how to get an attorney in ky with no income

If you can’t afford an attorney, here are some strategies to try: Contact the city courthouse. Seek free lawyer consultations.

Full Answer

How can I get a lawyer on a low income?

Lawyers can be expensive, but there are several ways to retain a lawyer if you have low income. You can contact a legal aid society, find an independent pro bono lawyer, or arrange a payment plan that works for your budget. Look into federally funded legal aid programs.

Is Kentucky legal aid a good employer?

Kentucky Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Kentucky Legal Aid does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

How can I get a lawyer for free?

Here's how to find legal help if you can't afford a lawyer: Contact the city courthouse. Seek free lawyer consultations. Look to legal aid societies. Visit a law school. Contact your county or state bar association. Go to small claims court.

Do I need an attorney if I have no money?

Frequently, the people who need an attorney the most are also the ones who can least afford to pay for one. Whether accused of a crime, injured in an accident, or facing the possibility of losing your children, there are many situations where the stakes are so high that you might desperately need an attorney even though you have no way to pay.

How can I get free legal advice in Kentucky?

Call 270-782-5740 or 866-452-9243 (toll free) to apply for help. This line is answered Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm CT.

What is it called when you can't afford a lawyer?

When a court decides someone is "indigent" - with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney - generally either a private lawyer will be appointed by the court and paid with county funds, or a public defender program will be appointed to represent the person.

How do I get a public defender in Kentucky?

​How to Request a Public Defender. You must ask the judge to appoint a public defender, the judge will either ask you questions to determine if you are eligible, or will ask you to fill out a form that shows your income, assets, etc.

How can I get a legal question answered for free?

ABA Free Legal Answers is a website on which you can submit your questions about civil (non-criminal) legal issues and receive answers from pro bono lawyers in your state. It's EASY. Legal questions are submitted online – all you need is an internet connection. It's CONVENIENT.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

How do pro bono lawyers get paid?

A lawyer who works pro bono does not get paid for the commitment on the case. To cover the loss of income, lawyers often cover the pro bono cases through charges to paying clients. Others work on a “no win, no fee” basis. They only get paid if they win the case.

What is the Department of Public Advocacy in Kentucky?

Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy Our agency's mission is to provide high quality, client-centered legal representation to indigent persons of all ages, accused of crimes or facing a deprivation of liberty throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

How do I get a free divorce in Kentucky?

If you can't afford to pay the filing fees, you can ask the judge to waive the fees by filing a Motion for Waiver of Costs and Fees and to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. If the court grants your request to waive fees, you won't have to pay any court costs during your divorce.

What is justia US law?

Justia is an American website specializing in legal information retrieval. It was founded in 2003 by Tim Stanley, formerly of FindLaw, and is one of the largest online databases of legal cases.

Is Legal Shield legit?

For the first question, the answer is no… it's not a scam. Unlike some shadier MLM type schemes like 30-Day Success Formula and Impact Mailing Club… Legal Shield is a legit company with a real product. Having said that, the way in which some Legal Shield consultants market or sell the opportunity, may be a scam.

Where can I ask a question for free?

Below is a list of some of the most popular sites on the Internet dedicated to questions and answers, listed in alphabetical order.Answerbag. Answerbag is a website that helps answer questions in almost all types of different categories. ... Answers.com. ... Ask Me Help Desk. ... Ask MetaFilter. ... Avvo. ... Blurtit. ... Brainly. ... Brilliant.org.More items...•

What is legal aid?

Legal aid programs employ lawyers and paralegals to offer free services to people who are eligible. If you need help with divorce proceedings, employment issues, landlord and tenant issues, and a number of other legal problems, legal aid programs are an excellent resource.

What happens if a lawyer contacts you without your permission?

If a lawyer contacts you without your permission or expressed interest, do not hire him or her. It is against the Legal Rules of Professional Conduct for a lawyer to contact you if you have not expressed interest in his or her services, or given him or her permission to contact you.

What is legal hotline?

Legal hotlines provide advice for people in specific situations, such as victims of domestic abuse. In some cases the advice is free, and in other cases it is very low cost. Do a search for legal hotlines in your state, and find one that will give advice appropriate to your situation.

What should an attorney do?

Ideally, the attorney should have some experience in handling matters similar to yours. At the very least, they should have the proper qualifications to handle your case, such as training in property or divorce law. ...

What happens if a lawyer says he would prefer to be paid by the hour than by contingency?

If you have a personal injury or medical malpractice case, and a lawyer says he would prefer to be paid by the hour than by contingency, then you may have a weak case. Seek a second opinion.

How to find a self help program?

