Family Defense Unit which helps parents navigate the challenges of the Child Welfare system. Help with CPS investigation against parents; clearing parents name at the State Central Register for child abuse and neglect; neglect and abuse court cases; permanency planning court cases and termination of parental rights.

Provides civil legal services in the following areas: - Family Law: Assists with domestic violence cases, as well as with child support and divorce cases on a limited basis. - Housing: * Until further notice, the Housing Unit can only provide assistance with ERAP application issues and illegal lockout emergencies (ex: landlord changed locks, stopped a utility, etc. without going to court); cannot assist with any other housing-related issues at this time.* Typically assists with evictions, housing conditions, Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) issues, public and subsidized housing applications, terminations, illegal lockouts, landlord/tenant matters, and other issues. - Disability: Assists with SSI Appeals, SSI/SSD applications, advocacy for disabled individuals, benefits counseling, and funding of medical equipment. - Public Benefits: Assists with public assistance, food stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, denial of emergency rental and/or utility assistance, and homeless benefits. - Consumer Law: Assists with unfair debt collection practices and wage garnishment. Does not handle criminal cases, traffic tickets, money damage actions, estate work and real estate closings, torts, small claims court cases, worker's compensation cases, or unemployment.

Provides assistance which helps to ensure that parents fulfill their mutual obligation to financially support and provide health care for their children. Included are services for people who want to locate an absent parent; establish paternity; establish a child support order; request that the non-custodial parent provide health insurance for a child in conjunction with a child support order; change the amount of a child support award; dispute a child support award; or enforce payment of child support monies in cases where the supporting parent is delinquent in paying or refuses to pay or make health insurance arrangements altogether. Provides legal assistance for people who want to petition the court to transfer the right to collect wages earned by their ex-spouses to themselves in cases where the ex-spouse is under court order to pay child support and fails to pay as required. Under this arrangement, the amount of the child support check is taken from the delinquent parent's paycheck and sent directly to the parent who has custody of the child.

Provides crisis intervention and support for victims of family violence, elder abuse, rape, and sexual assault. Offers safe, confidential services including counseling, safety-planning, court advocacy, and referrals. Also provides comprehensive domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, elder abuse, and bullying prevention programs available for schools, community groups, women's groups, scouting troops, and other interested groups.

Responsible for the establishment and enforcement of child support orders; paternity establishment; location of absent parents for child support purposes; collection and disbursement of child support, including medical insurance coverage and day care support. Obtains support from out of state respondents. Limited help available for spousal only support. Can provide legal representation in family court for non-Public Assistance clients, if requested by client.

Provides civil legal services for mental health consumers, including assistance related to: - SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY/SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI): Appeal of benefit denial, Initial SSD/SSI applications, Continuing Disability Review (CDR/Cessations), and Overpayments - PUBLIC BENEFITS: Appeal of benefit denial, termination or suspension of: Temporary Assistance, Food Stamps (SNAP), and Medicaid (MA) - HOUSING LAW: Landlord/Tenant Disputes and Tenant’s Rights, Evictions (Advice & Counsel), and Section 8 Informal Hearings - FAMILY LAW: Uncontested Divorces, Contested Divorces (disputes other than custody or child support) on a case by case basis, Child Support, and Custody/Visitation - CONSUMER LAW: Bankruptcy advisement (Chapter 7), Formal complaints to Attorney General, Creditor Harassment, and Student Loan Discharge advisement (TPD-based on disability) - ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: Power of Attorney, Other/related advanced directives (limited basis)

Provides motor vehicle and other driver services such as: renewals for operator and motorcycle licenses, permits, and non-driver ID cards; amendments to all types of licenses, permits and non-driver ID cards; conversion of out-of state licenses to NY; renewals of registrations; new plates for passenger and commercial vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles; amendments to registrations for all vehicle types; plate transfers from one vehicle to another for all vehicle types; plate surrenders; and enforcement matters including DWI, child support payments and insurance lapses. Services are open to persons age 16 and older. ##REENTRY##

* The FJC is not currently accepting walk-ins or in-person meetings at any location. Advocates are still be available by phone, email, and our online chat-box. If you are having an emergency, and need immediate help, please dial 911. For help with other questions, please call the FJC SafeLine at 716-558-SAFE (7233). * Provides access to various services for victims of domestic violence and unsafe relationships, including advocacy, civil legal assistance, safety planning, counseling, shelter referrals, and access to criminal and civil courts. Partners with various agencies on-site. Speakers' bureau covering domestic violence topics available. Does not serve perpetrators. FJC SafeLine/Hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and website chat box available www.fjcsafe.org.

