A collaboration between the Arizona Bar Foundation and Arizona Supreme Court, in partnership with courts and law libraries across Arizona, the website Azcourthelp.org offers a wealth of free online legal information to anyone facing legal issues. Online webinars each month, also free, continue with a Wednesday, March 3 forum at 11 a.m., exploring the theme “Being Sued? What Now?”
Add Azcourthelp.org as a browser bookmark, and don’t miss these legal aid sessions online:
* March 4: Immigration 101
* March 5: Landlord Tenant Clinic
* March 9: Changing Parenting Time
* March 10: How to apply for a Protective Order During Covid-19
* March 11: Family Court 101
* March 24: Probate and Estate Planning
* March 25: Seguro Social (Social Security 101 en Español)
* March 30: Bankruptcy
So many legal questions are answered at Azcourthelp.org, with videos such as “To Hire or Not To Hire a Lawyer” or “Legal Aid Resources in Arizona.” Need forms? Azcourthelp.org explains annulments, appeals and divorce (with links to many required forms that are available free online); plus probate, protection orders, small claims, custody and traffic violations. Pages on legal guidance are specifically dedicated to explaining law for seniors, veterans and even kids; plus Arizona law help - and “free legal answers.”
Azcourthelp.org was created as an initiative of our state supreme court’s strategic plan to advance justice to regional courts and communities throughout the state, “to ensure that all individuals have effective access to justice. This goal is advanced not only by examining legal representation for moderate- and low-income persons, but also by helping self-represented litigants and others navigate the judicial process and by using technology to make courts more accessible to all.”
Coconino County Court assisted in spearheading development of the website in conjunction with their Virtual Resource Center, Legal Talks, assisted by the Attorney General’s Office, the State Library of Arizona and Department of Economic Security.
The website clearly asserts it “cannot provide legal assistance or give legal advice . . . cannot replace an attorney. . . cannot take sides in a case.” The site:
• Assists people who need to utilize court services find the information they need about their court: location, hours, terms of payment, parking, accessibility, etc.
• Provides support of Arizona law librarians: live chat forums to answer legal information questions, details on upcoming Legal Talk clinics, and other information needed by self-represented litigants
• Provides links and resources to other specialized legal information websites that provide broader legal information and access, when possible, to free and reduced legal assistance: azlawhelp.org, lawforseniors.org, lawforveterans.org and lawforkids.org
Questions and Answers
So many of us have legal questions – and azcourthelp.org also has an archive of queries asked of attorneys who contribute to the site and their answers. A few recent ones include:
Question: Can I get my money back for my lawyer? My divorce never went through since 2004. I believe my lawyer never pursued the issue and I am still married. What can I do?
Answer: Attorneys who are licensed in the State of Arizona must comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct. Violations of these rules are investigated by the State Bar of Arizona. Their website contains information on what to do in the case of concerns about an attorney’s professional conduct.
Question: I am 22 years old. I applied for food stamps and cash assistance. I received my food stamps, but not the cash.
Answer: In Arizona, the Arizona Department of Economic Security administers the cash assistance program. To get information about the cash assistance program, you may want to contact the Department of Economic Security directly. You can find their number and locations on their website.
Question: I recently moved to a home that was under remodel and was assured with written agreements this would be complete. Two months after it’s still not finished, but they are demanding all rent due. I have a lease and limited funds to move. What do I do?
Answer: When the terms of a written agreement are violated by one of the parties to that agreement, a breach of contract claim may be possible. When a breach of contract occurs in the context of a residential lease between a landlord and a tenant, it is important for the tenant to remember that Arizona law does not permit a tenant to withhold either part or all of the tenant’s rent payment in order to compel the landlord to make promised or required repairs. You may wish to speak with an attorney to determine exactly what your rights and responsibilities are in your specific situation.
You may be surprised at the variety of legal assistance and court help available for free and online via azlawhelp.org, sponsored by the Arizona Bar Foundation in partnership with Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Community Legal Services, DNA People’s Legal Services, William E. Morris Institute for Justice and the State Bar of Arizona with support from Legal Services Corporation. Most of these same partners contribute answers, articles and content to the linked website Azcourthelp.org.
