An Overview of Legal Aid in Morganton
Located just off of Interstate 40 about 75 miles east of Asheville, North Carolina, Morganton is situated in a population center for much of Western North Carolina. As the judicial center of Burke County, it has a District Court and Superior Court and the Morganton Legal Aid Office is a municipal building. Given the volume of people served by the English- and Spanish-speaking staff of the Morganton Legal Aid Office, it is vitally important to the residents of Morganton and the surrounding area. Legal Aid of North Carolina strives to help those who cannot afford legal representation be heard in court . Legal Aid attorneys provide free assistance to those dealing with domestic violence, visitation, and child custody circumstances as well as the following matters: Low-income individuals and families are the primary beneficiaries of legal aid services throughout Morganton, and the need is great. Whether a social worker or caregiver needs guidance on guardianship matters for an elderly family member, or a parent would like to obtain child support from the other parent through the Child Support Enforcement Program, free and low-cost legal aid can be a boon to local residents.
Different Types of Legal Aid Offered
Residents of Morganton, NC can find legal assistance in various areas through local legal aid resources. One of the primary organizations offering a broad range of legal help is the Legal Aid of North Carolina – Morganton Office. This non-profit group focuses on particular legal matters, and their staff works closely with applicants to determine the most suitable program for their needs.
Family Law
These programs cover an array of issues, and it includes family law services. Areas under this umbrella include child custody disputes, divorce, domestic violence, guardianship, separation, and spousal support. However, the availability of legal assistance for family law cases may vary. Some legal aid programs do not take on divorce cases; however, legal aid lawyers often handle other related family law matters.
Housing
Housing assistance is another legal aid service in Morganton that can be accessed. Legal representations are provided in both landlord-tenant conflicts as well as foreclosure moratorium cases. When it comes to foreclosure cases, the legal aid attorneys are likely to counsel clients on the foreclosure process in North Carolina and other related topics.
Consumer Rights
Legal aid services offer education and legal representation in consumer rights cases. Some of the issues covered fall under the following categories:
Fraud Protection
Deceptive Sales Practices
Mortgages
Sale & Lease Agreements
Credit Issues
Bankruptcy
Education Law
The local education law services provide legal representation for individuals who have experienced adversity while pursuing an education. Legal aids are provided to students and teachers from preschool through college level. The education law services offered include advocacy for students searching for a special education program. In addition, advocates help along the way for students facing expulsion from school. Legal aid is also offered to teachers, particularly those who have been wrongly terminated.
Public Benefits
Legal aid services also offers help with public benefits cases. For example, advocates assist clients seeking social security disability benefits. Aiding clients with the application process is part of the advocacy. Legal aid services also include counseling clients who have had social security benefits awarded but are suddenly terminated. Other public benefits areas where legal aid services are provided include medicare and Medicaid.
Employment Services
Services are provided in employment issues, including representation in conflict cases and wrongful discharges. The legal aid services cover issues related to hiring as well, such as when there is a conflict with employer policies or procedures.
Qualifying for Legal Aid
In Morganton, the primary source of legal aid services is the local chapter of Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide non-profit organization that provides low-cost and no-cost legal advice on civil matters for those who qualify as low-income in their respective counties. Thus, in Burke County, low-income residents seeking criminal legal aid should look elsewhere (e.g., to the public defender’s office). Likewise, residents of Caldwell and Catawba counties seeking low-cost/no-cost civil legal aid should also look to sources other than Legal Aid of North Carolina, as this particular chapter provides legal aid to residents only in Burke County.
Low-income individuals in Morganton who are in need of civil legal aid may qualify for legal assistance if their household income falls below 125 percent of the current federal poverty guidelines for their household size. For example, Burke County residents with two individuals in their household who have a gross monthly income of $2,807 or less as of the time of writing this post ($33,684 or less as an annual income) may qualify for low-cost legal aid services through Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Residents in Morganton who have experienced domestic violence and/or are afraid that they may be the victim of domestic violence may qualify for free legal services for matters relating to domestic violence by qualifying as low-income and by satisfying certain conditions. These conditions include residing in a domestic violence shelter, being homeless, having lost an income due to domestic violence, having medical emergency expenses due to domestic violence, being unable to pay for child care due to domestic violence, needing to relocate to avoid domestic violence, and more.
Residents desirous of obtaining free or low-cost legal assistance for criminal matters should reach out to the public defender’s office. Residents of Morganton in need of legal assistance for criminal matters who are unable to afford representation by the public defender’s office should ask the judge about the options available to them, depending upon the nature of the offense with which they are charged.
Criminal matters are separate and distinct from civil matters governed, essentially, by different rules. It is for this reason that many county public defender’s offices do not handle civil legal matters and that most national legal aid organizations do not provide assistance with criminal matters.
How to Find Legal Aid in Morganton, NC
For the residents of Morganton who are in need of legal assistance but cannot afford an attorney, there are several options for legal aid services available. Residents can start by searching online for local pro bono projects such as the Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) of North Carolina, where low-income individuals can receive free legal consultations with volunteer attorneys. The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center is another great resource to help people in Morganton find legal aid services. The center provides a wealth of information about the availability of legal aid resources throughout the state, including a searchable directory of pro bono programs and legal services offices organized by location. Residents can call the Toll-Free Pro Bono Line at 1-877-389-0468, which can also provide assistance. Additionally, the Legal Aid of North Carolina offers a variety of free legal services through its Morganton-based office to help families, neighbors, and people living in poverty get access to justice and legal advice. Their website contains additional information about the specific services offered in the Morganton area. Another organization that provides pro bono legal services to low-income residents in Morganton is the Senior Citizens’ Law Project. This project partners with local organizations to staff senior legal clinics and events throughout the year, where seniors can receive free legal assistance or referrals for their legal issues. Finding legal aid services in Morganton may seem overwhelming, but there are always people willing to take the time to ensure low-income individuals and families get the legal support they deserve.
