Ohio free legal foreclosure assistance
Several different law firms and organizations are partnering together to offer homeowners in Ohio free legal assistance for stopping a foreclosure. The Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation is both providing funds to the attorneys and organizations involved, and it is coordinating the program among the firms in the state.
These groups and programs are also part of the Save the Dream program, which is the government of Ohio’s plan to reduce foreclosure filings. There are several key participants. Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation is working closely with the Ohio Poverty Law Center (OPLC), the various attorneys and lawyers across the state who provide pro bono foreclosure advice, and other members of the Save the Dream program. Together these groups are offering numerous programs and solutions to the crisis.
Ohio pro bono foreclosure help success rate
While the program is fairly new and continues to evolve, it is showing incredible results. To date, in over 10% of cases people are able to keep their homes. Maybe best of all is that the advice is offered at no cost to them, so the risks to the homeowner is minimal. That success rate speaks volumes about the non-profit law firms that are participating, and it shows how important the work is that OLAF supports for homeowners across the state. Together these firms are providing pro bono advice to homeowners in all counties across the state.
Attorneys and firms that offer free foreclosure assistance
There are numerous firms and lawyers that are contributing their time and expertise to the cause. They include the following, however more attorneys and organizations may join over time,
- Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS)
- Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC)
- Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) and Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO)
- Community Legal Aid Services, Inc. (CLAS)
- Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (LASGC) and Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio (LASSO)
- Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC)
- Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (LAS Cleveland)
- Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS)
How does the Ohio legal aid program work
First of all, there are income criteria that need to be met. After identifying homeowners that are qualified for the foreclosure assistance program, potential clients will then be referred to legal aid programs and firms across the state to have their court cases assessed.
Attorneys will review their mortgage terms and financial situation. The homeowners will also be able to obtain free legal representation, either by pro bono attorneys at one of these participating firms or legal aid staff may be assigned to their case. Either way the borrower will have someone dedicated and committed to their case. One of the primary solutions to a mortgage crisis is to use court-based Ohio foreclosure mediation programs to resolve foreclosure cases.
The demand for help is in high demand as more people are falling behind on their mortgage payments. To address the volume of foreclosure cases across the state of Ohio, almost 1,500 private attorneys responded to a call-to-service, and this is in addition to all of the other aid provided by the foundation . These lawyers have volunteered to provide pro bono legal assistance or even representation to homeowners facing foreclosure.
In addition, Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation pro bono staff and attorneys continue to work closely with all statewide agencies, law firms and other partners. This is done across all six legal aid regions, and the goal is to better coordinate services, share best practices, and monitor outcomes of the program.
To learn more or to receive free legal advice for dealing with a foreclosure, dial 1-866-529-6446.
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