A Complete Guide to Legal Aid in Martinsville, VA Explaining Legal Aid in Martinsville Legal aid represents an important resource for those in Martinsville who are facing civil legal issues but lack the financial means to pursue their case or understand their legal rights. Eligibility for legal aid is typically based on income, with priority given to the most vulnerable, including the disabled, elderly, and veterans. The majority of legal aid programs are offered through Bar Foundations or Legal Services Corporations. Many different types of services are provided by legal aid programs, including:The cost of hiring an attorney can be prohibitive, especially for those who are already facing financial challenges. Legal aid programs are designed to help individuals in this exact situation, giving low-income people access to assistance that will help them resolve their legal matters fairly and quickly .In Martinsville, legal aid is available through the Legal Aid Justice Center and the Virginia Poverty Law Center. The Legal Aid Justice Center provides free legal representation to eligible individuals with immigration status issues, private litigation, domestic violence, elder abuse, child custody and support concerns, foreclosure cases, and consumer matters.The Virginia Poverty Law Center helps eligible residents access free legal representation through a network of private attorneys. Services include referrals to the Virginia State Bar and the statewide legal aid hotline. They also provide education, support, and training to legal aid organizations across Virginia so they can assist as many clients as possible. Who Qualifies for Legal Aid in Martinsville The assessment of eligibility for legal aid services in Martinsville is usually done at a local office. This evaluation determines income, assets and impossible financial circumstances, such as ongoing disability or elderly status. Depending on the organization providing assistance, the qualifications for aid vary. A common income limit for legal aid applicants in Martinsville is 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For 2018, that means a household of one is eligible if it makes $15,175 or less. A two-person household is eligible if it makes $20,300 or less. Those figures would rise for three person households to $25,425, and to $30,550 for four-person households (add $5,125 for each additional person). Legal aid services are focused on non-criminal cases including landlord-tenant actions, family law issues, administrative law and specialized programs that help veterans and seniors. The list of legal aid services in Martinsville is plentiful. Top Providers of Legal Aid in Martinsville Several key nonprofit organizations offer legal aid services in Martinsville, VA. These legal aid programs focus on different areas of law and serve distinct groups:Central Virginia Legal Aid SocietyThe Central Virginia Legal Aid Society serves Martinsville and other communities in the region through its regional office in Roanoke. Central VA Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of the area through professional attorneys and trained volunteers.Central VA Legal Aid has four main practice areas, as follows: Civil litigation Consumer protection Family law Housing law Central VA Legal Aid does not charge fees for its services but does use a sliding scale to determine client eligibility. The minimum income requirement is 125% of the federally established poverty level, which is $15,312 for individuals or $31,000 for a family of four. No minimum asset limit is required.Virginia Poverty Law CenterThe Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) is a statewide legal aid nonprofit organization based in Richmond that helps people throughout the state by advocating for low-income Virginians’ rights in litigation, legislation, and policy-making initiatives. VPLC also provides educational resources, seminar opportunities, and online tools to assist legal aid professionals and others who work with low-income Virginians.Although VPLC does not offer legal aid services directly to the public, it helps clients through its five key program areas, which include the following: Disability assistance Housing advocacy Health advocacy Human trafficking Justice reform Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on AgingFounded in 1975, Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging is a highly focused social services organization that serves seniors, caregivers, and persons with disabilities within a 12-county area in central VA, including Martinsville and surrounding areas. The organization provides services, and advocates for legal representation and public policy solutions to help older adults remain independent and active in their communities.Piedmont Senior Resources restricts its services to seniors ages 60 and over. It assists with legal questions and problems through its network of experts and professionals. Services provided include online legal resources and links, legal counseling, mediation services, and elder abuse prevention services.Patrick County Office of Public GuardianThe Private Guardian program assists eligible adults who are incapacitated and have been assigned a legal guardian by the court. The Guardianship provides advocacy services to help eligible individuals access needed medical, social, and related services to ensure their basic needs are met and they are properly cared for. Applying