Pine Tree Legal is a free legal resource for low-income Maine people. Because our resources are limited, we generally limit direct legal aid to individuals and families whose adjusted annual gross income is equal to or less than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Read our financial eligibility guidelines. We advise you on how to solve your problem yourself. We may also give you written information about your legal rights. We have widespread problems with our phone system. These problems make our phone lines sound “busy” when they are not. We know it`s frustrating – so are we. We are doing everything in our power to work with our telephone service providers to resolve these issues.
Until then, if you try to call one of our offices during our calling hours and receive a busy signal, try another one of our office numbers. Pine Tree Legal Assistance`s administrative office supports the six regional offices. It includes Pine Tree`s Executive Director and staff responsible for financial systems, grants and fundraising, pro bono services and information technology. It also manages Pine Tree`s websites, including www.ptla.org, www.statesidelegal.org, and www.kidslegal.org. We continually assess the most pressing legal issues facing low-income Mainers. Our Pine Tree Board of Directors regularly reviews this list. Cases currently receiving our top priority: Pine Tree Legal Assistance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality, free, civil legal aid to low-income Maine people. Our mission is to ensure that state and federal laws affecting the poor are enforced, while addressing systemic barriers to justice faced by low-income Mainers. We are committed to ensuring that all Maines have access to justice.
Our services range from simple advice and short-time working to negotiations and full representation in the most difficult cases. To complement our limited staff capacity, we also provide user-friendly legal explanations and self-help tools, offer outreach and community education services, and work with institutions that serve low-income individuals, including social service providers, members of the private bar association, and the courts. The Office does not process requests for mutual legal assistance. We may need to do some legal research and discuss your legal issues before we can advise you. We`ll see you later. Learn more about legal aid in Maine with this quick guide You can reach us by phone with your new request for help during these hours:Monday noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
(except the first Tuesday of the month)Thursday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. We offer legal assistance in several ways: We offer training and clinics, self-help materials, advice and, in some cases, full legal representation. Visit this website at any time to access fillable court forms, self-help tools and materials. Our online tool “Find Legal Help” guides you to useful information and resources for your situation. Get our phone and office hours here. Our phone hours can be busy, but we talk to as many people as possible given our resources. Pine Tree does not initiate criminal prosecution or traffic violations.
Learn how to get legal help. Is it required by law to remove a deceased person`s home from an automobile title and title deed if there is a will and power of attorney? We have funds to provide legal advice and represent Maine tenants facing eviction or many other housing issues. If you are threatened with eviction, please call us during our call centre hours listed above. Pine Tree Legal Assistance can only help people who live in Maine or have a legal problem in Maine. If you live in another state and need legal help, contact your local legal aid organization The type of services we provide depends largely on the nature of the legal issue. If you need help with something like a landlord-tenant issue, utilities (TANF, SNAP, etc.), debt, or many other common legal issues, use the information above to contact us. We cannot help you with criminal or family law matters. Click on the county where you live if you need the fax number of your local office. To fulfill our mission, we provide free civil legal assistance in cases where it can make a difference in the ability to meet basic human needs or uphold basic human rights, including access to housing, food, income, security, education and health care.
We believe in fairness and justice for all. We provide free civil legal assistance in Maine. Read the Pine Tree statement on racial justice and provide the details as you see them. In case of emergency, call the Executive Director at 207-774-4753. Under federal regulations, most Pine Tree services are limited to individuals whose household income is less than or equal to 200% or less than federal poverty guidelines (and less than 125% after deductions, such as shelter costs). Some of our programs result in higher revenues. Check out our income guidelines here. If you are not eligible for our assistance, we will notify you immediately. Step 1: If you have a complaint about Pine Tree, ask to speak to senior counsel at your local TAP office. If you need help with a family law matter (divorce, parental rights), please call: In most cases, Pine Tree does not accept family law matters. If you need help with divorce or parenting rights and responsibilities, contact the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project. School and education issues (link to our KIDS Legal Aid pages).
We may ask you to send us more information about your case. We will check before meeting you again to give you further advice. Our services will not be denied to you on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, faith, national origin, age, religion, political affiliation or creed or disability. 1 for Spanish 2 for Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) 3 for French 4 for Arabic 5 for Somali 6 for Portuguese (Brazilian) 7 for Vietnamese We use a voicemail system in some offices. It may sound hostile, but it helps us serve you better. Leave a message and we`ll call you back. Aroostook County Washington and Hancock Counties Penobscot, Piscataquis and Waldo Counties Kennebec, Somerset, Knox and Lincoln Counties Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin Counties Cumberland, York and Sagadahoc Counties Will your home be foreclosed? Call our Foreclosure Defense Unit: (207) 400-3288 Learn about Maine`s sexual assault and domestic violence laws, survivor protection, and help and resources. Every year, we are contacted by more than 50,000 people! Unfortunately, we only have enough staff to provide one-on-one help to less than 1 in 5 people who contact us. What happens when you ask Pine Tree Legal for help? The Augusta office is open to new clients without an appointment: Click here to download a printable copy of this policy. Or ask your PTLA contact to give you or email you this form after filling out the name of the lead lawyer in the local office.