With this year’s wildfire season affecting a growing number of Californians statewide, the California State Bar is directing disaster victims to a new website where they can seek legal services and is issuing an alert to warn the public about potential legal fraud in the wake of a disaster.
Wildfire victims may need legal advice for a variety of reasons, including filing claims, resolving disputes over insurance, landlord-tenant issues, mortgages, and more.
A new statewide website―disasterlegalservicesca.org―is available with information and resources for survivors. The site is sponsored by a coalition of legal aid organizations and law firms offering free legal services in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Attorneys who want to volunteer to help disaster victims can also sign up on the site. Assistance is being offered in a number of areas including:
- Assistance with life, medical, and property insurance claims;
- Assistance in securing government benefits available to disaster survivors;
- Help with home repair contracts and contractors;
- Replacement of wills and other important legal documents;
- Assistance with consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures; and
- Counseling on mortgage and foreclosure problems and landlord-tenant issues.
