What is Legal Aid?
The term "Legal Aid" encompasses a wide range of services providing legal counsel to persons of limited means who would otherwise be unable to afford the expense of hiring an attorney to help them navigate our legal system. Most often, programs providing legal aid services are associated with law schools, government programs, or non-profit organizations.
A lawyer on the Board of Directors for one such organization explained: "We don’t do pro bono work. We provide legal RICHES to those who would otherwise go without. Everyone who comes to us has income even below the Federal Poverty Level, but we’ve learned that providing a little extra help goes a long way." For many of Denton County’s most economically vulnerable, using a legal aid service is an essential part of a day-to-day survival plan, so , understanding that legal aid comes in many forms is important to easing the shock to the system when you suddenly go from self-representing to having to get in line to get help.
Although defined at the federal level, many local legal aid programs choose extra services and broader criteria for qualifying clients. Some services, like Divorce and Bankruptcy, have narrowly targeted descriptions. Others services, like Family, Immigration, and Consumer Rights, have much broader definitions when it comes to qualifying for assistance. Services that are clearly defined and cataloged into the various programs are most often (or completely) funded by the federal Legal Aid program. Other services, like Guardianship and Misdemeanor Defense, have more restrictive definitions when it comes to qualifying for assistance. These services are more often locally funded. Understanding local legal aid services is critical to getting the right help, when you need it.
Types of Legal Aid Services Offered in Denton County
Legal aid services in Denton County encompass a wide range of legal assistance available to eligible residents. The organizations that provide these services generally focus on areas such as family law, housing, and consumer rights. Below is a summary of the types of services offered:
Family Law – Texas Legal Services Center is a local nonprofit legal aid organization that provides legal advice to low-income residents. Their services may be available to Denton County residents in cases involving child custody and divorce. Low-income individuals and families can contact Texas Legal Services Center for possible representation in contested family law matters.
Housing – Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas offers legal counsel to residents of Denton County who are facing legal challenges with their housing situation. Core housing issues include landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure, and eviction. Income-qualifying residents may receive legal advice and counsel from Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas.
Consumer Rights – Legal Aid Services for Denton County Texas provides legal advice and counsel to residents with consumer-related issues. Matters may range from utility disconnection proceedings to student loan repayment plans. Eligible residents may turn to Legal Aid Services for general advice or to be matched with a pro bono attorney for representation.
Who Can Access Legal Aid Services in Denton County?
Determining if you qualify for legal aid in Denton County depends upon the type of case, the types of services available, and your current financial situation. Generally speaking, you need to meet both financial criteria and case eligibility in order to qualify for legal aid.
In short, you must show that your income and assets fall below a particular level. For example, legal aid services in Denton County are generally available to: If you are applying for legal aid in Denton County, the organization will review your finances. They will determine if you and your family’s income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Also, you cannot have more than $7,000 in "countable" assets. Assuming that you qualify for legal aid, you also must prove that you require legal services in a category that the organization provides. For example, it does not make sense to connect someone seeking a legal aid attorney in Denton County with a criminal defense lawyer that only handles family law cases. Top legal aid organizations in Denton County specialize in nonprofits and programs that offer services for a broad range of legal issues. Thus, you can use the internet to search for programs that provide legal support for families, disabled clients, the elderly, or non-profit organizations. If you are still unsure about legal aid, consider contacting a Denton County attorney. Many reputable lawyers offer free consultations. A knowledgeable Denton County lawyer can analyze your case and help you determine if legal aid services fit your needs.
How Do I Apply for Legal Aid?
Denton County provides multiple routes to obtaining legal assistance and representation for people who can’t afford to hire a private attorney. Legal aid services may be provided by local nonprofit organizations that specialize in family law, debt-related issues, or estate planning. Denton County also has a broad array of courts and government agencies where low-income residents can participate in free legal clinics and obtain referrals and other resources.
