Rodney came to JALA’s Clay County office seeking help with probate on an estate he had inherited. Since he was a veteran, he was referred to JALA’s Veterans Services Unit. Declan Duffy, who leads the unit, drafted two separate petitions and three corresponding orders and filed each of them with the Clay County Clerk of Courts. These included an order to admit the will and one for homestead status on the family home.
“Julia,” 26, a U.S. Army veteran and mother of three, became pregnant and moved to Jacksonville to begin a new life with children, her partner and their soon-to-be-born child. But with the stress of the pandemic, cracks appeared in their relationship. After being with her for their baby’s birth, the father told Julia that he was going to take the baby to see his parents, who were visiting from out of town. Julia agreed. But it turned out that the baby’s father was in fact headed out of state with the baby. When she begged him to return, he refused.
“James,” 70, had helped raise “Cole” since he was born in 2007. A veteran living primarily off his Social Security income, he had known Cole’s mother for almost two decades and had allowed her and Cole to live in his home even though they were not related. She and Cole had been abandoned by Cole’s father, and James had become a role model and source of stability in the young boy’s life.
Susannah Collins is a family law attorney, social investigator, attorney ad litem, and Florida Supreme Court certified family law mediator whose law office is located in Jacksonville’s historic district of Riverside. Her practice focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, domestic violence, child time sharing, alimony, enforcement, civil parental kidnapping, and extended family adoptions. Since her practice began nearly 20 years ago, Collins has also offered many legal services pro bono.
Susan E.Mack has practiced law for 37 years as a senior corporate counsel and general counsel in the area of insurance and reinsurance transactions. Currently partner and pro bono coordinator at the firm Adams and Reese, Mack has demonstrated a strong commitment to pro bono service.
“Sebastian,” 67, a veteran who suffers from PTSD and other service-connected psychological and emotional issues, contacted St. Johns County Legal Aid for help when his quiet upstairs neighbors moved away and were replaced by a noisy family.
A U.S. Army veteran, “Reginald,” 70, had been living on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and part-time wages as a handyman, earning less than $12,000 a year. Reginald, who had been diagnosed with two different types of cancer, applied to JALA for help with a divorce and was referred to the Veterans Services Unit.
“Henry,” a 70-year-old veteran, found himself facing a foreclosure lawsuit. Intimidated by the legal process and still grieving after the lengthy illness and death of his wife, he failed to respond to the court and eventually turned to JALA for assistance after a foreclosure judgment had been entered.
As a result of a series of health issues and his wife’s terminal cancer, 59-year-old “Bill,” a U.S. veteran, fell behind on his mortgage payments. He then neglected the resulting foreclosure lawsuit while nursing his wife until her death. Eventually, he turned to JALA for help.
Petty Officer “Sarah Townsend’s” neighborhood Homeowners’ Association filed a foreclosure lawsuit against her as a result of minor yard maintenance issues. She had rented out her house so she could live closer to the Navy base. Although Officer Townsend believed that she had taken care of the yard issues, her HOA continued to send notices to her tenants rather than her, and they piled up.
