An Overview of Skagit Legal Aid
At the heart of Skagit Legal Aid is its mission: "Skagit Pro Bono Service is a nonprofit organization that serves people living in Skagit County with limited finances so that they can meet their basic needs of food, shelter, and safety by resolving their legal issues." Skagit Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm that offers free civil legal aid to eligible individuals living in Skagit County. The firm was established in the 1990s to help overcome barriers preventing access to justice caused by poverty, language, and other issues. Skagit Legal Aid has served the Skagit County community by providing legal assistance, advice, representation, and referral resources to people who are unable to afford legal representation. Whether an individual has a dispute with a landlord or has been denied an accurate Social Security assessment , the attorneys at Skagit Legal Aid have over 30 years of combined experience working in the legal field. The law firm strives to facilitate fairness, justice, and respect for all, which is demonstrated through their continued relationships with community partners, such as Family Services of Skagit County and the Skagit Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services. Those who have accessed Skagit Legal Aid describe their experience as supportive and beneficial to their lives. From providing peace of mind through a supportive phone call to connecting clients with lawyers who work on their case, clients trust Skagit Legal Aid to be on their side. Although the firm serves individuals throughout Skagit County, applicants must meet eligibility and income guidelines in order to be accepted for services.
Skagit Legal Aid’s Services
Skagit Legal Aid Center, in addition to answering telephone calls and offering in-person consultations, provides triage services. This means residents who walk into the office can be assessed for the type of services they require. They may be referred to local attorneys or partner organizations, given legal advice via the telephone, provided handouts and a referral to a Washington online tool called CLEAR hot key to help them find additional legal assistance, or scheduled for a consultation with Legal Aid staff. Civil area attorneys at Skagit Legal Aid specialize in family law, landlord-tenant law, and public benefits law. Staff also provide legal assistance to those who qualify in the areas of bankruptcy, debtor-creditor issues, divorce, guardianship, housing, immigration, Indian Law, and wills, estates, and probate.
Phone Consultation If you are finding it difficult or impossible to travel to the Legal Aid offices, call 360-416-7082 to see if you qualify for telephone legal assistance.
Who Is Eligible for Legal Aid in Skagit?
To receive assistance through Skagit Legal Aid, one must generally meet the following criteria:
Income – As a general rule, family income cannot exceed 200% of the poverty level as determined by the Federal Government. Income limits are periodically updated by the US Department of Health and Human Services so that income eligible for one program may not be eligible for another, but as of the date of this posting, a typical income limit is as follows:
Number in Household 1 2 3 4
Monthly Income Limit 2,098 2,825 3,551 4,277
Residency – You must be a resident of Skagit County.
No Fee – Services are provided at no charge.
Other Criteria – The case must fall within the scope of cases handled by Legal Aid. Those are:
Civil cases, no criminal cases or criminal record expungements (however, we are sometimes able to represent people who are trying to reduce their criminal records) Veterans issues
The legal issue must be one of the types of cases Legal Aid handles. Those include:
Debtors’ and Bankruptcy – debts, repossessions, garnishments, foreclosures, collections, bankruptcy, tax debt and levy, student loans etc.
Family Law – marital dissolution (divorce), paternity, child custody, parenting plans, child support, modifications, enforce and contempt, domestic violence protection orders.
Housing – landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosure, real estate matters, civil harassment, mobile homes.
Federal Indian Law – Tribal membership, tribal court issues, insurance denials, trust Indian estates.
Consumer – loans, debts, fraud, deceptive practices.
However, in cases where a person has a dispute with a government agency and that agency refuses to discuss the matter, there are no resources to assist.
Applying for Legal Aid Assistance
To apply for legal aid through Skagit Legal Aid, the first step is to make contact with their team. There are several methods of contacting them, and the best option will depend on your circumstances. All of their legal aid staff are trained to listen to your situation and guide you on how best to proceed. They can provide assistance on a range of issues including general concerns, Family Law, Landlord/Tenant, Bankruptcy, Criminal, Immigration, Civil, Victims of Domestic Violence, Emergency Protection Orders, Guardianships, and Simple Will/Power of Attorney.
A free, confidential online screening can be completed through their website. If you do not have internet access or are in need of immediate assistance, you can call 360-416-7277 (outside Skagit County, call 1-888-201-1014) for assistance. These intake staff members provide support from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If your legal need is urgent, such as an emergency protection order, then you should call as early as possible so that Skagit Legal Aid can assist in a timely manner.
Once you have contacted Skagit Legal Aid, they will talk you through the next steps. Eligibility for legal assistance is based on a number of factors. These include the specific legal issue, detailed financial eligibility criteria, and what other resources may be available to help you resolve your case. Although not everyone will qualify for legal assistance, there are often resources and referrals available if they are unable to assist with your specific legal issue.
