Legal aid provides free legal assistance and representation for low-income individuals in cases such as divorce, domestic violence, paternity, child support, and custody. Criteria for qualifying vary by jurisdiction. Most countries offer legal aid, and every US state has at least one legal aid organization. Family legal aid organizations handle divorce, protection orders, paternity, and child support cases, but rarely handle custody battles. They may also provide resources to help families better manage their children.
Legal aid is a term generally used to refer to free legal assistance and/or representation. The types of family legal assistance available vary from one jurisdiction to another, but can include divorce, domestic violence, paternity, child support, and custody assistance. The criteria for qualifying for legal aid representation also vary, but generally require the individual to meet income and residency guidelines.
Most countries in the world offer some type of legal aid to low-income residents who need legal advice or representation. Within the United States, every state has at least one legal aid organization. The types of cases handled by the organization and the guidelines for onboarding clients are determined by the organization itself.
Divorce cases are almost always one of the types of cases handled by a family legal aid organization. A divorce can be costly for anyone on a fixed or low income. The filing fee alone can be a barrier for many people to getting a divorce. If accepted as a client, an attorney will present the required documents and represent the client during the legal process.
Another type of case frequently handled by a family legal aid organization is a protection order or domestic violence case. Many victims of domestic violence do not know their legal rights or do not know how to use the courts to protect their rights. A defense attorney can petition the victim to the court for a protective order, which orders the abuser to refrain from contacting or approaching the victim.
Paternity is when a father of a child born out of wedlock legally establishes that he is the father of the child. In order to have visitation or custody rights over a child, a father must first establish paternity. Also, a mother must establish paternity before the father is legally obligated to pay child support. A family legal aid organization may be able to help the mother or father establish paternity. Similarly, child support must be ordered once paternity is established, which can also be handled by a defense attorney.
Parental custody battles are rarely accepted by legal aid organizations. If, however, a child has been removed from the home by the local child welfare agency, a family legal aid organization may decide to represent the parents in the ensuing court case. In many cases, the family may lack the financial resources or education to properly care for the children, in which case the legal aid organization may not only provide legal assistance, but help the family locate the community resources needed to better manage the child.
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