COLUMBIA, S.C. — A free legal help hotline is open for Hurricane Helene survivors with disaster-related legal needs in the following counties in South Carolina which have been declared disaster areas by FEMA: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Catawba Indian Reservation, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York.
The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in hurricane-related matters, is a partnership between the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, and South Carolina Legal Services.
Hurricane victims facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call (803) 576-3815 and leave a message requesting assistance. Callers should identify that they are seeking disaster-related legal assistance, a brief detailing of the legal issue(s) involved, their contact information, and the county in which they are located. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with South Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal assistance.
Hurricane victims may also request assistance online by emailing
Hotline callers may get help with legal issues such as:
- FEMA and SBA financial benefits
- Home repair contracts and property insurance claims
- Replacing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
- Price gouging, scams, or identity theft
- Landlord or tenant problems, or threats of foreclosure
- Disability-related access to federal, state, and local disaster programs
Survivors can call the hotline anytime to leave a message.
Hotline partners cannot help in all cases. For example, we cannot take cases where a settlement could include legal fees or an award. However, we can refer those cases to other legal help, including the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service ((803) 799-7100 or LRS.SCBar.org).
For victims seeking assistance outside of the declared counties or for non-hurricane related legal issues, please contact South Carolina Legal Services at 888-346-5592.
For up-to-date information on free legal services for survivors, media members can contact our partners in these languages: English and Spanish.
Background:
When the President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster victims to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteers in affected areas to handle victims’ cases. Victims should be aware that there are limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.
Low-income residents may also contact South Carolina Legal Services at 1-888-346-5592 between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday for free legal representation, advocacy and information. An intake for free services may also be submitted online at www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake.
Partner Members:
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and the largest voluntary professional membership group in the world.
South Carolina Bar and SC Bar Young Lawyers Division
The South Carolina Bar is a statewide organization dedicated to improving the legal profession, the law, and the administration of justice for all South Carolinians. It serves approximately 18,000 lawyer members and provides resources to educators and citizens of the Palmetto State. Learn more at www.scbar.org.
The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the South Carolina Bar is comprised of all members of the South Carolina Bar in good standing under 36 years old, or those admitted to the South Carolina Bar as their first bar within the past five years. The YLD coordinates various programs across the state designed to serve the public and advance the legal profession.
South Carolina Legal Services
South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) provides free legal services in a wide variety of civil (non-criminal) legal matters to eligible low-income residents of South Carolina. SCLS is a non-profit law firm, funded by grants from the federally funded Legal Services Corporation, the South Carolina Bar Foundation, local United Ways, state court filing fees and other federal, state and local funding.
