Southeastern Ohio Legal Services Offers Free Legal Help


Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) provides legal help without attorney fees to people with low incomes and limited savings and assets. All TMHA clients would likely qualify economically for their services.

The world owes us nothing folks. We all have the good fortune of being Americans where we are free to pursue many positive opportunities.

Public Benefits. They represent people who have been denied or cut off Welfare, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, SSI, or Social Security. They also handle cases where benefits have been reduced or where the agency is trying to collect money from you.

Family Problems. They handle domestic violence petitions for people who are being abused by their spouse, boyfriend, or other household member. They handle custody cases when the parent who has been the children's primary caretaker is in danger of losing custody of the children. They also help with child support enforcement issues and occasionally handle divorce cases in unusual circumstances.

Housing. They handle cases for people who are being evicted , locked out, or had utilities shut off, or are having difficulty getting the landlord to make repairs. They also help tenants enforce the special rules for federal or state subsidized housing (Metropolitan Housing, FHA, Rural Development,etc.) They can also handle housing discrimination cases.

Health Care. SEOLS helps people get Medicaid and Medicare, or get medical care they may be entitled to under medical programs. They can also help make sure that hospitals and clinics that receive federal funds provide financial assistance and other services to patients. They can also sometimes help with bill collection cases involving health care services.

Consumer Problems. Cases involving repossession, bill collection, unfair and deceptive sales practices, garnishments, and car sales or repair problems. SEOLS does not handle bankruptcy cases, however, if you are not sure whether you would be helped by filing for bankruptcy, they can give you legal advice about it.

Utilities. Can handle cases in which a utility company denies or disconnects service improperly, billing disputes, payment plans or low-income assistance programs.

Education. Help parents to make sure that their handicapped children receive a free, appropriate education.

Right to Counsel. They can help you get a court-appointed attorney when you have a right to one and the court refuses to give you one. This includes most juvenile court cases (such as cases involving Children's Services), contempt of court if you will be sent to jail, all felony cases and misdemeanor cases if you will be sent to jail.

Other Cases. SEOLS can handle other types of cases when a client's legal problem involves health, safety, physical liberty, income or earning ability.

What follows is a list of the types of cases that SEOLS WILL NOT be able to provide legal services for:
Criminal cases, including traffic offenses.
Other cases where you have a right to a court-appointed lawyer, such as juvenile court cases and contempt of court.
Suits for money where you could pay a private lawyer out of a judgment if you won.
Cases against people who are or have been our clients (conflicts of interest).

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services is located at 332 W. High Ave. in New Philadelphia. They can be reached by telephone at (330) 339-3998 or 1-800-686-3670.

If you believe that you can be helped with a legal issue by SEOLS, call them for advice today.