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Texas News > Archived News |
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Civil Rights
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Do You Qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit?
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It’s easier than ever to find out if you qualify for EITC.
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By: Internal Revenue Service - 02/08/2011 |
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Expunction Forms Now Available
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Expunction forms should only be used if you are trying to
have an arrest record or criminal conviction removed from state records.
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 07/02/2010 |
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Search for Texas Civil Courts
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Quick and Easy Civil Court Search
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the number of counties we have
(25...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 05/03/2010 |
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Replacing Lost Documents After the Katrina Disaster
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Bank Records
Q. What if my bank has lost my records?
A. Banks are required to have emergency plans for all disasters. They have ba...
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By: Partnership for Legal Access - 09/23/2005 |
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Consumer
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Need Help with Your Electric Bill?
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"The LITE-UP TEXAS program is designed to help qualified low-income individuals reduce the monthly cost of electric service. The program will provide discounts to eligible customers in the following months:
May, June, July, August and September 2011 bills
An electric customer is qualified if the customer is currently receiving: Medicaid and SNAP. If you are not in one of the qualified programs listed above, you can still qualify in the program if your household income is at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. ""
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By: Public Utility Commission - 08/29/2011 |
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Locations in Texas
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Several programs help low- to moderate-income taxpayers, as well as seniors, file their taxes. For a list of volunteer income tax assistance locations in Texas, click here.
VITA
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.
Trained community volunteers may help with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, most sites also offer free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper – even faster when tax refunds are deposited directly into one's bank account.
AARP Tax-Aide
AARP Tax-Aide, an AARP Foundation program, helps low- to moderate-income taxpayers have more discretionary income for everyday essentials, such as food and housing, by assisting with tax services and ensuring they receive applicable tax credits and deductions.
AARP Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. Through a cadre of trained volunteers, AARP Tax-Aide has helped low- to moderate-income individuals for more than 40 years in every state and the District of Columbia.
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By: TLSC - 02/03/2011 |
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QUICK, EASY and FREE TAX PREPARATION!
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Use I-CAN! E-file to
prepare your taxes for FREE! / Preparar los impuestos GRATIS con I-...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 02/09/2010 |
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I-Can E-File
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Website Provides Free Tax Filing for Texans
www.icanefile.org
(English & Spanish versions)
AUSTIN. Every year, Texas...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 01/12/2009 |
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Insider Car Report
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Learn about the car buying process and common pitfalls.
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By: Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety - 06/04/2008 |
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Crime Victims
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Free Online Services Help Consumers Monitor Identity Theft
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An important article for victims of identity theft.
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By: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - 07/01/2011 |
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Disability
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Thousands of disabled Texans face service cuts
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Article attached.
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By: Texas Tribune - 09/09/2011 |
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Disaster Relief
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Wildfire Victims in 8 Counties of Lone Star Legal Aid's Service Area May Now Apply for Disaster Assistance from FEMA
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Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) urges those who were affected by
the wildfires to apply for assistance with FEMA as soon as possible. As of September 19, 2011, has declared eight counties within the Lone Star Legal Aid service area as eligible for disaster assistance due to the extensive wildfire damage in those counties.
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By: Lone Star Legal Aid - 09/20/2011 |
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FEMA Disaster Center opening today
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A Disaster Recover Center will open today at 9 a.m. at the Bastrop Ninth Grade Center, 1602 Hill St. The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
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By: Austin American-Statesman - 09/13/2011 |
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Affected by the Wildfires?
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Following is a list of resources and fact sheets related to the recent wildfires:
Dec. 8 is the final day f...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 09/08/2011 |
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Free Legal Services Available to BP Oil Spill Claimants
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Lone Star Legal Aid is one of part of a multi-state network of nonprofit civil legal aid services organizations now providing free legal assistance to unrepresented claimants in the BP oil disaster recovery. Attorneys will advise claimants about documentation needed for the claims process, review settlement offers and provide legal advice and assistance about other matters related to their claims. Local legal services organizations in five Gulf states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas)–have coordinated their efforts in a program administered by the Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm.
The program is funded by a grant from BP, but legal assistance by local legal services attorneys is offered independent of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility or BP. Texas residents who need help may request free legal assistance by contacting Lone Star Legal Aid at 800-733-8394.
Free civil legal aid for people whose annual incomes fall below the federal poverty level is already available in 13 Lone Star Legal Aid offices across Texas. All Lone Star Legal Aid services are 100 percent free for low-income individuals who qualify.
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By: Lone Star Legal Aid - 06/24/2011 |
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Free Legal Aid for Fire Victims
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Free legal aid for fire victims.