Legal services are provided by advisors affiliated with the Center for Elder Law and Justice. Legal advisors may assist with issues such as advance directives, will preparation, elder abuse, scams, Medicare rights, pension benefits, landlord/tenant disputes, and consumer problems.

Offers a variety of legal clinics, outlined below. Access to Justice Hybrid Clinic: Students staff either the Help Desk in Erie County Family Court or the Pro Se Assistance Program in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (Buffalo and Rochester). Animal Law Clinic: The Animal Law Clinic focuses on national, state, and local policy addressing animal welfare issues, such as puppy mills, feral and community cats, and former racehorses. Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic: A litigation clinic focused on civil rights and civil liberties, spanning constitutional liberties like free speech, privacy, due process, and statutory civil rights against discrimination. COVID Response Legal Clinic: Student attorneys serve unmet access-to-justice needs of the community, helping individual and families who are facing unexpected legal matters due to the coronavirus. e-Law Center Clinic: Works with diverse companies who are confronting a variety of business challenges specific to startups and early stage high-growth ventures. Environmental Advocacy Clinic: Focuses on state, national, and international environmental policy issues that have a direct impact on Western New York, as well as national and international implications. Family Violence and Women's Rights Law: Focuses on attaining justice and safety for victims of intimate partner violence. Mediation Clinic: Working on cases referred by local courts or other mediation agencies, students help resolve disputes in family law, small claims, and the community. Puerto Rico Recovery Assistance Legal Clinic: Provides practical legal research and thoughtful pro bono service through an ongoing collaborative effort to empower a resilient Puerto Rico.

Divorce mediation is an interest-based process that helps parties reach a settlement agreement without the need for litigation in court.

Provides a service, in collaboration with 2 other agencies (My Sisters' Place and Westchester Hispanic Coalition) to offer free legal services for poverty level residents or those who are victims of domestic violence for consumer disputes, housing, education, benefits, domestic violence, orders of protection, custody, child support, family law, including citizenship applications, work authorizations or other immigration issues.

Provides safe housing and related support services for victims of domestic violence and their children under the age of 18 including emergency housing, hotline, case management, court advocacy, and referrals to Legal Aid regarding divorces, custody, and order of protection.

Offers divorcing or separating couples an effective and humane alternative to the traditional adversarial process. With the help of a trained mediator, couples in mediation work out their settlement based on the needs of the couple and the children. Process seeks to explore options for both the husband and wife. Areas of mediation include parenting responsibilities (access, custody, support), distribution of marital assets, spousal maintenance (alimony) and any other relevant issues. Mediation process includes an initial consultation followed by a limited number of bi-weekly 1 hour-1 1/2 hour sessions. The mediator prepares a plain-language Memorandum of Understanding which sets forth all the terms needed for a separation or divorce with the exception of legal language and signatures. The couple may then submit the Memorandum to their attorneys, or neutral attorney. Call. Appointment required.

Offers divorcing or separating couples an effective and humane alternative to the traditional adversarial process. With the help of a trained mediator, couples in mediation work out their settlement based solely on the needs of the couple and of the children. Process seeks to explore options for both the husband and wife. Areas of mediation include parenting responsibilities (access, custody, support), distribution of marital assets, spousal maintenance (alimony), and any other relevant issues. Mediation process includes an initial consultation followed a limited number of bi-weekly 1 hour - 1 1/2 hour sessions. The mediator prepares a plain-language Memorandum of Understanding which sets forth all the terms needed for divorce with the exception of legal language and signatures. The couple may then submit the memorandum to their attorneys, or neutral attorney. Call. Appointment required.

Help families manage and plan custody or visitation details.

Program connects pro se clients with trained attorneys to assist them in filling out the forms and any ancillary legal documents appropriately. LSHV and/or a volunteer attorney could follow up with the clients assisted in the clinic to determine whether the divorce papers were filed correctly.

The Hudson Valley Justice Center offers direct representation and advice to low income residents of the Hudson Valley. The office focuses on the following areas of law: Eviction defense and other landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, Benefits hearings for eligible citizens, Immigration, Family Law Matters.

Provides a service, in collaboration with 2 other agencies (My Sisters' Place and Westchester Hispanic Coalition) to offer free legal services for poverty level residents or those who are victims of domestic violence for consumer disputes, housing, education, benefits, domestic violence, orders of protection, custody, child support, family law, including citizenship applications, work authorizations or other immigration issues.

Provides legal advice and representation to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, in the areas of family law, and immigration matters.

Assists citizens of Orange County in establishing paternity and child support orders and promoting the self-sufficiency of families.

Provides mediation for the following issues: Divorce & Separation, Family Decision Making, Marital Disputes, Parenting Coordination and Prenuptial Agreements.