Filing for divorce without a lawyer? Resolving a landlord/tenant issue? Trying to set aside an adult conviction or juvenile adjudication? A website, funded by a grant from the Michigan State Bar Foundation and created by the Solutions on Self-Help Task Force, can help. Called Michigan Legal Help, it provides accurate, trustworthy information about legal issues to those who plan to represent themselves in court.
The site is set up by category under the heading Self-Help Tools. Each section gives a brief explanation of the issue, in easy-to-understand language. FAQs are included, and if forms are required, they are provided after the user answers a specific set of questions. Information on the website has been reviewed by attorneys and court staff for accuracy. It can also be viewed in Spanish.
Need Assistance Using a Computer to Navigate the Site?
The Michigan Legal Help Self-Help Center of Monroe County is located at the Monroe County Opportunity Program building, 1140 S. Telegraph Road, Monroe, MI 48161. Volunteers are available to help users navigate the site, but cannot answer legal questions or give legal advice. Hours at the center are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website Self-Help Tools include
Family – Divorce, Custody, Parenting Time, Child Support, Annulment, Separate Maintenance, Paternity
Protection from Abuse – Domestic Violence, Stalking, Personal Protection Orders (PPO)
Housing – Leases, Landlord/Tenant matters, Mobile Homes, Eviction, Security Deposits, Subsidized Housing
Consumer – Debts and Debt Collection, Garnishment, Small Claims, Installment Payment Plans
Expungement – Setting Aside an Adult Criminal Conviction, Setting Aside a Juvenile Adjudication
Public Benefits – Food stamp, cash assistance, Medicaid, Disability, Social Security
Income Tax – including free tax prep, tax refund garnishment, and more
Individual Rights – Emancipation of a minor, name changes
Employment – Unemployment, discrimination and wrongful termination
Estates & Guardianships – Small estates, probate law, guardianships & conservatorships
Education – Special education/accommodations, discipline, student rights, and more