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By: CBS 7 News - 04/19/2011 |
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FEMA Returning to Brownsville
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FEMA urges renters and homeowners to take advantage of Disaster Recovery
Centers opening across the Rio Grande Valley through October.
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By: The Brownsville Herald - 08/20/2010 |
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Cameron, Webb Counties To Host Fema/State Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers
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The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announce the opening of mobile
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) Saturday in Cameron and Webb
counties for those affected by Hurricane Alex flooding.
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By: FEMA - 08/20/2010 |
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Community Relations Teams Knocking on Doors in Flood-Damaged Communities
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Do you have questions about recovering from Hurricane Alex and the
subsequent flooding? The Texas Division of Emergency Management
(TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are
providing several ways to get answers – and one may be knocking on
your door shortly.
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By: FEMA - 08/20/2010 |
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Renters Advised Not To Miss Out On Disaster Assistance
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Texas renters who lost homes or personal property due to Hurricane Alex
and flooding might be missing out on assistance.
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By: FEMA - 08/19/2010 |
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How To Register For FEMA Assistance; Types Of Assistance Available
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If you are a homeowner, renter or business owner and have been
affected by Hurricane Alex, FEMA urges you to apply for assistance
online at www.disasterassistance.gov,
by phone at 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA); TTY 1-800-462-7585, or
by using a web-enabled phone accessed at m.fema.gov.
The FEMA registration line is operating from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
(CST), seven days a week, until further notice. Calls are answered
in the order received.
It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete the application
process. Only one family member per household should register.
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By: FEMA - 08/18/2010 |
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Citizenship Status and Eligibility for Federal Disaster Asssitance
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Homeowners, renters and business owners who were directly affected
by Hurricane Alex are urged to seek disaster assistance regardless
of their citizenship status, say officials from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Division of
Emergency Management (TDEM).
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By: FEMA - 08/18/2010 |
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When the FEMA Inspector Visits the Damaged Property
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After applicants register online at www.disasterassistance.gov,
by calling toll-free 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585),
or accessing m.fema.gov using a web-enabled mobile
phone, they will be assigned a 9-digit application number. This will
be followed by a call from an inspector who will schedule an
appointment to visit the damaged property; this generally happens
within 10 days of registration.
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By: FEMA - 08/18/2010 |
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FEMA Extends Deadline To Register & Apply
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have extended the deadline for homeowners, renters and...
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By: Lone Star Legal Aid (Houston Office) - 12/18/2008 |
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Free Online Legal Help Now Available for Hurricane Ike Victims
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AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 28, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Responding to the broad range of legal problems resulting from Hurricane Ike, Texas leg...
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By: Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation - 10/28/2008 |
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Electric Customer Protections for Ike Victims
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By: Public Utility Commission - 09/26/2008 |
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Disaster Relief for Victims of Hurricane Ike
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Need legal assistance? Call the State Bar of Texas Legal Disaster Hotline at 1-800-504-7030. Your call will be routed to a legal aid program in ...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 09/15/2008 |
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State Bar of Texas Activates Free Legal Hotline to Assist El Paso Flooding Victims
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(Austin) – The State Bar of Texas has established a Disaster Hotline – 800.504.7030 – to assist people with basic legal questions as they begin to reb...
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By: State Bar of Texas - 08/31/2006 |
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Family Law and Domestic Violence
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Vídeo nuevo ayuda a Tejanos de bajos ingresos navegar por el sistema judicial
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El Sistema Legal: ayudarse a sí mismo
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 07/13/2011 |
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Free Interactive Protective Order Kit is Available Now
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Popular civil legal website TexasLawHelp.org announced the availability of a free, interactive kit that allows victims of domestic violence to easi...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 12/08/2010 |
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Need help? Let's chat!
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Need immediate legal information? Need assistance...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 06/11/2010 |
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Problems Downloading Forms?
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Many visitors to the recently have let us know they are having trouble downloading certain forms. This is likely a problem with the vers...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 03/02/2010 |
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Parenting Order Legal Clinics
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Are you and your child's parent living apart and
raising your child separately? Do you need to be better understand your
legal rights and what you must do under the law? Come to a free legal
information clinic and ask an attorney.
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By: Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation - 11/06/2008 |
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Divorce In Texas WITH Children
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Click here to download the forms if you've had problems.
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By: Partnership for Legal Access - 02/21/2007 |
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Vietnamese Protective Order Kit Now Available
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Are you a victim of domestic violence? Do you need court-ordered protection? You can use the free Protective Order Kit to ask a court for a protective...
