A new website, indianalegalhelp.org, is available to provide legal resources to Hoosiers of limited financial means. The website was developed by the Coalition for Court Access. The goal is to help with civil matters (non-criminal issues) including family, housing, consumer, healthcare, benefits, employment, and educational services.
The website provides contact information for legal service providers in each county, questions to ask when hiring a lawyer, and a variety of self-help forms covering family law and general civil matters. The fillable and printable forms include child support, continuance, divorce, fee waiver, name change, and contempt. There are many instances in which hiring an attorney is crucial, therefore legal experts suggest talking to an attorney prior to submitting online forms to a court.
The Coalition for Court Access was created by the Indiana Supreme Court in May 2016. The Coalition is made up of nearly 20 legal stakeholders including the Indiana Bar Foundation. It works to develop and implement a statewide plan to improve the availability and quality of civil legal services for people of limited means. The launch of the website, which is managed by the Indiana Bar Foundation, is a significant step in achieving that goal. For Coalition meeting details and membership information, visit the Supreme Court’s website. For Indiana Bar Foundation details, contact Executive Director Chuck Dunlap.