Legal Issues

LEGAL SUPPORT

Self-Help Law Center - 800 East Fourth Street, #208, Charlotte, NC 28208 704-347-7864 or 704-417-1816. Information and materials regarding legal issues.

Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont – 1431 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte NC 28204 704-376-1600. Legal assistance for low-income persons. Accepts some cases involving family law, housing law, consumer law, and government assistance.

Legal Services for the Elderly - 438 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207,. 704- 334-0400. Free legal advice, information and representation in court for persons! age 60 and older. For legal issues involving Rowers of attorney, guardianships, government benefits, consumer disputes, debt problems, or other civil legal bless that do not generate attorney fees.

Children's Law Center - 404 East Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28208,. 704-331- 9474. Provides trained volunteers and attorneys to represent children involving Juvenile Court, mental health commitments, school matters, guardianship, and contested custody cases.

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Lawyer Referral Service - 1-800-662-7660

McDowell Street Center for Family Law - 101 North McDowell Street, Suite 100; 704-331-4774. Non-profit organization which assists low-income persons with family law issues such as divorce and child custody.

Important Note: Department of Social Services does not address custody issues regarding children who are not in DSS custody. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please call Child Protective Services at 336-2273 to make a report.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES

Department of Social Services: Erin Rutsky is the on-site domestic violence representative from the Women's Commission. She is available to complete assessments, for crisis counseling, and to provide links to other community resources, Available at DSS: Tuesday 10:30 - 4:15, Wednesday 8:00 - 5:00, Thursday 8:00 - 5:00 and Friday 8:00 - 5:00. On Mondays, Erin is located at the Women's Commission main office and can be reached there by telephone: Women's Commission (main officer; 700 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202., 336-3414.

Mecklenburg County Women's Commission (704) 336-3210, (704) 336-3414. Provides individual counseling, domestic violence support groups, parenting group, legal information services, employment assistance, case management services. Services for children (2-18 years old) also.

Programs Confianza (Battered Latina Program) Individual counseling (hi-lingual social worker) and case management services. (704) 432-6970

United Family Services - Shelter for Battered Women: (704) 322-2513. 24 - hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter for adults and children, individual counseling, domestic violence supped group for adults and children. '

United Family Services - Victim Assistance: (704) 336-4126. Criminal court services, civil court services (restraining orders), individual shod-term counseling.

Communitv Link - A STEP UP Program; (704) 334-7288. Long-term case management services, individualized case plans, individual counseling, live skills support groups, advocacy/support '

NOVA (New Options for Violent Actions: (704) 336-4344. 26 week long program for batterers 26 week long after-care services (required).

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday: 1-800-247-9658. VINE is a toll-free, computerized information service that provides inmates' status and release dates in Mecklenburg County, 24 hours a day. Anyone with a touch-tone phone can call to check the status of an inmate. To check an inmate's status on must have the inmate's first name and last name or the inmate's jail identification number