ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A free legal aid hotline is now available to eligible Alaskans affected by the Nov. 30 earthquake in the Municipality of Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula Borough, and Mat-Su Borough. The service allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in disaster-related matters.
Alaskans affected by the disaster and facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call the toll-free hotline 855-743-1001 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or go to https://www.alsc-law.org/
Callers should leave a message and the call will be returned within 24 to 48 hours. Alaskans can also get disaster assistance by visiting a disaster recovery center or to locate a disaster recovery center, applicants can visit: www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.
The type of legal assistance available includes:
- Replacement of identification documents or other important destroyed legal documents
- Assistance with life, medical, and property insurance claims
- Help with home repair contracts and contractors
- Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures
- Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
- Counseling on landlord-tenant problems and
- Assistance with securing federal disaster assistance and other government benefits available to aid in disaster recovery.
The hotline is a partnership between the Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Legal Service Corporation, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Callers should be aware that there are limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.
People in other boroughs who need legal help may visit www.alsc-law.org/contact-us/.