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 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)

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.

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.

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.

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

Provides mediation programs to help people solve their problems, no matter the situation or setting. Mediation can: - Help couples looking to get divorced and or separated - Help landlords and tenants work out issues - Help parents and schools agree on special education matters - Help employees and employers resolve conflict - Help neighbors restore harmony in the community - Help families handle issues with teens, siblings, and aging adults - Help parents work out custody and visitation arrangements - Help parties with legal issues who are looking for an alternative to court Services are offered virtually, over the phone, and in person. In addition to mediation programs, the Center collaborates with local civil legal services providers to offer holistic legal services for victims of crime in Erie, Niagara, and Genesee counties. Center staff will work with victims to identify legal issues and to discuss pathways to achieving justice. The Center also offers Education and Training workshops that provide skills-based trainings, consultation, and coaching services.

Mediation services are designed as an alternative to court to handle civil or minor criminal issues and disputes such as family conflicts, neighbor-to-neighbor disputes, consumer-merchant problems, landlord-tenant complaints and student-to-student or student-to-teacher disputes. Settlements are intended to avoid future conflict without placing blame or guilt. Agreements are binding and enforceable by courts. Special eviction prevention program assists landlords and tenants before the court on eviction petitions. Provides consultation and training to schools for conflict resolution curriculum and peer mediation programs.

Promotes the professional standards of divorce mediation. Maintains directory of mediators, and committees on ethics and standards of practice to investigate clients complaints.

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.

Designed to educate divorcing or separating parents on the impact of their breakup on their children. Teaches techniques to reduce the stress of family changes and protect children from the negative effects of ongoing conflict in order to foster and promote childrens healthy adjustment and development. Addresses four topics: Creating and Maintaining Supportive Parent-Child Relationships Providing a Stable, Supportive Home Environment Maintaining Healthy Parental Functioning and Psychological Well-Being and Protecting Children from Ongoing Conflict Between Parents. Call for schedule and further information.

Family Court can help residents obtain an Order of Protection, file a violation, obtain custody of children, get child support, get child visitation rights, settle paternity issues, adoption, family violence issues, juvenile delinquency, foster care placements, Child neglect, abuse, or abandonment, guardianship, and Persons in Need of Supervision.

NCCRS is a program of the Rural Law Center of New York, Inc. The organization is staffed by mediation professionals and certified community volunteers, and is part of the statewide Community mediation Centers Program administered by the New York State Unified Court System.

Family Court can help residents obtain an Order of Protection, file a violation, obtain custody of children, get child support, get child visitation rights, settle paternity issues, adoption, family violence issues, juvenile delinquency, foster care placements, child neglect, abuse, or abandonment, guardianship, and Persons in Need of Supervision.

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.

Goals of the Institute for Family Forensic Psychology include: to help parents responsibly manage their conflict; provide evaluative information to help determine strength and needs of the parents and children, and to provide therapeutic programs for children and families going through divorce and/or other family reorganizations. Services provided by IFFP include: Individual psychotherapy to children and families going through reorganization; Family therapy for high conflict court involved families; Psychotherapy for families involved in the child protective system; Children of Divorce Groups; Therapeutic Visitation; Co-parenting counseling; Evaluations; Forensic Custody and Visitation Evaluations; Court ordered Psychological Evaluations; Child Protection Evaluations and PEACE Program. The PEACE (Parent Education and Custody Effectiveness) Program is an educational program designed to provide information to parents about the divorce and separation process. Our main goal is to improve parent/child relationships in the reorganized family and reduce the number of contested custody, visitation, and support disputes that face our courts. In addition Divorce Mediation services are also offered. Call for detailed information for all services offered.

Designed to educate divorcing or separating parents on the impact of their breakup on their children. Teaches techniques to reduce the stress of family changes and protect children from the negative effects of ongoing conflict in order to foster and promote childrens healthy adjustment and development. Addresses four topics: Creating and Maintaining Supportive Parent-Child Relationships Providing a Stable, Supportive Home Environment Maintaining Healthy Parental Functioning and Psychological Well-Being and Protecting Children from Ongoing Conflict Between Parents. Call for schedule and further information.

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.

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.

Accepts referred cases from County Supreme and Family Courts. Attorneys and non-attorneys mediators work together within a gender-balanced, co-mediation model.

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.

Provides free civil legal services for individuals who are HIV positive or who have an HIV positive family member, including but not limited to: end of life planning, care and custody planning, unemployment, social security, public benefits, child support, custody, visitation, family offenses, divorce, discrimination, bankruptcy, housing problems, and name change.