What Services are Offered?
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Legal Aid of Western Michigan takes cases in most areas of civil law. The most common are:
Government Programs
This includes problems with Welfare, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability, SSI, Unemployment Compensation and Veteran's Benefits. You may have been recently denied or terminated from one of these programs or had the amount of your grant reduced. If you don't understand the reason or if you believe it was wrong, you should get in touch with LAWM.
Consumer Problems
This includes a wide variety of cases dealing with the purchase of goods, loans, insurance, bill collection, repossession, garnishment, etc. For example, if you have bought a "lemon" used car or your insurance company refuses to pay you for an accident, or your creditors are harassing or suing, you should consider making an appointment with LAWM to discuss the problem.
Landlord Tenant / Housing
Landlord / Tenant problems occur when the landlord tries to evict tenants, raises the rent, shuts off the gas, water or electricity, refuses to give back a security deposit or fails to make necessary repairs to the house or apartment. Legal Aid can also help homeowners with land contracts, faulty home improvements, financing scams, and title problems.
Family Law
This area includes divorce, domestic violence, child custody and child support.
Other
This office also handles a limited number of other types of cases including guardianship, bankruptcies and drivers' license restoration.
We CANNOT handle any criminal cases
If you have been charged with a crime and cannot afford an attorney, you should ask the Court to appoint an attorney for you.