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By: Supreme Court Protective Order Taskforce - 11/30/2005 |
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Protective Order Kit
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Are you a victim of domestic violence? Do you need court-ordered
protection? You can use the free Protective Order Kit to ask a ...
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By: Supreme Court Protective Order Taskforce - 09/27/2005 |
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Orden de Protección Paquete
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¿Es usted víctima de violencia intrafamiliar? ¿Necesita protección ordenada por la corte? Usted puede utilizar gratuitamente el Paquete para Solicitar...
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By: Supreme Court Protective Order Task Force - 05/10/2005 |
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Protective Order Kit
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Are you a victim of domestic violence? Do you need court-ordered
protection? You can use the free Protective Order Kit to ask a ...
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By: Supreme Court Protective Order Taskforce - 04/14/2005 |
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Health
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Medicare Part B premiums for 2012 lower than projected
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Medicare Part B premiums in 2012 will be lower than previously projected and the Part B deductible will decrease by $22.
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By: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - 11/03/2011 |
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Texans with Medicaid to Receive New Cards
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This month, HHSC is mailing plastic Your Texas Benefit Medicaid cards to 3.4 million Texans covered by Medicaid.
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By: Texas - 08/15/2011 |
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TYLA's Free Legal Guide for Cancer Patients Now Available On-Line
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Chances are either you or someone you care about is or has been fighting a battle with cancer. It is also likely that in addition to dealing with treatment decisions like radiation versus chemotherapy, numerous doctors' visits, telling family, friends and co-workers, and simply coming to terms with this illness, you or those you care about are overwhelmed by the myriad of issues that one is confronted with when one receives a cancer diagnosis.
The Legal Guide for Cancer Patients covers and explains legal issues concerning privacy, informed consent, insurance, clinical trials, employment law, disability, liability, guardianship, estate planning, and end of life decisions. This Guide is intended to be an informative resource upon which cancer patients and their family members and friends can rely to answer legal questions like "Am I entitled to time off work?" and "Should I have a Will?" and "How do I tell my doctors that I don't want to be placed on life support if my condition is terminal?"
The Guide was completed under the direction of TYLA President Karin Crump after Austin attorney, George Noelke, who serves on the Austin board of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, suggested that TYLA take on the project. TYLA's Medical Issues Committee, comprised of Brad Allen, Bryce Benson, Cheryl Camin, Davis Chapman, Kimberly Burke, Laura Miles-Valdez, Cindy Schiffer, Jamey Secrest, Jason Storck, and Kristie Wright, drafted the guide with editorial assistance and input from the Susan G. Komen Foundation board members and the Lance Armstrong Foundation Editorial Board. Each attorney that was involved in the drafting of this guide has been personally touched by cancer in some way - whether they have a mom who has survived breast cancer, a brother who beat Hodgkin's disease, or they have fought the battle themselves. Our intent has been to answer legal questions that we anticipate are on a cancer survivor's mind based upon our personal experiences.
Cancer often forces us to contemplate our own mortality in a new way. As a result, many of us start to think about estate planning and other end-of-life issues for the very first time. That said, in today's world, cancer is a battle that is so often won. We hope that the Legal Guide for Cancer Patients will provide answers to many of the questions these individuals face during their journey, and most importantly, we wish them victory in this fight!
To download a free copy of the Legal Guide for Cancer Patients, please click here or go to the TYLA website at www.tyla.org.
By Cheryl S. Camin, TYLA Vice President and Jamey Secrest, TYLA Director
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By: Texas Young Lawyers Association - 12/22/2006 |
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Housing
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Worried about foreclosure?
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The Homeownership Preservation Foundation provides free, nationwide foreclosure prevention counseling through 888-995-HOPE. The toll-free hotline is a...
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By: Home Preservation Alliance - 12/11/2007 |
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Immigration
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Kick-off of Citizenship Week 2011!
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Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is Proud to Announce the Kick-off of Citizenship Week 2011!
Date: Monday, November 1...
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By: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston - 11/03/2011 |
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Free Help with Citizenship Application!
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association Texas
Chapter and Catholic Charities of Gal...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 04/26/2010 |
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Public Benefits
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Earned Income Tax Credit
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The earned income tax credit (EITC) is a special tax credit for low-income, working families. If you qualify, it could be worth up to $4,716.&nb...
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By: Texas Legal Services Center - 12/26/2007 |
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Key Phone Numbers for Hurricane Evacuees
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A list of agency phone numbers for help.
United Way HELPLINE: Call 2-1-1
OR 713-957-HELP American Red Cross: 1-866-GET-IN...
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By: United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast - 09/01/2005 |
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To see Current Articles, Click Current News |
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