The Texas Access to Justice Foundation grants funds to assist nonprofit organizations in providing free legal assistance to low-income Texans who desperately need help. Below are a few stories of people who have been helped by TAJF-funded legal aid providers.

Helping the Elderly

At 80 years old, John needed help doing everyday chores, including taking out his trash. With little money to spend on an expensive trash service, John contacted his local City Hall to see if arrangements could be made to help him. He was referred to a private company that was willing to pick up his trash on a weekly basis, but for a costly price. John attempted to negotiate with the company to see if they could come by once a month at a price that he could afford. Even though he sent them a payment for this service, the company never came and John's attempts to get his money back were ignored. So John turned to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid for help. With the help of TRLA attorneys, John was able to negotiate an agreement with the company that allows him to have weekly trash service at a severely discounted rate.

Protection from Abuse

Meg sought help at Lone Star Legal Aid for a divorce due to abuse by her spouse. The abuse had been ongoing, and he was in jail for assaulting Meg. Lone Star Legal Aid sought and obtained temporary orders to protect Meg and restrict the spouse's visitation with their five-year-old child, Sara. With LSLA's help, Meg was granted Sole Managing Conservator of Sara. Meg will supervise her now ex-spouse's visitation with Sara, preventing him from taking the child and returning to his home in Mexico.

Obtaining Peace of Mind

When Mrs. Garcia first called Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program requesting a will, she was undergoing cancer treatment. Her family was coping with her illness in addition to the recent loss of her husband to a sudden heart attack. Mrs. Garcia was scheduled to have uterine cancer surgery and wanted her estate planning documents executed as soon as possible in the event that anything unforeseen happened to her during surgery. A staff attorney contacted Mrs. Garcia and asked her a number of questions to complete her estate planning questionnaire over the phone. A volunteer attorney then drafted her will the same day and by 4:00 p.m. that afternoon, HVLP staff members, along with the attorney, were at Mrs. Garcia's home to execute her will. Maria was very thankful for the overwhelming support she received from the staff at HVLP.

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