This month, the Community Foundation of Otsego County Nonprofit Spotlight features Family Legal Care, which provides increased access to justice in New York State Family Court.
By combining legal guidance, easy-to-access technology, and compassionate support to help unrepresented parents and caregivers self-advocate on critical family law issues, Family Legal Care is dedicated to improving the legal system for everyone. The cases Family Legal Care helps with – child support, custody and visitation, and domestic violence– have incredibly high stakes, however, unlike in a criminal court, most of these cases are not eligible for court-appointed representation. These families must navigate the complex legal system on their own while balancing demanding work schedules and childcare.
That’s where Family Legal Care comes in to help. Small-but-mighty, Family Legal Care reaches over 32,000 parents and caregivers annually throughout New York State, with a goal of helping more Upstate litigants in need of their critical services. With that priority in place, support from the Community Foundation of Otsego County is enabling Family Legal Care to provide legal information, advice, and resources to more families in Otsego County, so parents can confidently represent themselves in Family Court and create better futures for their families.
Family Legal Care’s programs include bilingual helplines, which provide general information about New York family law and Family Court procedures. Callers who need more in-depth support and guidance can be scheduled for a one-on-one legal advice consultation with a Staff Attorney, or a volunteer lawyer from NYC’s top law firms through our Pro Bono Program.
One of Family Legal Care’s guiding principles is to provide compassionate care so litigants feel heard, understood, and confident in their ability to advocate for their families in Court. As one mother said, “You have touched our lives more than you could have imagined. That one hour resulted in many hours of empowerment and justice being restored.”
Content provided by Family Legal Care.
Family Legal Care’s Helpline can be reached by calling 212-343-1122 or by secure email at https://familylegalcare.org/secure-email/. Additional resources, including the Digital Justice tools, can be found here: https://familylegalcare.org/legal-resources-for-families/