To find a self help program, call your local courthouse or look online. If you find a program that accepts questions in person, arrive as early as you can to ensure that you are helped.

Can a lawyer charge contingency fees?

In some cases, such as criminal, divorce, or bankruptcy cases, lawyers are not permitted to charge contingency fees. In some cases, attorneys will charge you an hourly rate. However, others (especially lawyers for criminal cases) will charge you a flat one-time fee.

What does it mean to spend time in court?

And to add fuel to the fire, spending time preparing for a court case can mean losing wages or part of a salary. In short, if you don't have the time to self-educate, and if you can't find enough free legal advice to help you have your day in court, it's a wise decision to seek out a competent attorney.

What time does the Akron Bar Association answer legal questions?

The Akron Bar Association, in Akron, Ohio, is an example of what's out there. You can call the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 9 to 11 a.m., as part of their Ask an Attorney Service, and they'll answer legal questions for free.

What is legal aid?

Legal aid societies are nonprofit organizations found in almost every corner of the country that provide free legal services to low-income people. While this is certainly worth exploring, the problem for many households is that the individual or couple makes too much money to qualify for help.

What happens if you can't afford a lawyer?

In a criminal proceeding, if you can't afford legal assistance, a court will appoint an attorney for you. In a civil case, generally described as a dispute between two private parties, to get legal representation, you have to get creative. Here's how to find legal help if you can't afford a lawyer:

What happens if you lose a case?

That is, if you lose your case, you won't pay money, but if you win, the law firm will take a portion of the money awarded to you. However, it's important to tread carefully before picking a lawyer. Choose a reputable attorney and make sure the rate is agreed upon before the lawyer takes your case.

Do attorneys give discounts?

An attorney might give you a discount. Also, many attorneys offer payment plans, so that you're paying monthly instead of one huge sum all at once. Of course, you could hit the jackpot and find a pro bono lawyer, or you might find someone willing to take your case on contingency.

Who is Andrea Vacca?

Andrea Vacca is a collaborative divorce attorney in New Yor k City and the owner of Vacca Family Law Group. She says – at least with divorces – that "some courts offer free assistance to parties who want to fill out their own uncontested divorce paperwork."

What is a "ship" in Barren River?

Benefits and Health Insurance counseling. Through our State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) in the Barren River Area we help clients make informed decisions about benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SSI, prescription drug coverage, and more. For more information about SHIP, click here.

What is Kentucky legal aid?

Kentucky Legal Aid helps people address legal challenges that arise in connection with work and school, such as: Ensuring quality access to school for children with disabilities. Challenging unfair school discipline – unwarranted expulsions or suspensions.

What to do if your benefits have been denied?

If your benefits or your insurance have been denied or discontinued, you can call us for legal advice. In our public benefits practice, we aim to help clients secure financial stability . We also educate the community about rights and responsibilities with respect to benefits programs.

What is nonprofit legal services?

Depending what is available in your area, you may find a nonprofit (charitable) organization with lawyers or legal assistants on staff, dedicated to providing low-cost legal services to particular populations. For example, various nonprofits serve senior citizens, immigrants and refugees, disabled or mentally challenged persons, artists youth, battered women, low-income tenants, and so on. Such organizations might also coordinate getting pro bono (free) help from attorneys in private practice.

Does legal aid help with income?

Most legal aid offices help only people with incomes below a certain level. Some programs also consider all your assets, no matter what your income. Search the Internet or your local phone directory for “legal services” or “legal aid” in your city. Most federally funded legal services offices will not, however, ...

Do lawyers have pro bono?

Many bar associations have pro bono programs staffed by attorneys who've agreed to devote a share of their time to providing free legal representation to eligible clients. You may qualify based on income or other factors, like having AIDS, being an abused spouse, or being elderly.

Can civil litigants get free legal representation?

Think of housing rights, child custody battles, immigration and deportation matters, or crippling litigation over medical bills. For the most part, civil litigants are not entitled to free legal representation. But if you can’t afford a lawyer to represent you in court, before an administrative agency, during negotiations, or in some other matter, ...

How much does a divorce attorney cost?

Divorce proceedings can be very expensive; advance retainers of $5,000 or more and hourly fees of $300 are not uncommon. Unless you have substantial savings and a good income, high-priced legal counsel is likely out of your range. However, a number of attorneys and other legal service agencies can help you.

Do attorneys charge upfront?

In some cases , attorneys may only charge you a nominal fee upfront if there is a reasonable chance a court will award you attorney’s fees, especially if your spouse has a greater income. If you have children, you may have issues of custody, visitation, and child support that you should not attempt to handle on your own.