for Legal Aid Services Apply in Person or OnlineTo apply for legal aid services, you can either walk in to the office and ask to see someone at the front desk, or you can fill out an online intake form at any time.Legal Aid of Virginia’s online intake form allows you to identify the type of legal issue you’re having, and will bring you to one of two screens:Money Management/Wills and Estates — ask for assistance with debt collection defense, court-ordered payment reduction, property or car repossession, bankruptcy, foreclosure, replevin.Housing – ask for assistance with wrongful eviction, tenant rights, landlord/tenant dispute, mobile home eviction, housing discrimination, affirmative fair housing, Commonwealth Catholic Charity Clemency project.Family – ask for assistance with divorces, custody matters, domestic violence, creating wills, advance medical directives, durable power of attorney, juvenile and domestic relations district court appeals.Consumer – ask for assistance with a reverse mortgage scam, denial of medical coverage, medical malpractice, nursing home case, denial of health insurance, unfair motor vehicle practices, unfair consumer debts, over-charging or collection harassments.Bring Necessary DocumentationWhen you do walk in, here’s what you need to be prepared with:• Your annual household income• Your address and the address of all other members of your household (the program keeps information private and confidential)• Your contact information, including phone number (preferably, without call-blocking) and email addressNOTE: Information is kept private and confidential, and is not shared with anyone outside the organization.If you submit an online application, you will receive a message either welcoming you to Legal Aid of Virginia or letting you know you are currently ineligible for legal aid services. If you are ineligible, you will be referred to a Legal Aid of VA Helping Hand, a free, online, statewide resource directory.Next, staff will tell you if they can take your case, and if so, or can help you understand how to proceed on your own. Typical Legal Matters Covered by Legal Aid A significant aspect of what legal aid in Martinsville, VA does is to assist with family law issues. Family law attorneys frequently represent people in filing for divorces and related cases. These lawyers may also be able to help with child custody proceedings, distribution of martial property, and child support arrangements. Some of the most challenging cases are those involving domestic violence. These attorneys can help clients petition for protective orders from the court.A third area where legal aid may assist you with your case is in housing or real estate matters. A common issue involves helping people who are being evicted from their homes. A landlord cannot simply order you to vacate the property if you are a tenant . They must go through the court system to get permission to do so, and a lawyer can help you petition the court to stop the eviction.Real estate transactions oftentimes involve professional real estate attorneys. They can help with any issues or issues that arise during the closing process. They also can assist you if you have to file a real estate law lawsuit. Any type of procedural error in a lawsuit can be devastating to your case so you should seek the help of an attorney familiar with the process if you are facing such a lawsuit.A final issue that people face which legal aid may be able to assist with is consumer law matters. There are many different problems that this can include. Some people will file lawsuits against companies who violate consumer laws. Other people have debt collection issues or have to file for bankruptcy. Advantages of Using Legal Aid Services The value of utilizing legal aid services is especially pronounced when the scales of justice can only be evened out through the availability of legal assistance. Advanced legal knowledge is necessary to navigate the complexities of the U.S. legal system, and legal aid provides access to that knowledge and experience at no cost or for a reduced price. Legal aid organizations – or the staff attorneys, individual volunteer attorneys and paralegals who work for these organizations – have the skills and knowledge to help all types of legal clients. Low income and impoverished residents, immigrant communities, people with disabilities and the elderly may qualify for legal aid services in Martinsville, Virginia. Legal aid is not limited by type of case or type of person; if a person meets the income requirements, he or she can receive legal representation in one or more criminal, family law, civil or consumer affairs matters. Barriers Facing Legal Aid in Martinsville Despite the numerous organizations and programs that provide legal aid to veterans and low-income families, challenges still exist. Available resources may be limited, and those seeking help may not be aware that such programs are available. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for a program to have a very high demand for services; however, the program is equipped to handle a set number of cases . Most organizations take on only civil cases. Therefore, those seeking legal aid with a criminal issue may find themselves out of luck. While there may be some support obtained through volunteer lawyers providing assistance in a criminal case, there will be no guarantees as to what services will be provided.