Getting Legal Help

If you have a problem that you need help fixing or understanding, you might need to talk to an attorney.

This chapter talks about getting legal help. The first part of this chapter will help you decide whether you need to talk to an attorney. The second section will tell you how to find an attorney if you need one. The final section will talk about how much it can cost to hire an attorney.

Do I Need an Attorney?

Sometimes it is hard to figure out whether a problem is a legal problem or not. This website is designed to help you figure that out.

Click here and find the topic that best relates to your problem. [1]

If you are a Maine resident who is 60 or older and you think you have a problem that is not covered by this website, or you aren’t sure what to do next, call the Legal Services for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353 to talk to an attorney for free.

How Do I Find an Attorney?

If you are a Maine resident and you are 60 or older, you can call Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE) to get free legal help. Call the LSE Helpline at 1-800-750-5353. The Helpline is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you call after hours you can leave a message and the LSE intake paralegal will call you back.

You can also call the Maine Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-860-1460 to find an attorney to hire.

What happens when I call LSE for help?

When you call LSE, you will talk to the intake paralegal. The intake paralegal will ask you for some basic information about yourself and your legal problem. Then one of the Helpline attorneys will call you back. If it is not an emergency, you will usually get a call back within three to five working days. If it is an emergency, you will likely talk to someone the same day you call. It's very helpful to be ready with any important papers and other information when the attorney calls you back.

Usually, the Helpline attorney will be able to help you with your problem over the telephone. But, in some situations, you will be assigned an LSE area office attorney who works right in your local area to help you with your problem.

What problems can LSE help with?

The LSE Helpline attorneys provide legal information and advice on many legal issues and questions that often come up for Maine seniors. LSE attorneys advise seniors about consumer debt problems, MaineCare, Medicare, housing, public benefits, Advance Health Care Directives, financial Powers of Attorney, and other civil (non-criminal) matters. LSE also helps seniors who have been taken advantage of, or mistreated by scammers, caregivers, family members, or others.

LSE helps with problems involving basic needs. LSE does not handle criminal matters, divorces, or personal injury cases.

But, if LSE can't help you, we will refer you to another legal resource, like Volunteer Lawyers Project, the Maine State Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service, or a private attorney.

Situations LSE can help with:

A caregiver or relative is hurting you, threatening, or taking advantage of you.
Someone is trying to get Guardianship over you.
You are the victim of a scam.
Debt collectors are bothering you.
You may lose your home or be evicted.
You are being discharged from a nursing home.
You have been denied MaineCare benefits or drugs under Medicare Part D.
You want to know how to plan ahead in case something happens to you.
You have a problem with Social Security or some other public benefit.
You are worried you’ll lose your house if you go to a nursing home.
You were pressured into signing a loan you can’t afford to pay.

Questions Helpline attorneys often answer:

Can I change a contract that I've signed?
Do I need a Will?
My husband just died. What do I do?
I lost MaineCare. How can I get back on it?
I got a letter from Social Security saying that they overpaid me. Do I have to pay it back?
I moved out of an apartment a month ago, and my landlord still hasn't returned my security deposit. How can I get it back from him?
I need a Power of Attorney. Is there a standard form for that?
I had a financial Power of Attorney and living Will drawn up in another state. Are they good in Maine?
I need to use my credit card to pay for everyday things like food. I pay my bills, but my debt is just getting bigger. I there anything I can do?

How Much Will It Cost To Hire An Attorney?

It depends on your legal problem or situation. If you think you need an attorney but don’t think you can afford one, call the Legal Service for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353. LSE’s services are free and confidential. You might be able to get free help with your problem. If LSE can’t help you, you might qualify for a reduced fee referral to a private attorney.

Resources

Legal Services for the Elderly
If you are a Maine resident who is 60 or older, call the Legal Services for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353 to talk to an attorney for free.

Help Me Law
To find people who may be able to help you with a specific legal problem or for information about laws that affect you, visit the Help Me Law website by clicking here [2].

Maine Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
Call the Maine Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-860-1460 to find an attorney to hire. For more information, visit their website by clicking here [3].