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About The Legal Hotline For Texans
The Legal Hotline is a project of Texas Legal Services Center. The Hotline receives funding from the Texas Department on Aging, through the HICAP Program, coordinating services with the Texas Department on Aging and the Texas Department of Insurance for elderly clients needing benefits analysis and legal advice. The Hotline also receives funding from the State Bar of Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation to provide legal advice to low income elderly Texans, and receives general support from the American Association of Retired Persons. Some additional operating funds are provided by referral fees and by private donations.
The Hotline offers legal advice and referrals to Texans age sixty (60) and older, provided by staff and volunteer attorneys. Our primary focus is service to low income Texans whose access to legal assistance is otherwise limited. We provide legal information and advice in obtaining benefits such as Medicaid for Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries, food stamps, elderly housing assistance, and SSI; we are also able to answer other legal questions. Common concerns include debt collection, advance planning and estate planning issues, powers of attorney, and housing and consumer problems.
For clients who need ongoing legal representation, and whose cases are not of a type legal aid will accept, or who are otherwise not legal services eligible, we maintain a panel of attorneys who have agreed to receive referrals of Hotline clients on a reduced fee basis.
In addition, we are able to send informational publications to Texans age sixty (60) and older on a variety of topics such as alternatives to guardianship, wills and probate, public benefits, consumer and debtor rights, health care rights, and nursing homes.
Because of the number of calls received by the hotline, callers should be aware that the line is often busy, and it may be necessary to leave a message with the receptionist or an answering machine, for later call back by an attorney, and that there may be a delay in receiving a call back. Orders for publications can usually be filled right away. Publication requests can also be sent by mail to the above address; please give date of birth and a telephone number on mailed publication requests.