Legal Aid Not Sufficient for Foreclosure Cases

Legal aid attorneys are a great help in keeping foreclosure-troubled families keep their homes. There have been many cases where legal aid lawyers have helped prevent eviction cases.

Isabel and Juan Muneton, a couple who lived in a foreclosure-threatened apartment in Lawrence, was helped by a neighbourhood lawyer to stay in their home.

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to these lawyers. Unlike in criminal cases where everyone has a right to a lawyer, in civil cases like foreclosures, only those who can afford a lawyer have a right to one.

Most families facing foreclosure problems are middle to low income earners who really struggle in paying their dues, let alone paying a lawyer for legal help. Though the state provides legal aid to these families, the help available is outnumbered by the caseload. Majority of low-income families do not get the help they need.

Evicting families from their neighborhood has its downside not only to the evicted families themselves but to the community as well. These families are potentially active members of the society but because of eviction, they are not able to serve their purpose in the community.

In Pine Tree state, foreclosure cases have doubled yearly since 2006. According to Nan Heald of the Pine Tree Legal Assistance, despite the increase in the number of cases, budget has remained the same. Her staff has helped but a meager ten percent of the total cases.

In terms of national statistics, half of those who visit legal offices to seek for help walk home with no help at all, not to mention those who do not even get to the legal offices.

Banks and investors have lawyers, which is why foreclosure battles are tough for homeowners who cannot afford the same legal help. Free legal aid attorneys can definitely help troubled families keep their properties, if only there are enough of them.