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Overcoming Criminal History

Community Legal Services is unable to assisting people with criminal cases or criminal defense. If you are facing criminal charges and need more legal assistance than you already have, try searching the Florida Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service to find help. We can offer these legal information pages for people interested…

Paycheck Garnishment

In Florida, creditors (people or companies that you owe) are permitted to take, seize, or “garnish” your wages to pay debts that you owe. If a creditor sues you and wins to recover the remainder of your debt, they will obtain a “Final Judgment” against you. It is important to…

Financial Matters

Debt & Creditors

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that gives another person, called your agent, the legal authority to act on your behalf. You, who are referred to as the “Principal,” give an agent the power to make decisions on your behalf. These decisions relate to your personal matters,…

Family & Personal

Wills, Estates, & Powers of Attorney

Prevent Home Foreclosure

Foreclosure occurs when the homeowner is unable to make mortgage loan payments as required. If you miss payments, your lender may be able to legally take back the property through a legal process known as foreclosure.

Family & Personal

Housing

Financial Matters

Debt & Creditors

Problems with a Legal Contract

A contract is a legal agreement between parties to exchange goods, services, or money, and is only valid when both sides agree to its terms. If there is disagreement, a contract dispute may arise. This topic page can be helpful if you have a contract dispute issue.

Financial Matters

Debt & Creditors

Public Benefits

Para español, haga clic aquí. To help reduce poverty and provide better access to health care for those who need it, the government has assistance programs known as “public benefits.” These programs include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP, also known as “food stamps”), Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. Public benefits…

Financial Matters

Public Benefits

Public Charge (Immigrant Rights)

If you are applying for immigration status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or to enter the U.S. on a visa, USCIS may review your application to determine if you are “likely at any time to become a public charge.” A final public charge rule went into effect on December…

Financial Matters

Public Benefits

Public Housing

The government helps pay for housing under specific circumstances. This is called “subsidized housing,” and there are several different types of programs available. The most common subsidized housing programs are: Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Section 8, Section 202, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Each year, the United States…

Family & Personal

Housing

Real Property Rights Protection

CLS’s Real Property Rights Protection Unit prioritizes the preservation of housing and generational wealth for members of our community. Heirs’ property, disproportionally affects minority and low-income communities, so we continue to focus efforts on communities with the highest need for these services.

Family & Personal

Housing

Reasonable Accommodations and Reasonable Modifications

It is illegal for housing providers to discriminate against you based on your mental, physical, or intellectual disability. Actions such as denying you housing or a mortgage, denying a reasonable accommodation or modification request, or not providing accessible units for multi-family homes built after 1991 are considered discriminatory when based…

Family & Personal

Fair Housing | Housing