Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Idaho Bill Provides Some Free Legal Help

Lawmakers advanced a bill to help provide free legal counsel to low-income residents in cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, and exploitation of the elderly.

The Idaho House voted 38-32 to approve the legislation. It generates money through a $10 court filing fee to help Idaho Legal Aid Services provide representation in certain cases, which can also involve veterans' issues and foreclosures.

The bill narrowly survived the state House, where lawmakers set a clear precedent early in the 2011 session that tax and fee increases were unwelcome when dumping a small fee hike to help the state police academy.

Republican Rep. Cliff Bayer, of Boise, says Idaho is the only state that doesn't provide financial assistance to its statewide legal aid provider.

Bayer's bill now goes to the Senate.

Source:
Idaho bill Provides Free Legal Help in Some Cases

5 comments:

  1. This is an important bill and I hope it gets signed into law,

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  2. One of the problems victims of unlawful guardianship face is the cost of litigating against the injustice.

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  3. You're right, Anonymous. A person goes broke just trying to protect their loved one from injustice. What kind of sick joke is that?

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  4. Legal aid in all states should come to the aid of guardianship victims and their families. I am very disappointed in the reports I hear about people getting turned down.

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  5. Legal Aid/Services may not be willing to take guardianship cases because of the unnecessary long litigation.

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