Some types of family law cases are handled through their Family Law Clinic, Monday through Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The clinic is first-come, first-served, and the hours may vary from day to day depending on volunteer availability. The volunteer attorneys cannot represent you in court – they can only provide legal information and guidance.
Skagit Legal Aid strives to provide sustainable access to justice in Skagit County and valuable support is available to those who need it.
Impact Stories and Successes
Skagit Legal Aid has helped countless individuals and families overcome legal obstacles. For instance, one client, who was struggling to navigate the legal system after being unjustly evicted from his home, recounted how Skagit Legal Aid’s attorneys helped him stay in his residence after several attempts through other legal aid organizations fell short. "It was such a relief to know that I wasn’t alone, that there were people who believed in the truth of my situation, and that they fought for me," said the client, who chose to remain anonymous. "Without support, I could have lost everything."
Another client, a single mother with limited income, was at risk of losing her job because she couldn’t secure legal guardianship of her children , which was a requirement for her employment. "Without the assistance of Skagit Legal Aid, I would have lost my job and my kids would have suffered along with me," she shared. "I was on the edge of despair, but their help changed everything. I can work now and take care of my family."
Such testimonials underline the essential role Skagit Legal Aid plays in providing free legal representation and advice to those in need. Its impact is not limited to individual cases either; its work helps educate the community about their rights and responsibilities under the law. By improving access to justice and raising legal awareness, Skagit Legal Aid makes a difference that extends beyond the courtroom.
Additional Legal Aid in Skagit County
In addition to Skagit Legal Aid, there are several other legal resources in Skagit County that would be beneficial to reach out to for either free or reduced cost legal services. Legal Voice is a non-profit organization that provides family law education and representation in Washington. Legal Voice holds monthly clinics in Skagit County to help low-income people. The clinic serves people of all ages and backgrounds. They do not run a bi-lingual clinic but can be helpful in connecting you with someone who can help. North Sound Legal Aid provides legal help to low-income people who have civil legal problems. They provide civil legal assistance through staffed offices and through the statewide coordination of the volunteer lawyer program. They serve people who are aged 60 or older and low-income adults and children. They have specific programs for people who need help with foreclosure, family law, employment law, health law and landlord/tenant law. Legal Aid Pro Bono of Skagit County is a program that recruits and trains volunteers to provide pro bono legal services to low-income families within Skagit County. They hold monthly legal clinics throughout Skagit County every second and third Friday of each month. Pro Bono volunteers provide legal assistance on a variety of issues including family law, family law protection orders, bankruptcy, housing pro bono, consumer issues and guardianship.
Supporting Skagit Legal Aid
Skagit Legal Aid relies upon generous members of our community for its continued success in serving low-income and disabled residents in Skagit County. The support from individuals like you allows us to work side-by-side with our partners at the Skagit County Bar Association and the Skagit Pro Bono Service as well as the law students at Gonzaga University School of Law and Seattle University School of Law. Although this support comes in many forms, it is your financial support we rely on most. Skagit Legal Aid provides comprehensive legal services at no cost to our clients. Our mission would not be possible without the support of those within the local community. Without your support, we could not sustain or improve upon the legal services provided to low-income residents in Skagit County. Skagit Legal Aid relies upon donations and grants to fund its programs and projects. Your donation will be used to help provide civil legal services to low-income residents in Skagit County. Donating to Skagit Legal Aid is an easy way to give back to the community and ensure that the most vulnerable people in our community have access to the legal resources they need. Becoming a volunteer is another great way to support Skagit Legal Aid and its myriad of local programs. Whether you give time in person as a volunteer or help with a financial donation , your contributions must be acknowledged and appreciated. We could not serve the nearly 3,000 individuals in Skagit County each year without the generosity of volunteers and donors. Volunteers are critical members of the Skagit Legal Aid team. These dedicated individuals make it possible for Skagit Legal Aid to continue providing free civil legal assistance to low-income residents in Skagit County. Whether it’s by working at one of our many clinics, Saturday Legal Advice or one-on-one consultations, volunteers are vital in helping us fulfill our mission. If you are unable to donate your time to Skagit Legal Aid, there are other ways you can still support the various local programs the nonprofit offers. By making a monetary donation, you’re helping to maintain the free legal services offered to low-income residents in Skagit County. In addition to helping ensure that we have the resources to continue providing free legal services, your donation can also be directed toward a specific project, such as the veterans’ program or our family law services or to our law-student internship program. Your donation will help us pay salaries, provide staff training and fund community awareness efforts.