Legal Services
| Address: | 159 Main St.
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 778-6107; 1-800-559-2927 (hotline) (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 778-6297 |
| E-mail: | awapfarm@awap.org |
| Website: | http://www.awap.org |
| Contact: | Aimee Desroches |
| Clients: | Victims of domestic abuse in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties. |
| Services: | Advocates can help with:
A confidential place to talk. Information and resources. Shelter and support groups. Assistance through the court system. Referral to other support systems. A safe place when home isn’t safe. Volunteer Opportunities: Crisis intervention, court advocacy, office work, handling donations, speaker’s bureau, working with children. Required training: AWAP will provide training. Time requirements: Variable. Volunteer coordinator: Aimee DesRoches (207) 778-6107. |
| Fees: | Free and confidential. |
| Hours: | 24 Hour domestic abuse helpline. Call for office hours. |
| Address: | P.O. Box 2007
Augusta, ME 04338 |
| Location: | 24 Stone St.
Augusta |
| Phone: | (207) 626-2774; 1-800-452-1948 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 621-1419 |
| E-mail: | advocate@drcme.org |
| Website: | http://www.drcme.org/ |
| Clients: | All individuals with disabilities. |
| Services: | Disabability Rights Center’s mission is to advance and enforce the rights of individuals with disabilities. In working with and on behalf of people with disabilities, the center is committed to the principles including people with disabilities can make choices and are entitled to enjoy life’s benefits as full and equal members of Maine’s communities.
Some services Disability Rights Center's provides are: Information about rights and service systems, Referrals to appropriate services, Representation of individuals at meetings and hearings, Legal representation of individuals or groups, Training on rights and advocacy skills, and Working towards broad systems change. |
| Fees: | Contact for more information. |
| Hours: | Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m. |
| Phone: | 1-800-677-1116 (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.eldercare.gov |
| Services: | The Eldercare Locator, public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services. The Eldercare Locator is designed to help older adults and their families and caregivers find their way through the maze of services for seniors by identifying trustworthy local support resources. The goal is to provide users with the information and resources they need that will help older persons live independently and safely in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Established in 1991, the Eldercare Locator links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers. Whether an older person needs help with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver needs training and education or a well-deserved break from caregiving responsibilities, the Eldercare Locator is there to point that person in the right direction. |
| Hours: | Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ET) |
| Address: | 38 Main St.
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 778-5890 |
| E-mail: | kathy.wahl@maine.gov |
| Clients: | Victims and witnesses of crime, upon referral by investigating law enforcement agencies. |
| Services: | Investigates and prosecutes crime on behalf of the state of Maine. Witness/victim advocate works with victims and witnesses in preparation for court. Miscellaneous services for victims of crime; such as applications for victim compensation fund. |
| Fees: | none |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Website: | http://www.helpmelaw.org/ |
| Services: | Help ME Law is your Maine legal help resource. Use HelpMELaw to find: People who may be able to help with a specific legal problem, and information about laws that affect you. Find groups that provide free or low-cost legal services in Maine. Browse the library and find easy-to-read information about Maine laws. Learn about the Maine courts and the free legal information they provide. |
| Address: | PO Box 659
Lewiston, ME 04240 |
| Phone: | (207) 621-0087 (office); 1-800-750-5353 (legal services hotline) (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.mainelse.org/ |
| Clients: | Maine residents 60 years and older who need and are unable to obtain the services of an attorney. |
| Services: | Hotline attorneys answer questions about issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, powers of attorney, health insurance, SSI, creditors, and long-term care. Legal counseling and court representation may be offered to those in need of more than information. |
| Fees: | No charge; however, if clients can afford to pay own court costs, they are encouraged to do so, in order for more people to be served. |
| Hours: | Staff attorney is available to meet with people in the Lewiston office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. by appointment. Homebound people who cannot get to Lewiston can arrange to have their visits in the home. Staff visits anywhere in the tri-county area (Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford). Legal Services Hotline: Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Address: | Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman
One Weston Court, P.O. Box 128 Augusta, ME 04332-0128 |
| Phone: | 1-800-499-0229 |
| Website: | http://www.maineombudsman.org |
| Services: | A Swedish word, Ombudsman (pronounced om-budz-man) is the title for a specially trained advocate authority under federal and Maine law who investigates and resolves complaints made by long-term care consumers. All communication is confidential and free of charge. |
| Address: | PO Box 788
Augusta, ME 04330 |
| Phone: | (207) 622-1460; 1-800-860-1460 (nationwide) (toll free) |
| E-mail: | Lris@mainebar.org |
| Contact: | Penny Hilton, Director |
| Clients: | People of any age in need of professional legal services for issues involving Maine law. Callers do not have to be Maine residents. |
| Services: | Assistance in clarifying needs of callers who think they may have legal issues, Direction to appropriate resources and legal information, and, when appropriate, referral to attorneys practicing in relevant areas of law. |
| Fees: | $25 Referral fee payable by check, money order, or credit card for referral to an attorney. This fee will cover the first half-hour of the initial consultation with the attorney, after which the client must be prepared to negotiate and pay standard legal fees. The service does not provide referrals to reduced fee or pro bono attorneys. |