If you think you qualify for legal aid services, here’s how you can apply: Lone Star Legal Aid assists low-income Denton residents with legal matters such as domestic violence, divorce, child custody, consumer protection, and foreclosures. This nonprofit organization offers a combination of legal advice and court representation; however, low-income people with civil and consumer legal issues may also receive help from the organization’s moderated live chat sessions.
To qualify for Lone Star Legal Aid’s services, your household income must be at 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level. In addition to having a limited income, applicants must have a civil or consumer legal matter that is within the nonprofit’s areas of specialization – family law, consumer fraud, veteran’s law, senior’s law, and housing.
Eligible individuals may apply for legal aid services online through the Lone Star Legal Aid website. Lone Star Legal Aid assesses applicants based on their income and need for legal assistance. To apply, you’ll need to upload all relevant documents, including pay stubs, bank statements, and information on your assets. Completing this online application may take 30 minutes or longer, and the nonprofit does not accept phone call applications .
Lone Star Legal Aid charges no fees for its services, although you may be referred to another legal service organization that charges fees.
Denton County’s Legal Aid Clinic is held once a month during Court Orientation Day at the jail, as scheduled by the Denton Municipal Court. Free assistance is provided to defendants residing in the Jail Annex, and eligible inmates are chosen via a lottery that’s conducted at the jail. Applicants’ household incomes must be at least 125 percent or less of the federal poverty level.
Inmates must submit a completed application to receive assistance from the Legal Aid Clinic.
Denton Volunteer Attorney Services (DVAS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing low-income residents and defendants in Denton County with free legal advice, Monday through Friday. DVAS staff directs walk-ins to available organizations on designated clinic days and assists people over the phone when legal advice cannot be offered on-site. When no attorneys are available to provide assistance, such as during court holidays, DVAS attempts to offer advice via phone.
Applicants to DVAS must meet income requirements and undergo an interview process. According to the DVAS website, persons with an annual income of $60,300 or lower, including benefits, are enrolled.
Texas A&M University School of Law periodically holds legal clinics for the residents of Denton County. If you want to attend one of these clinics, you must pre-register on the law school’s website. Participants must pay a nominal fee of $15 for the legal clinic, but participants who submit an application for a waiver may be eligible for an exemption from the registration fee.
Success Stories and Findings
The impact of legal aid services is often measured by the seemingly unquantifiable relief it offers to low-income residents. Consider a recent case in which a retired Chemist and his wife have lived in Denton for almost two decades and have always been active in the community and the Church. A few years ago, the elderly couple fell victim to a mortgage scam and fell behind on their mortgage payments. They were unable to negotiate with their mortgage lender and were facing mortgage foreclosure. They learned about our office through a workshop held at a local self-help clinic and scheduled an appointment with the Housing Program. The couple was able to organize and plan their case, and eventually became successful in qualifying for a loan modification. They remain clients of our office, and continue to need our assistance as they navigate a complex loan modification process.
As early as June 2018, a dozen more residents will benefit from free legal advice and even free legal representation through the Denton County Lawyer Referral & Information Service, in partnership with our office. Lone Star Legal Aid will be hosting a number of clinic workshops, including: Professional Degree Solicitor and Substance Abuse Counseling Committee.
Studies have shown that people who have access to attorneys seem to have a better chance of receiving a better outcome.
Legal Aid Resources and Contact Information
For more information on legal aid services available in Denton County, several resources are available to the public:
Northwest Legal Aid of North Texas
Website: www.nlantx.org
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 466 Denton, TX 76202-0466
Office Location:
207 W. Hickory, Suite 100 Denton, TX 76201
Phone: (940) 383-1300
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lone Star Legal Aid
Website: www.lonestarlegal.org
Mailing Address:
600 N. McDonald St., Suite 101 McKinney , TX 75069
Phone: (800) 981-5454
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
Website: www.dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org
Mailing Address:
720 N. Post Oak Rd. #330
Houston, TX 77055
Phone: (214) 467-2794
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Texas Legal Services Center
Website: www.tlsc.org
Mailing Address:
3506 East 29th Street
Austin TX 78705
Phone: 1-800-948-9071
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.