After a divorce, D*'s income fell and she soon found herself behind on her mortgage loan and in jeopardy of losing her home. She needed time to gain income so she could qualify for a loan modification. She came to LASP for guidance on saving her home.
Her LASP attorney helped her file responses to the foreclosure action. This gave her time to gain the additional income she needed. When that income was in hand, the mortgage company discontinued the foreclosure action. With LASP's help, D was able to stay in her home and protect more than $110,000 in equity which would likely have been lost if the property had been sold at sheriff sale.
LASP donors helped save D's home.
Help save more homes this year by donating now to LASP. Right now, a LASP attorney is helping a 71 year old man who hopes to save the home he has lived in for 68 years. Your
donation to LASP's Foreclosure Program will help!
* Name has been changed but the story is real.
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| LASP Participates in Amicus Brief |
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LASP recently participated in an amicus brief prepared by the Public Interest Law Center in a Commonwealth Court case to challenge the MERS
(
Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems)
system. MERS
i
s an alternative to registering property transactions with the county that results in avoidance of county recording fees, depriving many organizations of legally-mandated funding.
The brief argues that
"...consumers and the public at large not only do not benefit from, but in fact are harmed by, incomplete public land records and the evasion of filing fees that fund essential civil legal services and affordable housing for low-income people."
In 2015, LASP's foreclosure attorney assisted 197
homeowners with residential mortgage foreclosure matters in Bucks, Chester, and
Delaware Counties.
You can read the amicus brief here.
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| LASP Welcomes Equal Justice Works AmeriCorp Legal Fellow |
Meet Arlyn Katen, our new Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow
Arlyn grew up in Philadelphia and South Jersey, and left lovely California weather after attending Berkeley Law School to settle down in Philly with her two cats. During and after law school, she worked at several LGBT, HIV/AIDS, and disability rights organizations, including Disability Rights Education Defense Fund and Mazzoni Center Legal Services. Through those experiences, she became interested in healthcare and collateral consequences of incarceration.
Arlyn is excited to join LASP as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow because she wants to help clients lift barriers to their employment, particularly when their interactions with the criminal legal system make it difficult for them to find work.
We're excited to welcome Arlyn to LASP!
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Highlights from the Counties
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Bucks County
Join us at the Bucks County Bar Association on Wednesday, October 26 for the CLE
"Criminal Record Relief: Expungement and Limited Access" presented by LASP's Erica Briant, Esq.
This one credit CLE will cover both expungement law and procedure and PA's new limited access law coming into effect in November. The new law will allow individuals to petition the court for an order of limited access to information about certain second- and third degree misdemeanors provided those individuals have completed all sentencing requirements and have no arrests or convictions thereafter for at least 10 years.
There is no fee for BCBA members to attend this CLE. The BCBA Annual Pro Bono reception will follow immediately after.
Download registration information here.
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Chester County
LASP is partnering with the Chester County Bar Foundation and the Coatesville Area Senior Center to hold a free birth certificate clinic on October 20, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m, at the Coatesville Senior Center, 250 Harmony Street, Coatesville, PA.
Without a birth certificate, access to health care, public benefits, and even a driver's license can be nearly impossible. Those who attend this free clinic will meet with an advocate who will request birth certificates for them. No ID or fee is required.
For more information and to register, please call LASP at 610-436-4510.
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Delaware County
In partnership with the Delaware County Bar Association, LASP will present a CLE on Tuesday, Oct 25, 4:00- 5:30 p.m., focusing on expungement and sealing procedures. The CLE is free to LASP pro bono attorneys.
Speakers include LASP's Phillip B. Rosenthal, Esq. and Robert C. Keller, Esq., of Keller, Lisgar and Williams.
Following the seminar, there will be a reception to celebrate National Pro Bono Week and to honor Hon. Barry C. Dozor for his work shepherding through passage of Local Rule 1012, which permits pro bono attorneys to enter a limited appearance in custody cases.
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Montgomery County
Our Montgomery County
Expungement
Clinic in partnership with
State Sen. Daylin Leach and
Lt. Governor Mike Stack is
Thursday, October 6
at the Carver Center, 249 Jacoby Street, in
Norristown
.
This is an excellent opportunity for Montgomery County residents who are interested in learning more about their eligibility to have a record expunged and beginning the expungement process.
Participants must register by contacting Chad Hoffmann at
choffmann@pasenate.com
or 610-768-4200.
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