FAQ & Resources

At Pro Bono District F we must first determine if you are eligible for our services before we can attempt to place you with a pro bono attorney. Pro Bono District F applicants are screened for financial need, case type, and potential legal merit.

Please note that eligibility with District F does not guarantee that your case will be placed with an attorney. We have limited resources, and we receive several applications each year. We are not obligated to place all cases.

No. This would create a conflict of interest. When someone contacts us we check to see if they, or the other party in a dispute, have provided information to us previously. It would be a conflict of interest, and unethical, for us to provide services to both parties.

While your pro bono attorney is providing his or her services at no cost, there may be expenses that you will be required to pay for your case such as filing fees and court cost. Talk to your attorney about any fees during your initial consultation. It is possible that your attorney may be able to obtain a waiver for these exepenses. However, there are some types of expenses that can't be waived. For example, for Federal Bankruptcy.

It generally takes about 2 weeks to process applications. If you qualify for services, the referral process takes 2-3 months. Therefore, if you have an emergency, a court hearing, or a deadline, you should make every attempt to obtain private counsel of your own choosing.

No. Pro Bono District F employees will not answer legal questions. We make eligibility determinations and attempt to make referrals with local attorneys.

• Civil matters only. (If you have been charged with a crime - felony or misdemeanor - you may be appointed a public defender by the court.)
• Some of the cases placed through Pro Bono District F have included guardianship, mortgage foreclosure, divorce, small estates and landlord-tenant law.
• Pro Bono District F does not place cases where self-help is appropriate.
• Pro Bono District F rarely places custody matters.
• Pro Bono District F cannot refer cases requiring immediate assistance. Typically the referral process takes 2-3 months.
• Pro Bono District F will not refer a case if legal assistance is available from other sources.
• Pro Bono District F will not refer fee-generating cases.
• Pro Bono District F seldom places cases involving bankruptcy, employment, discrimination, immigration, worker's compensation, disability, adoption, CHINS, license reinstatement, negligence, or intentional injury.

Applicants must have household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. (Guidelines are determined by the Dept. of Health and Human Resources. )

• To request services with District 6 Access to Justice, you must complete and submit an application. You may complete an application on-line, or we can mail you an application.
• Carefully read the application. Complete, sign, and date the application.
• If you have documents, including court documents, that are relevant to your legal matter, our office will need copies before your case can be referred. (Do not send originals. Paperwork will not be returned.)
• Applications which are incomplete or lacking relevant court documents will not be referred to attorneys. (However, this does not refer to sections of the application which do not apply to your situation. For example, if no case has been filed yet, you will not have a cause number.)
• Submit the application to the Pro Bono District F office by mail, fax or electronically.
• If information you submit to Pro Bono District F changes, especially contact information, it is your duty to call Pro Bono District F with updates.

• If an attorney agrees to meet with you for an initial interview, you will receive a letter from the Pro Bono District F office. You must contact the volunteer attorney within 10 days of receiving the letter and identify yourself as a Pro Bono District F referral. Failure to do so will result in removal from the program.
• Referral to an attorney for an initial interview does not mean that you have been accepted as a client. The attorney will counsel you briefly and determine his or her ability to represent you further during this initial interview. The nature of the services to be provided will be determined by the pro bono attorney on an ongoing basis.

District 6 Access to Justice is funded through the Interest On Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) program. In 1997, the Indiana Supreme Court formally approved court rules that allow interest on lawyer trust accounts to be collected by the Indiana Bar Foundation and used to fund programs that encourage pro bono work by Indiana lawyers.

District 6 Access to Justice, Inc., expanded eligibility guidelines for mortgage foreclosure cases and mediation. The board reserves the right to review factors on a case-by-case basis as needed to fulfill District 6's mission of serving low-income individuals. Applicants who meet the following criteria will be considered for pro bono referral through District 6 Access to Justice:

• The applicant must be the homeowner
• The homeowner's household income does not exceed 250% of federal poverty level or the homeowner demonstrates a lack of resources for representation by an attorney in a workout
• The homeowner must be the borrower
• The home must be the primary residence of the homeowner and be owner-occupied
• The home must not be greater than 3 residential units
• The homeowner must not have refinanced either to purchase additional property or to secure cash for non-essential living expenses.

• 30 days pay stubs
• 2 months bank statements
• Hardship letter (what happened)
• Latest mortgage statement
• 2016 tax form and W2's
• Original loan documents
• Copy of budget
• Proof of any other documented income (child support, disability, social security, etc.)