FAQ

1. What kind of cases does Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) handle?

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida provides civil legal services to financially eligible clients in the following areas:

Family Law

• Injunctions for Protection Against Intimate Partner Violence, including Domestic, Dating, Sexual, and Stalking Violence
• Divorce/Custody
• Paternity Defense
• Civil Legal Assistance for Victims of Crime (victims of intimate partner violence and seniors age 60 and older)
• Enforcement of Victims’ Rights in Criminal Case against abuser/perpetrator
• Civil Legal Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking (ex. expungements, victims’ rights, Injunctions for Protection, immigration)

Senior Citizen Law Project (Age 60 and over)

• Health & Public Benefits
• Housing/Foreclosure Defense
• Domestic Violence & Financial Exploitation
• Consumer
• Naturalization
• Assistance with these legal matters for caregivers (age 18 or older) of a senior (age 60 or older) who meets the frailty requirement under DOEA guidelines, and grandparent/relative caregivers (age 55 and older) with minor child(ren) residing in the home.

Economic Advocacy and Community Health (EACH)

• SNAP & TANF
• Social Security Disability & SSI
• Healthcare Access
• Reemployment Assistance Benefits (unemployment benefits)
• Medicaid/Medicare/Affordable Care Act

2. What is the difference between civil and criminal legal services?

Civil legal service organizations (legal aid) represent people in cases related to private rights and civil disputes, such as housing, consumer, family and entitlement to public benefits. Criminal legal service organizations (public defenders) represent people charged in cases that relate to crimes, such as theft.

3. How does CCLA determine if I am eligible for services?

Although there is no fee for any of CCLA’s services, you must qualify for different programs. Financial eligibility is based upon the income and assets of individuals in your household. In most cases, the income of your household cannot exceed 125% of the federal poverty level, although we make allowances for certain expenses, such as child care. In reviewing your assets, we do not generally count your home or your automobile. Intake workers will assist you in completing an application and determine your eligibility for services. If you are 60 years of age or older or victim of a crime, you may qualify under different eligibility guidelines for our services. Eligibility for services is based upon other criteria, including whether your legal problem falls within our priority areas.

4. Is there a fee for obtaining legal services from CCLA?

There is no charge for the legal services rendered at CCLA, however you must meet certain qualifications for our services. You may also be required to pay certain fees assessed by the Clerk/Court.

5. Do you handle child support enforcement cases?

Generally, we do not handle child support enforcement cases. Please contact the County Child Support Enforcement Office for assistance.

6. What materials should I bring with me to CCLA?

Please call or review the information listed on this website under the particular area you need legal advice to determine what documents you need to bring with you when you come into the office.

7. Are there other options for me if a CCLA attorney cannot represent me?

Yes. If you are over-income, you may call the Broward County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service at 954-764-8310. If you qualify, you will be referred to an attorney, convenient to your home or office, practicing in the area of law you need. To obtain information on this service, call 954-764-8310 or go to www.browardbar.org.

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida funds pro bono projects called Broward Lawyers Care (BLC) and Collier Lawyers Care (CLC) through a subgrant. Private lawyers in the communities volunteer to accept cases within our program priorities. Those private lawyers handle the cases we send them for free. Applicants must still meet the same guidelines as Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida’s in-house services. Referrals for pro bono services are made through the in-house Legal Aid programs. For more information visit our Pro Bono page.

8. Who do I contact if I would like CCLA to present at my agency or event?

You may click here to email us if you would like CCLA to attend and present at your community event, resource fair, job fair, or training. Please describe your event in the email including any applicable deadlines, topics, legal issues, dates, times, and locations. For more information, please see Outreach under our Events section.