Justice Bridge
South Coast Legal Services in Fall River
Taunton District Court
Fall River Family and Probate Court
Misc.
100
What is Justice Bridge?
Professional lawyers with affordable rates for people with modest incomes. Also an incubator for UMass Law.
100
Were there pamphlets in other languages available?
There are some pamphlets in Spanish, one pamphlet in Vietnamese, and one pamphlet in Portuguese.
100
True or False: Does this court have a "pro se" office?
True. This office does exist, but it has never been utilized for pro se litigants. The office is currently locked and filled with boxes and only used for attorney conferences.
100
True or False: Once inside, it is easy to locate the clerk's office?
False. There are three different clerks' offices in the building on four different floors. There are also no signs indicating how to get to each spot.
100
True or False: If you are a party to a divorce action in Massachusetts, you will likely be required to attend a parent education program.
True since 1994.
200
True or False: Justice Bridge has locations throughout the state of Massachusetts?
False, there are only two. They are located in Boston and New Bedford.
200
True or False: It is easy to get through to South Coast on the phone?
False! They have the most difficult phone service. They only have 4 prompts (during business hours) and are none are to talk to an operator. 1) New Legal Problem 2) Know 4 digit directory 3) Directory 4) To hear again
200
If you've already filed, what resources are available in the court for you to use?
They have computers to find your docket number and have instructions on the bulletin board above.
200
When asking about forms where is the first place they send you?
Online to the website is the first step from them. They also have the option of sitting and waiting for someone to help you in person. When speaking with them, they mentioned it could take HOURS for someone to call your number and give you the correct form.
200
Where do most people start their legal process?
After speaking with an attorney from Taunton, they mentioned that most people just google it.
300
True or False: Justice Bridge is required to take all cases that come through their door for free.
False. Justice Bridge is not required to take on all cases that come through their doors. They consider the amount of cases they have, the practice area, and how much the client can actually pay. They also do not have to take any cases for free. They take cases on a sliding scale. They are low-bono not pro-bono.
300
What do they consider when looking at whether they take on a case?
• Have to be 200% below the poverty index between assets and income- about $30,000 • In FR and Hyannis they can only take undocumented individuals on a limited basis • Can't take federal drug charges for housing cases They will automatically take your case if there is DV to the children and mother (1st) and (2nd) if there is DCF involvement Language and competency issues are also taken on because they know those individuals will have a harder time trying to navigate the legal system on their own They will also look at the status of a case- most people usually go there after their case has already been decided - lastly look to see how effective their help would be in a particular case They also look at the realistic expectations of their clients and the credibility of their clients
300
Can the Probate clerk help you fill out forms?
This is a two-fold question- Yes they can help you fill out the form, BUT they cannot tell you what to write.
300
When on the Bristol County Probate and Family Court Registry website, do they have all the forms that a pro se litigant could need?
They mentioned that they had all of the same forms online that they had in person.
300
Why do people take the pro se route?
Cost
400
What is available for non-English speaking clients?
There are attorneys and mentors that are fluent in Arabic, French, German, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Tibetan.
400
How has funding affected them?
They are severely inadequately staffed. They used to have two other offices in New Bedford and Taunton, but they were closed due to lack of funding. They also have to refer a lot of cases out because they do not have enough funding to help everyone in need.
400
What documents are available for pro se litigants in the clerk's office?
A document with the website information, a brochure if you are looking for legal assistance (lawyer of the day, LAR, and lawyer referral), Bristol County Probate and Family Court Lawyer Referral List, the forms for divorce, the form to establish paternity, and a form for custody, support and parenting.
400
Does the website have instructions to accompany the forms?
They do have instructions for some forms but they do not have instructions for all forms, Meaning that you may have to go wait in line for hours in order to get a simple question answered.
400
True or False: Every Probate court has a lawyer for a day program?
True.
500
What are the services provided?
Legal consolation and advice, as well as limited (LAR) and full legal representation, in the following practice areas- housing (including evictions and breach of warranty law), debt collection and re-financing, bankruptcy, probate, immigration (special immigrant juvenile status/ SIJS, unaccompanied minors), family law (including divorce, custody, alimony, child support, modifications), employment law, and education law (including special education appeals).
500
Who do they refer cases to when they can't take them?
The referral depends on the client and the complexity of the issues. They refer clients to Justice Bridge, Mass Bar Association and have a private attorney involvement program (they only try to give simple matters to them as they may not be specialists in a given area). They also send a lot of their immigration cases to their Brockton office. They have a different kind of funding so they can take on these cases where Fall River and Hyannis can not.
500
What is available for non-English speaking litigants?
S.O.S. There is not much available in this area.
500
Do the people who work at the court seem to understand the access to justice problem?
No. They seemed inconvenienced by having to give directions in a place where there are no signs. Others spoke in a derogatory manner about people who frequented the court when asked if people still had questions about their instructions to the forms online.
500
Are there other outreach programs available in other counties?
SERV- Suffolk Early Resolution Volunteers Child Focus Facilitation Program
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