January 12th, 2011
Legal clinic to offer free divorces to Hays County

SUBMITTED REPORT

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and the Hays County Bar Association have come together to establish a new free legal clinic that will help low-income residents in need of a divorce.

The inaugural Hays County Community Justice Program  clinic will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Hays County Justice Center, 110 E Martin Luther King Drive. The clinic is currently accepting applications for assistance. The program aims to provide free legal services to low-income clients by pairing residents in need with private attorneys and legal aid employees who volunteer their time to help those that are seeking legal services.

At the CJP’s first clinic, volunteers will focus on helping Hays County residents in need of a divorce but unable to afford the costs associated with the process.  The program is an opportunity for the legal community to help low-income neighbors that are in need of a divorce, said Lori Lynelle Gosnell, private attorney and volunteer with the program.

“A lack of financial resources should not be a barrier to getting legal assistance, and those needing help really should take advantage of this opportunity,” Gosnell said.

In order to be considered eligible for the free legal services, Hays residents need to be at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, their income level cannot exceed $27,563. Hays County residents interested in applying for legal help in obtaining a divorce should contact Lori Lynelle Gosnell at 512-392-5865 for more information about the application process and program criteria.