Community Benefits of Legal Aid
The community benefits significantly from legal aid services like those provided by the Mountain Resource Center in Morganton and neighboring areas. This access to justice helps not only in individual cases but also enhances the overall quality of life for residents.
By providing free legal assistance for poor people, lawyers who volunteer their services and legal aid societies help to level the playing field when it comes to legal issues. This is important because many people in low-income communities cannot afford to pay for a lawyer’s help. Without access to a trained legal professional, individuals may not be able to safeguard their rights or even have their day in court.
Reducing poverty by offering free legal assistance helps people in need to get their lives back on track when they face legal challenges. Legal aid providers may be able to help improve the situation of a single mother who is seeking child support or helping an unemployed man obtain workers’ compensation benefits after he was injured on the job. As low-income individuals are able to improve their financial situations , it may lead to a reduction of poverty in the region as a whole.
Legal aid services also offer greater access to justice. It ensures that everyone can at least have the benefit of legal representation when facing the law. If, for example, a person is charged with a crime and does not have money for a private attorney, legal aid services can help them avoid the fear of being found guilty and sent to jail without ever getting to have their day in court.
Access to justice preserves the fundamental right for all citizens to be treated equitably under the law. This is extremely important because it allows everyone to have faith in the administration of justice and the legal system as a whole.
In turn, the resulting enhancement to the well-being of the community is immense. People who are able to have legal help to navigate life’s challenges and secure more just outcomes tend to be able to function in society with a greater ease. Access to justice benefits the community by offering everyone the chance to understand the law and to have a fair and equal hearing in legal matters.
Obstacles for Legal Aid Providers
As is the case with many nonprofit organizations, legal aid services in Morganton face challenges in carrying out their critical mission. These may include funding limitations, high demand, and a shortage of resources. The United Way of Burke County reports that the legal aid of North Carolina has a three-year backlog in their Morganton office. Although this backlog fluctuates, the number of cases can be overwhelming. The success of the organization lies in its ability to put in place the means to overcome growth challenges. The current Board of Directors and the Executive Director are preparing a strategic plan that aims to alleviate the resource issues while expanding outreach and service availability. Fundraising efforts and volunteer involvement are at the forefront of these efforts. Fundraising events are proposed to be hosted at both the national and local levels. All of this is contingent upon finding volunteers who are interested in becoming Board members and in building a solid and engaged network of volunteers. In response to the need for more volunteers, the organization hosted a successful training in April of 2019. More than 20 individuals attended this session, and an invite-only advanced training was held one week later. This allowed 14 trainees to become certified legal aid defenders in North Carolina. Additional attendees who were interested in becoming legal aid defenders will receive the advanced training in October of 2019, at which time they also will become legal aid defenders. It is imperative for the board and executive team to increase community support for legal aid in Morganton. The organization needs to expand its fundraising network to include the Asheville metro area and create a stronger relationship with Western Carolina University in Boone. New programs need to be built around connecting with at-risk youth. And, the organization needs to expand its capacity in order to reduce the intake backlog.
Success Stories with Legal Aid
A testament to the invaluable work done by legal aid services, the story of "Pat" (pseudonym used to maintain confidentiality) showcases how legal assistance can transform lives. Pat, a dedicated caretaker for her sick parent, was struggling to maintain her household when she received the devastating news that she herself had been diagnosed with cancer. Unable to work due to her illness, she had no means of supporting herself or her ailing parent. Having recently moved to Morganton, Pat was unsure where to turn for help. After reaching out to local community organizations, she discovered the legal aid services available in Morganton. This initial contact led her to the Catawba Valley Legal Services office where an attorney specialized in elder law was not only able to provide Pat with guidance about her legal options surrounding her cancer diagnosis but also offered support for her responsibilities as a caretaker for her mother. Thanks to the support of legal aid services in Morganton, Pat became eligible for a number of government support programs. This allowed her to focus on her health and care for her parent without the added stress of financial concerns or legal battles. Legal aid services provided her not just with an attorney who understood her problems, but also with the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone is looking out for her interests . Another example of the profound impact of legal aid services is "Bob" (pseudonym), who was facing eviction from the apartment he shared with his brother. They both suffered from mental disabilities which had left them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous landlords. After a series of threatening letters from their landlord, Bob and his brother were at a loss. After hearing about the legal aid services in Morganton, Bob’s mother contacted the local office to find a resolution to her son’s eviction notice. The attorney assigned to Bob’s case not only advised them of their tenant rights but was also able to identify a more affordable housing option. With a new place to call home, Bob and his brother were able to move forward free of the anxiety caused by the potential loss of their housing. These avenues to housing and health care are available to low income residents of Morganton in need of legal assistance. Their aim is to ensure that no one should be forced into poverty simply because they can’t afford legal representation. In accordance with the motto of the United Way of Burke County that "together we can accomplish anything," with the continued support of local charitable organizations, legal aid services will continue to impact the lives of those in our community.