How to Access Legal Aid in Harlingen, TX What You Should Know about Legal Aid Services Legal aid services are a type of support offered to individuals who are unable to afford an attorney for a variety of legal issues. Often, legal aid services are presented to the public through legal aid clinics, where individuals can go to speak with a professional regarding their situation. Staffed by attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants, legal aid clinics at legal aid locations work very hard to ensure that low-income individuals aren’t facing serious legal concerns without support. Legal aid clinics offer support across a variety of legal issues. For instance, legal aid services are often provided for divorce, child custody, guardianships, eviction, foreclosures, bankruptcy, and guardianship . Although it’s hard to imagine an attorney offering services in such a wide variety of areas, pro bono and public legal services attorneys and paralegals are specifically trained to handle a wide range of concerns, so there’s no such thing as a "wrong" question when you ask for help at a legal aid clinic. So who is eligible for legal aid services? Individuals who are typically considered "low-income" can often receive legal aid services for free or very low cost. This includes individuals who receive disability benefit payments from the Social Security Administration, as well as individuals within a certain income bracket (it varies by state). To understand whether you qualify for legal aid services, schedule an appointment at one of the local legal aid clinics. The process is free, simple, and confidential. The Importance of Legal Aid Services in Harlingen Legal aid is a legal service provided to individuals unable to afford traditional services and whose cases have merit. The grant of legal aid services is made without regard to the ability of a client to pay. Legal aid may involve advice and counsel, limited services or full representation. Legal aid groups are funded by both the government and charitable donations. In the southern part of Texas, the VALOR program provides legal aid to active and former military members and their families as well as other low-income residents. VALOR legal aid in Harlingen is provided through the support of Lone Star Legal Aid and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. Among the issues handled is family law, consumer fraud, landlord/tenant problems, and elder law. The work of VALOR is limited to qualified applicants and those seeking help must meet specific eligibility requirements. Legal aid is organized on a local and state basis through the efforts of legal aid organizations and community groups. Organizations and agencies that assist in the organization of legal aid in Harlingen include the Southern District of Texas Young Lawyer’s Association, the State Bar of Texas, state bar legal aid and access to justice committees and bar foundation grants. Who Is Eligible for Legal Aid in Harlingen Access to legal aid in Harlingen is determined by a set of eligibility criteria. The most important factor is income. Legal aid programs typically serve low-income individuals who cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent them in civil matters. Each federal jurisdiction sets its own income brackets, which usually range between 125% and 200% of the federal poverty line. Texas Legal Aid typically offers assistance to clients with household incomes of less than 275% of the federal poverty line; however, non-specified special circumstances such as victims of spousal abuse or human trafficking often merit an exemption from this rule. Of course, specific income limits vary among Texas legal aid programs and are subject to change yearly.In addition to income levels, legal aid programs have residency requirements. All low-income individuals in Harlingen and surrounding communities throughout Cameron County are eligible for legal aid through Advice Clinics offered by Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc. However, if you would like to open a case that needs more in-depth assistance, you need to be a resident of Cameron County or seek help from a legal aid program in your home county.Residents of Harlingen should be aware that there are a few special legal aid clinics in town as well. Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc. has a Saturday Domestic Violence Legal Clinic in Harlingen every second and fourth Saturday of the month. The South Texas College offers several new and low-cost services as part of its new student legal clinic, including limited service programs in family law, real estate and estate planning. Harlingen Legal Aid Application Process Application forms for legal aid can usually be obtained online. Nonetheless, prospective legal aid clients in Harlingen should speak with the relevant poverty law center, clinic, or program before submitting an application.Applications for legal aid may also be submitted in person by visiting the legal aid organization’s local office. A list of local legal aid offices is available online. Applications can also be submitted over the phone. Additional details about where and how to apply for legal aid are provided below.Where to apply for legal aid in HarlingenLegal aid organizations typically have multiple locations, so if you’re looking for civil legal aid in Harlingen, TX your first step is to determine where the closest legal aid office is located. For those residing in Harlingen, the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Incorporated is the closest provider of civil legal aid.The Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Incorporated is located at 1201 W Harrison Ave Suite "A", Harlingen, TX 78550 , approximately 2 miles from Harlingen’s city center. It is recommended that you contact any legal aid organization before arriving at a specific location. The Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Incorporated can