Welcome to Heart of Florida Legal Aid
Heart of Florida Legal Aid has been a vital part of the legal aid community in Central Florida for more than a half century. Formed in 1960 primarily as the Lake County Legal Aid Society, the organization focused its attention on Lake, Sumter and Hernando counties. Gradually, the territory was expanded to include Lake, Sumter, Marion, Citrus, and Flagler counties.
Heart of Florida Legal Aid is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to help low-income and elderly persons to access the legal system to meet their essential needs for food, clothing, shelter, income, safety and healthcare . They provide free legal advice through a Suicide Prevention Telephone Service Fund. Crime victims may contact the organization about compensation for medical bills, etc.
Primarily funded by the Florida Bar Foundation, Heart of Florida Legal Aid serves the needs of low-income individuals in civil matters. This includes family law cases such as divorce and child custody, landlord-tenant issues including eviction, guardianship and probate clientele. All applicants are screened and then assigned to an attorney based upon their ability to serve.
Heart of Florida Legal Aid Services
Heart of Florida Legal Aid serves a broad array of communities, from Polk County to Sumter County and beyond. In doing so, they provide legal advocacy to both low-income Floridians and other disadvantaged populations throughout the region. By handling pro bono cases, in addition to operating affordable legal clinics, Heart of Florida Legal Aid aims to address the unmet legal needs of vulnerable communities. In their family law practice, Heart of Florida Legal Aid provides legal assistance to both parties and the children of divorcing couples. They do so by addressing child support issues, paternity disputes, asset division and more. Because Heart of Florida Legal Aid serves several counties, they operate a robust family law practice, as well as removing legal obstacles to ensure that client families can enjoy the benefits of a healthy and happy household. Housing is another community service that Heart of Florida Legal Aid provides. By advising on issues related to eviction and foreclosure, Heart of Florida Legal Aid can help individuals seek alternatives to court actions, and perhaps retain their homes. The nonprofit organization also provides mediation services, as well as legal help for those who must file health and public benefits cases. Within the housing umbrella, Heart of Florida Legal Aid also addresses issues relating to labor. Denying earnings or safe working conditions are but a few of the concerns that Heart of Florida Legal Aid tackles on behalf of its clients. Consumer protection is another area where Heart of Florida Legal Aid helps disadvantaged individuals and families. The organization offers legal aid and advice in dealing with issues related to bankruptcy, debt collection and even some education concerns. Considering the substantial number of consumer protection cases in Florida, Heart of Florida Legal Aid is committed to pursuing justice on behalf of its clients.
Availability of Legal Aid Services
An applicant must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for legal aid services. These include income guidelines and residency requirements, as well as other conditions. In general, applicants must have incomes below 125 percent of the US federal poverty guidelines. For the 2020 census, these guidelines are $12,760 for individuals and $17,640 for couples. There are exceptions to these requirements, however.
Any applicant who has children in Florida is entitled to legal aid services in Orange County regardless of their income. Further, victims of domestic violence, such as a current victim or an incoming parent are also eligible for services. This may also apply if you are facing the imminent threat of domestic violence.
If you believe you qualify for legal aid services in Orange, FL, visit the Heart of Florida legal aid site today. While not all areas of the law are covered, such as tax or immigration issues, the organization does offer many services that may be applicable to you.
Applying for Legal Aid Services
To apply for legal aid through the Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society, individuals must first determine if they are eligible for assistance. This usually involves an income and asset test to ensure that resources are allocated to those who genuinely need them. Once eligibility is established, applicants can go ahead and reach out to the Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society directly.
The organization offers several convenient ways to apply for assistance. Individuals can simply visit their website to get started. There’s an online contact form available that collects basic information about the applicant, their legal issue, and the types of support they require .
Phone applications are also welcomed at the Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society. Using a toll-free number, individuals can initiate the application process by simply calling the organization. The representative will ask relevant questions and begin drafting a case file for the applicant.
Applicants seeking personal attention can visit the Central Florida office located in Orlando. It’s recommended that individuals check ahead to see if they need to make an appointment or if they can drop by the office during regular business hours.
Heart of Florida Legal Aid: Success Stories
Heart of Florida Legal Aid has made a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals and families in Central Florida faced with legal challenges. By diving deep into their cases, whether through one-on-one consultations or more extensive legal assistance programs, they have achieved remarkable outcomes for those in need of help.
For instance, take the story of Maria, a single mother of two low-income children who faced the threat of losing her home due to foreclosure. Heart of Florida Legal Aid guided her through the process of applying for aid, finding local assistance programs, and ultimately negotiating a favorable outcome that allowed her to keep her home and provide for her children.
John, a local veteran battling a landlord who refused to address numerous issues in his apartment, turned to Heart of Florida Legal Aid for assistance. The organization helped him understand his legal rights and prepared him to confront his landlord with the necessary information to advocate for his needs. Their guidance not only helped secure safe living conditions for John, but also empowered him to stand up for his rights.
Through their programs, from family law to immigration assistance to housing counsel, Heart of Florida Legal Aid has received numerous testimonials from clients who have found success and resolution to their legal issues through their services. These success stories are a testament to their commitment to serving the underprivileged community in Central Florida and the impact they have on the lives of those they assist.
Heart of Florida Legal Aid Contact Information & Office Locations
Heart of Florida Legal Aid serves a diverse clientele across the Central Florida region. The organization has multiple regional offices that cater to different areas of its service. Each office has its specific contact information and office hours for public convenience.
– Central Florida Office – Orlando
This central office serves greater Orlando and is located at 100 E. Robinson Street, Suite 102. The office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office can be reached by phone at (407) 841-8310 or via email at [email protected].
– Orange County Office – Orlando
A branch office of the Central Florida Office, this location is specifically for those in Orange County. Located at 707 W. Robinson St., Second Floor. The phone number for the office is (407) 839-1270. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
– Lake County Office – Tavares
The office for Lake County constituents is located at 123 S. Sinclair Ave, Suite 114, Tavares, FL 32778. The phone number and fax number for the Lake County office are (352) 508-5800 or (352) 343-9857 . The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
– Polk County Office – Lakeland
Located at 22 N. K Hillsborough Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801, this office serves residents of Polk County. The direct line to the office is (863) 686-4466 ext. 400. This office is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
– Marion County Office – Ocala
Located at 300 SW 1st Ave, Suite 200, Ocala, FL 34471. The office phone number and fax are (352) 690-2000 or (352) 690-2182. The office hours are 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday.
– Volusia Flagler County Office – Daytona Beach
The office serving Volusia Flagler County is located at 310 N. Dixie Freeway, Suite 100, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. The phone number for this office is (386) 226-2200, and its fax number is (386) 253-5929. The office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Potential clients can reach any of these branches via the respective phone numbers or emails provided in their descriptions.