| Hours: | Intake line Monday – Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Referral request form and additional information also available on-line at: www.mainebar.org/laywer_need.asp |
| Address: | 126 Sewall Street
Augusta, ME 04330 |
| Phone: | (207) 626-7058 |
| Fax: | (207) 621-8148 |
| E-mail: | info@mejp.org |
| Website: | http://www.mejp.org/ |
| Services: | Maine Equal Justice Partners (MEJP) is dedicated to advocating on behalf of low-income people in Maine, to assure their access to basic rights and services; including health care, income support, food assistance, housing, child care, education and training, and fair working conditions. Maine Equal Justice provides a voice for low-income people through representation in the courts, the Legislature, and administrative agencies; legal policy research and analysis; and education and training about their legal rights and opportunities to participate in public policy reform. MEJP’s also provides clear and easy to read fact sheets about food stamps, TANF, MaineCare, Parents as Scholars, Medicare and more. |
| Address: | PO Box 547
Portland, ME 04112 |
| Phone: | 1-800-442-4293 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 828-2300 |
| E-mail: | staff@vlp.org |
| Website: | http://www.vlp.org/ |
| Clients: | Low-income Maine residents with civil legal problems. |
| Services: | Legal assistance and information for income eligible callers. It provides information and self-help materials and referral to other resources or agencies as well as referral to private attorneys. Callers speak to a trained volunteer (not a lawyer). |
| Fees: | Free or reduced fee. |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Monday thru Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Address: | 221 Broadway
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 778-4457 |
| Contact: | Heidi J Pulkkinen |
| Services: | Offering An Alternative To Divorce Attorneys, Divorcing Couples, non-married couples separating, parents and teenagers, landlords and tenants. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution required by the judicial process in Maine. It is an opportunity for you, your spouse or ex-partner, and your lawyers (if you have them) to meet with a neutral third party who is trained in mediation to see whether you can work out an agreement as to all of the contested issues in your case. Mediation is required for all family law cases in which the parties have not come to agreement on all issues, unless the Court allows the parties to waive mediation. Generally, you cannot get a contested hearing without having gone to mediation to try to work out your differences. |
| Fees: | Contact for more information. |
| Address: | 145 Lisbon Street, 7th floor
Lewiston, ME 04240 |
| Phone: | (207) 784-1558 |
| Fax: | (207) 255-8657 |
| Website: | http://www.ptla.org |
| Website: | http://www.kidslegalaid.orgWebsite |
| Clients: | We provide free legal services to low-income Maine people. |
| Services: | Pine Tree is a nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) status established in 1966 by private attorneys in Maine to meet the need for legal assistance by low-income residents. Over the past 35 years, Pine Tree has become a recognized part of the justice system in Maine, providing help to over 350,000 Maine people since its doors first opened. |
| Hours: | 9 a.m.-noon & 1:00-4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. |
| Address: | 1101 14th St., NW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005 |
| Phone: | (202) 289-6976 |
| Fax: | (202) 289-7224 |
| E-mail: | nsclc@nsclc.org |
| Website: | http://www.nsclc.org/ |
| Clients: | The National Senior Citizens Law Center advocates nationwide to promote the independence and well being of low-income elderly individuals and persons with disabilities. |
| Services: | The National Senior Citizens Law Center advocates through litigation, legislative and agency representation and assistance to attorneys and paralegal's in field programs. NSCLC’s functions vary with the needs of our clients. NSCLC maintains a national reputation for professional quality and successful advocacy. |
| Address: | PO Box 200
East Wilton, ME 04234 |
| Location: | 20 Church Street
East Wilton |
| Phone: | (207) 645-3764; 1-800-645-9636 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 645-3270 |
| E-mail: | ffowler@wmca.org |
| E-mail: | tgage@wmca.org |
| Website: | http://www.wmca.org |
| Contact: | Fen Fowler, Executive Director |
| Clients: | Individuals/families who wish to pursue greater self-sufficiency in areas such as: education, employment, legal issues, finances, shelter, substance use/abuse, relationships, spirituality, nutrition, child care, health, parenting, transportation, mental health, children’s education. |
| Services: | Western Maine Community Action is one of the State’s vital community action programs offering numerous ways to improve the community’s quality of life. These programs include:
Central Heating Improvement Program Child Care Systems Information and Referral Fuel Assistance Low Interest Home Improvement Loans Tri-County Health Services Weatherization Programs WIC Nutrition Program Career Center Family Development Accounts Revolving Loan Program Maine’s American Dream Initiative (first time homebuyer program) Home Buyer Education Affordable Homes Elderly Hardship Grant Home Preservation Grant Oil Tank Replacement Maine Association of Realtors Grants ARP - Appliance Replacement Program and Volunteerism. WIC (Women, Infants and Children) - Case management/mentoring, resources, assessment of nutritional needs, nutritional and health information and referrals, height, weight, and hemoglobin assessment. Vouchers issued for milk, cereal, juice, cheese, etc. Intended to be a supplemental nutritional program. Prenatal, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and their children under age 5, who are 185% of the poverty guidelines and have nutritional or medical needs. Volunteer department administers a variety of programs including Operation Santa Claus, Seeds of Life, Food Pantries, Senior Farm Share, Grow A Row, Gleaning and Western Maine Tax Assistance Program. The volunteer department also offers support to other programs within the agency. |
| Fees: | None |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:00a.m. – 4:30p.m. |