be contacted at (956) 584-1921.Documents required for legal aid applications in HarlingenAlthough legal aid organizations will determine what documents are necessary for each applicant, it is usually recommended that applicants in Harlingen provide any documents that they believe to be relevant to their legal issues. This includes, but is not limited to:It’s also recommended that applicants in Harlingen ask for help completing any required application documents, even if the legal aid organization’s staff is already helping them with understanding what forms are required.Tips for successful legal aid applications in HarlingenIf you’re looking for civil legal aid in Harlingen, following these tips may increase your chances of being accepted as a client and receiving legal aid: Legal Aid Groups in the Harlingen Area Location: Legal Aid Organizations in HarlingenFor residents of Harlingen looking for legal aid organizations, the following provide much-needed support:Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc.With the purpose of ensuring the attorney general’s civil rights mission was executed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc (TRLA) was formed in June 1996. The organization serves those living in poverty, including people from the surrounding counties of Willacy, Starr, and Kenedy.Visa and MasterCard payments are accepted on a limited basis for citizens needing legal services. A small number of services are offered on a sliding fee scale, but many fall within income guidelines, while others are offered free of charge.If you require an appointment for legal assistance, you can call the local Harlingen number listed below, or use the U.S. Postal Service to mail information about your legal problem along with your name, phone number, and return address to the following address:Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid216 West 17th Street Suite AHarlingen, Texas 78550Phone: 956-428-120 not to be confused with the Harlingen mailing address. While the address is confusing, the numbers are not—this number above is the Harlingen location. Do not mistake it for the San Antonio offices at 511 East Franklin Avenue, also in Texas.Lone Star Legal AidLone Star Legal Aid provides access to justice for the state’s poor, ensuring that legal rights and needs are met. For more than 100 years, the organization has provided quality legal counsel and representation across several southeast Texas counties. Their headquarters is located in Houston and they have field offices throughout the region, as well as satellite offices in the greater Houston area.Services that Lone Star Legal Aid offers include assisting with cases involving elder law, employment issues, family law, immigration, landlord/tenant, healthcare, safe havens for battered individuals, bankruptcy, consumer credit, education, environmental law, civil rights, class action lawsuits, and tax law among others.The main Houston headquarters is located at:1515 Eldridge Parkway, Suite 100Houston, TX 77077-2239Phone: 281-347-3200You can also reach the Harlingen, Texas office the following ways:105 Pigeon Hill Rd.Harlingen, TX 78552Phone: 956-425-7671Fax: 956-425-4111Lone Star Legal Aid is available for residents across Southeast Texas, including the counties of Armstrong, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Barles, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Concho, Cottle, Duval, Edwards, Erath, Falls, Frio, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grayson, Grimes, Deaf Smith, Dimmit, Draper, Hays, Henderson, Johnson, Kleberg, La Salle, Lamb, Lee, McCulloch, Maverick, Milam, Montague, Nacogdoches, Newton, Oldham, Rains, Ramirez, Roberts, San Augustine, San Patricio, Shackelford, Smith, Stonewall, Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant, Tom Green, Upton, Victoria, Webb, Williamson, and Young. Yet, any program participant will not be turned away regardless of their county of residence, and the office is open to all Texas residents who meet eligibility requirements. Harlingen Legal Aid Alternatives If you do not qualify for legal aid services in Harlingen, that does not mean you have no options. There are several other alternatives for those seeking legal help, including the following:Pro Bono ServicesFor individuals and families that truly do not have the means to pay for a lawyer to represent them, even on a sliding scale, pro bono services may be available. Pro bono work is legal work that is performed by honor attorneys without charge, as a community service. While getting connected with a pro bono lawyer may take longer than getting legal aid through the Harlingen Legal Services Center, where staff lawyers may be available to take your case on short notice, pro bono attorneys can provide you with representation equivalent to the representation of a paid attorney.There are some conditions to pro bono work in the Harlingen area. First, most pro bono work is only offered on child custody, divorce/domestic violence, housing, and important wills and probate . It is somewhat rare to find a pro bono lawyer willing to take on a personal injury case for free. This is because personal injury lawyers in Texas typically work on a contingency fee basis – meaning they do not collect any fees unless they win your case. A pro bono lawyer, however, may agree to take your case if you allow her to take a percentage of the recovery. When courts are facing backlogs, like in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, judges may appoint pro bono attorneys to represent defendants in criminal cases when defendants cannot afford a legal defense. However, this is also rare and not the norm.Law ClinicsLaw clinics are somewhat similar to pro bono services, except that law students often perform much of the work under the supervision of a licensed attorney. If you are interested in a law clinic, contact the local law school to learn about the services available.