LCVSC
Legal
Services
Our program provides crucial legal assistance to eligible Veterans, their spouses, and dependent children who have received an Honorable or General Under Honorable discharge. Select services are offered, but may not be limited to the list below. All legal work is handled by Lorain County law firms, with costs covered by the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission (LCVSC). Applicants must be Lorain County Residents for 90+ days, per Ohio Revised Code 5901.08, and below set household AGI per policy.
If you’re a Lorain County Veteran who qualifies, you can apply by downloading the legal services application form, gathering required documentation, and submitting it for review. Once approved, we’ll guide you through the next steps and connect you with an attorney who understands the unique needs of Veterans and their families.
Qualifications
Eligibility:
- Veteran, surviving spouse, or dependent child with an Honorable Discharge or a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions.
- The Surviving Spouse of a Veteran with an Honorable Discharge or a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions.
Requirements:
- Lorain County resident for a minimum of 90 days.
- Marriage Certificate/Birth Certificate where applicable.
- Other documents where necessary to prove relationship to Veteran
Financial:
- Household income less than $200,000 AGI
Services Offered
Basic Estate Planning Package:
- Simple Will, Durable Power of Attorney (Finances), Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will, & HIPPA Release. For Veteran and Spouse or Surviving Spouse.
Estate Planning Package with Revocable Trust:
- Pour over Will, Revocable Trust Agreement, Memorandum of Trust for Recording, and remaining documents in Basic Estate Planning Package. Recording is included.
Power of Attorney:
- Draft a Power of Attorney for a specific purpose.
Guardianship Proceedings:
- Representation in obtaining Guardianship of the Person only, action must be in Lorain county Probate Court.
Residential Lease Agreement Preparation:
- Prepare Residential Lease Agreement for a Single Residential Unit property.
Real Estate Documents:
- Preparation of Deeds, Transfer on Death Affidavits, Affidavits of Survivorships, etc. Including recording.
Civil Litigation Proceedings:
- Representation in Civil Litigation in matters, subject to Veterans Service Commission approval and service costs capped. The recipient is responsible for costs that exceed the cap. Civil Litigation will not be subject to approval Tenants facing Eviction Proceedings, and lawsuits to collect a debt.
Record Sealing and Expungement:
- Record Sealing means the record still exists but is hidden from public view. It can only be accessed by certain government agencies, such as law enforcement or the courts. For most background checks (like employment or housing), a sealed record will not appear.
- Expungement goes a step further by permanently removing or destroying the record, as if the offense never occurred. Once expunged, the individual can legally state they have not been convicted of that crime.
- Additional details can be found here.
These Services Are Provided by Lorain County Veteran Owned Law Firms.
How To Apply?
- Download and complete the LCVSC Legal Services Application
- Gather the required documents listed on page 1 of the application
- Upload your completed application and all the required documents below
- Allow us 3-5 business days to review your request
- We will call you with any questions and let you know the next steps