Office Information
| Name: | Legal Services of South Central Michigan - Battle Creek Office |
| Address: | 123 W Territorial Rd., Battle Creek, MI - 49015 |
| Phone: | (269) 965-3951 |
| Fax: | (269) 965-4874 |
Service Information
Legal Services of South Central Michigan provides free civil legal assistance to low income persons with emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence prevention, assisting in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. LSSCM provides general civil legal services to low-income persons and senior citizens in 13 counties in south and central Michigan. LSSCM uses federal income eligibility limits (125% of the federal poverty level) to determine income eligibility. Pursuant to federal guidelines, we are also able to represent clients who have household incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty levels with certain eligible expenses.
You may telephone our offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the phone numbers listed below. You may be interviewed by phone when you call, or advised to come in for an in-person interview, or asked to leave your name and number for a call back when an intake person is available.
Serves Barry, Branch & Calhoun Counties.
Mission Statement: LSSCM provides free civil legal assistance to low income persons with emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence prevention, assisting in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. In addition to representation in individual cases, LSSCM is part of a network of agencies providing services to the community’s most vulnerable members. LSSCM engages in systemic advocacy to help alleviate the barriers and hurdles faced by low income individuals. LSSCM provides general civil legal services to low-income persons and senior citizens in 13 counties in south and central Michigan. We have staffed offices in Lansing, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Jackson and Monroe. We also have smaller satellite offices to meet with clients in several other counties. LSSCM prioritizes urgent and critical cases that often result in keeping families safe, preserving their homes from illegal evictions or foreclosures, maintaining economic stability, and obtaining support for children. In addition, LSSCM helps vulnerable populations with legal problems, such as protecting the elderly from unscrupulous contractors, helping persons with disabilities access medical care and other services that make an important difference in the lives of vulnerable people. There are over 542,000 individuals (32% of the population) within the counties that LSSCM serves who qualify for free civil legal aid.
Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Aid
- What is legal aid?
Legal aid is free or low-cost legal assistance for people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Legal aid organizations provide a variety of legal services, including advice, representation, and advocacy, to help low-income people resolve their civil legal problems.
- Who is eligible for legal aid?
Eligibility for legal aid varies depending on the organization. Generally, legal aid organizations serve people with incomes below a certain level, as determined by the federal poverty guidelines. Some legal aid organizations also have additional eligibility criteria, such as citizenship status or immigration status.
- What kind of cases does legal aid handle?
Legal aid organizations handle a wide range of civil legal problems, including:
* Housing* Education* Employment* Family law* Immigration* Public benefits* Consumer law* Health care* Disability rights
- How do I get legal aid?
To get legal aid, you can contact your local legal aid organization or a state or national legal aid hotline. Legal aid organizations typically have intake interviews to determine eligibility and assess the need for legal assistance.
- Is legal aid free?
Legal aid is generally free for eligible clients. However, some legal aid organizations may charge for certain services, such as filing fees or expert witness fees.
- What if I don’t qualify for legal aid?
If you do not qualify for legal aid, there are other options available to you, such as pro bono lawyers or legal self-help resources. Pro bono lawyers are lawyers who volunteer their time to provide free legal services to low-income people. Legal self-help resources can provide you with information and tools to help you represent yourself in court.
Here are some additional frequently asked questions about legal aid:
- What is the difference between legal aid and a public defender?
Legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance to people with civil legal problems. Public defenders provide free legal assistance to people who are accused of crimes.
- Can I get legal aid for a criminal case?
No, legal aid organizations do not provide legal assistance for criminal cases. Criminal cases are handled by public defenders.
- How can I find a legal aid organization near me?
You can find a legal aid organization near you by visiting the website of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the national organization that funds legal aid programs. The LSC website has a directory of legal aid organizations by state and county.
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