Fair Housing Symposium
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JALA helps low-income senior obtain a full homestead exemption
“Irene,” 80, had decades ago purchased a home for her mother and herself, but when her mother died in 1996, she lost half of the homestead exemption. She missed out on 25 years of the full property tax exemption, because only half of the property was in her name. JALA filed a probate action to transfer her late mother’s 50% interest in the home to Irene so she could claim the full exemption and better protect her modest 150% federal poverty level income.
After JALA clears up title, woman obtains homestead exemption
“Victoria,” 63, had inherited one-sixth of her late mother's homestead property, and most of her five siblings had given their one-sixth share to her. One brother, who had moved to the Philippines years ago, died without a will in 2011 as a citizen of the Philippines. He did not have a spouse or children. His only asset was his one-sixth share of the house in Jacksonville (worth about $11,000), so no probate action was filed in the Philippines.
JALA helps woman get disaster relief to restore her home after hurricane
After Hurricane Irma damaged her Hastings home, “Anita,” 60, who has disabilities, sought help from Restore St. Johns, the county’s hurricane housing recovery program. While Restore St. Johns was willing to repair or rebuild her home, the property had never been probated out of her late mother’s name. JALA, with the help of a pro bono title expert, sorted out the potential heirs and was able to get consent from Anita’s siblings to have the title transferred from their mother’s estate.
Veteran’s home saved from foreclosure through probate
“Charles,” a 64-year-old veteran, came to JALA after losing a foreclosure case concerning his late mother’s home, where he had been residing since 2012. He had been making the payments after his mother’s death, but fell behind due to life-threatening health issues. He then fought on his own for seven years to save the home. By the time he came to JALA, a final judgment had already been entered and a sale date scheduled.
Renters’ Rights: How to get your security deposit back
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid attorney, Annie Rodriguez, discusses what you can do to ensure you get all of your security deposit returned to you.
JALA helps clients save their family homes through probate, mortgage modification
Having clear title to one’s home is often crucial to saving it, whether the threat is from potential foreclosure or a natural disaster. That’s because without clear title, the homeowner cannot negotiate with lenders or access federal aid, including disaster relief from FEMA or housing assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Jacksonville Area Legal Aid helps families avoid a potential foreclosure and access federal aid after a loved one passes away by helping them clear title through probate. "Probate is a complex and confusing process for many families," JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski said. "But it is a crucial step in ensuring that a deceased person's property is properly transferred to their heirs. When families don't understand the importance of probate, they can put themselves at risk of losing their homes."
Renters’ Rights: What to know if you’re facing eviction
James Tyer, an attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, joins us to discuss under what conditions a landlord can terminate a lease and precautions renters can take to avoid evictions.
Renters’ Rights: What to do if you have mold where you live
Trysta Wallace said the mold and plumbing problems in the bathroom of the apartment she rented on the Southside became so disgusting she couldn’t use the toilet or take a shower. “I use the port-a-potty up the street. I pee in a cup and I take a bird bath in the kitchen,” she explained. “It’s in the middle of the night, where can I go? I can’t make it up the street, I would pee myself.” She said she stopped going into the bathroom entirely when the mold started getting really bad. When she reported the problems to the property manager, Wallace said, “They just looked at me and said, ‘I’m sorry.’”
Homeowners Struggle to Get Pandemic Aid Meant to Stop Foreclosures
Peter and Nancy Rosalez found out in November they were eligible for up to $25,000 in government money to keep from losing their house to foreclosure. But their mortgage company had gotten permission to foreclose on their Middletown, Ohio, home and was about to sell it. The money sat unused while an auction of the home went forward. “The mental anguish we’ve been through with this house and trying to save this house—it’s just been ridiculous,” Mrs. Rosalez said. The federal government allocated funds for distressed homeowners as part of its expansive efforts to help Americans cope with the pandemic’s financial strains. Unlike some other stimulus programs, such as checks mailed to individuals, this money moved slowly.