Many attorneys in South Carolina offer their services for free (pro bono) to clients who cannot afford to pay for help in civil matters. These issues include family, housing, bankruptcy or probate matters. Income, family size and special financial needs are taken into account in determining whether a person is eligible for legal aid. Legal services are free for eligible low-income individuals, but clients are required to pay court fees where possible. You must bring with you all legal documents served and all other documents related to your case. It is your responsibility to provide this information to your lawyer. Last year, regional organizations on aging spent approximately $330,000 to fund legal services for HC`s most vulnerable population. Our service provider handled 1,160 legal files in eleven (11) priority areas. The success of the program is not measured in dollars, but by the impact we have on people`s lives every day. Examples of the positive impact of this program can be found below. The pro bono program is rarely able to respond to urgent requests from a lawyer. However, if you are served with legal documents after the pro bono program has received or completed your admission, but before you have been referred to a lawyer, call the pro bono office immediately.
If documents are given to you after a lawyer has taken over your case, call the law firm immediately. SCLS offers free legal assistance in a variety of civil cases. SCLS does not provide legal assistance in criminal matters or fees. To obtain legal assistance in a criminal case, please contact the public defender`s office in your county. For legal assistance in a fee-based matter, please call the Lawyer Placement Service at 1-800-868-2284. The fee for the lawyer referral service can be up to fifty dollars ($50.00) for 30 minutes. This information has been created to give you general information about the law. It is not legal advice on a particular issue. If you have any questions about the law, you should consult a lawyer. If you don`t know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The number is 799-7100 in Richland or Lexington counties and 1-800-868-2284 in other parts of the state. The SC Bar is instrumental in providing volunteer advocates in various parts of the state for education, voluntary clinics, and «Ask A Lawyer» programs that target the elderly population or are suitable for caregivers. Please contact them at (803) 799-6653 to find out how you can get involved in ensuring seniors get the legal services they need free of charge. On the next page, we ask you to tell us in which country you live and what legal problem you need help with. Depending on your answers, you can choose from: legal advice, legal information, referral or online request for legal services. Under Title III-B of the Seniors Act, the South Carolina Department of Aging funds the provision of legal aid through the various regional aging agencies throughout the state. Legal assistance means legal advice and representation. In South Carolina, this assistance must be provided by an attorney. Displays a list of organizations in your area that provide assistance with your legal issue. A client was facing the loss of his home due to a mortgage foreclosure caused by a tax error at the county assessor`s office. Thanks to legal assistance, the error has been corrected, the mortgage has been updated and the monthly payments are now at the right amount so that the client can maintain his own home. General civil litigation aims to provide the State with superior representation as the «focal point» for emerging legal issues and as the department responsible for dealing with issues in the following areas: contested civil cases; hearings on workers` complaints; proceedings against State employees, authorities, judges and other court officials who need to be monitored; sex offender cases; river huts; confiscation of civilian property; extradition and detention; electoral matters; mortgage foreclosures over which the Crown has a lien; State Authority Form 1 requires the hiring of an external consultant.
The South Carolina Department of Aging has long-standing partnerships with the SC Bar and SC Bar Pro Bono Program, the Access to Justice Commission, SC Legal Services, and other agencies (governmental or otherwise) that can provide legal representation to the target audience. Non-criminal legal services for individuals who cannot afford a private lawyer are provided by SC Legal Services. Some of the types of legal services that may be available include: evictions, bankruptcies, health issues, education, mortgage foreclosures, Social Security disability, employment issues, some limited divorce and custody issues, food stamps, and social issues.