Legal Services For The Indigent Citizens

By Author: Boyd Rankin
Total Articles: 77
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Who is an indigent citizen?

Indigent citizens are those individuals who don’t really have any financial means and are below a specific income threshold. Indigent individuals are usually thought of as poor and live in extreme poverty. Several public services are offered to the indigent citizens in order to reassure that they receive all the basic necessities of life. The indigent population shouldn’t feel that they have no alternatives for securing legal representation. They might not be able to afford high class attorneys, but there are plenty of legal services for them, which they can avail at nominal costs. Every state in the US has an office dedicated towards such legal services.

Everyone in the nation, rich or poor, shares the responsibility of abiding by the state and federal laws. The laws are unbiased to cover every citizen’s right to live responsibly and honorably. However, issues like poverty could really make people feel that they don’t really have as many privileges and advantages as those who are well off. One such right is the right to obtain legal services. In order to cover and reach out ...
... to the indigent citizens, a Legal Services Corporation Act (LSC) of 1974 was passed. The non-profit and private corporation carefully endeavors to make accessible for low-income individuals an equal and balanced access or opportunity in the entire justice system.

Comprehensive legal services are offered to individuals who cannot afford them. LSC reassures that the legal assistance concerning civil issues become accessible for people falling under this category.

Clients Accommodated by LSC

• Working poor or low income/salary workers
• Veterans
• Farmers
• Disabled
• Victims of natural disaster

LSC's Legal Services

• Welfare problems
• Housing issues
• Concerns on family law
• Issues of consumer protection

Legal Assistance is offered free of cost for:

• Victims of abuse, violence (e.g. domestic violence)
• Senior citizen consumers
• Tenants
• Seniors and veterans

If one wants to become eligible for the legal services offered by different organizations, then they need to satisfy several requirements with respect to their annual income and the kind of legal issue they are facing. All such factors are taken into due consideration when one opts for legal services. The main factor, which one needs to consider here, is their income. Usually, legal service programs make some decisions based on the federal poverty level. Several families that earn an annual income quite close to this level are eligible to avail free legal advice offered by these organizations. If a client is below the poverty level by 125%, then they are offered free legal services.

There are various exceptions to the eligibility for legal services. In case you are disabled or are HIV positive, then you might get special privileges. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the high medical costs, which might bother you later on in your life. However, if such an individual is facing any kind of criminal charges against them, then they are not entitled to receive any help from such organizations. No legal advice is rendered to such an individual. As an indigent citizen, you should always remember that the types of services depend on the service provider and so you should consider getting in touch with the right authorities if you wish to get the best possible legal help.

These are some of the crucial things one should know about legal services for indigent citizens. If one falls into the category of citizens, then they need to ensure that they secure their legal rights by choosing the right legal services at the right time.

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