Free Legal Assistance Still Available to Mid-Michigan Flood Victims

July 27, 2020

A toll-free legal aid hotline is still available to victims of the flood emergency in Midland, Arenac, Iosco, Saginaw, and Gladwin counties. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in flood-related matters, is a partnership between the State Bar of Michigan, the State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section, Lakeshore Legal Aid, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, and private law firms who are volunteering services including Dykema, Bodman, Honigman, and Miller Canfield.

Flood victims facing legal issues may call (866) 418-8315 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Friday, to request assistance.

September 8, 2020, is the deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance.Visit disasterassistance.gov or call (800) 621-3326.

When connected to the hotline, callers should identify that they are seeking disaster-related legal assistance, brief details of the assistance needed, and in which county they are located. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with Michigan lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal assistance. Legal consultations will be scheduled for a mutually agreeable time following the initial call-in and matching process.

The type of legal assistance available includes:

Assistance with securing possible FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster victims
Assistance with life, medical, and property insurance claims
Help with home repair contracts and contractors
Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
Assistance in consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures
Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
Counseling on landlord-tenant problems

Victims should be aware that there are limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (e.g., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court).

For any other legal needs, contact the State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral service at (800) 968-0738 or lrs.michbar.org.