tropical Storm Imelda and flooding that occurred in
Low-income individuals facing legal issues as a result of Imelda may call 866-659-0666. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with
Examples of legal assistance available include:
* Assistance securing government benefits as they are made 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 lost or destroyed in the disaster;
* Consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process;
* Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems; and
* Counseling on landlord-tenant problems
Major disaster declaration
On
People who sustained property damage as a result of the storm and accompanying flooding are urged to register with
Low-interest disaster loans from the
For more information, individuals may contact
Assistance
Individuals who qualify also may use texaslegalanswers.org -- an free online legal advice clinic where people can pose specific questions related to disaster civil legal issues and have them answered online by volunteer attorneys. Texas Legal Answers is operated by the
Individuals who are in need of legal assistance with Tropical Storm Imelda Recovery can apply with
Additional disaster recovery resources are available at texasbar.com/disaster, texaslawhelp.org, https://lonestarlegal.blog/services/disaster-relief/, and disasterlegalaid.org. For more information on
Visit the
Volunteer Attorneys
Attorneys who would like to provide legal help to Tropical Storm Imelda survivors can view volunteer opportunities at http://bit.ly/2Ounnmc.
Barratry or improper solicitation
The
If you witness something you believe to be improper solicitation, or barratry, please get the name and phone number of the person making contact and report it to your local law enforcement authority or the
Beware of fraud
Both
Survivors should also keep in mind that state and federal workers never ask for or accept money, and always carry identification badges with a photograph. There is no fee required to apply for or to receive disaster assistance from
Additionally, no state or federal government disaster assistance agency will call to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to the agency yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone as it can lead to identity theft.
Those who suspect fraud can call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at 866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies.
Partnership members
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (americanbar.org) - The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and the largest voluntary professional membership group in the world.
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