A new legal hotline has been established for needy fire victims in Northern California. Victims who cannot afford an attorney can receive free, limited legal assistance with FEMA housing, insurance claims, home repairs and contractors, mortgage foreclosure issues, landlord-tenant problems, consumer protection and replacement of important legal documents (such as wills). The assistance, provided from volunteer attorneys is limited to issues that not “produce a money award” according to a press release.
The hotline is available for fire victims in the following counties: Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sonoma, and Yuba.
415-575-3120
Callers can leave a message after hours or if all available operators are busy.
The hotline is a wide partnership between the State Bar of California, ABA (Young Lawyers Division), local bar associations, legal aid societies and FEMA.
Two additional related legal hotlines are also available:
Napa County residences can call the Bay Area Legal Aid Legal Advice Hotline. They have set up a dedicated telephone number at: 800-551-5554.
Napa and Sonoma county residents with health care issues can call the Health Care Consumer Center line. Assistance is available for Medi-Cal; medical insurance coverage issues; prescription coverage; and coverage while needing to temporarily relocate out-of-state. 855-693-7285.
For more information, see this press release from the ABA. Photo credit Jeff Head on Flickr (public domain).