Community briefs

Published: 9/15/2011

To give people age 60 and older quick access to civil legal assistance, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is launching a statewide telephone hotline Thursday.

The Sixty Plus Legal Aid Services Helpline - or SPLASH - will provide free legal assistance to people 60 and older in most Oklahoma counties. The number is 1-855-488-6814.

SPLASH calls will be answered by specialists who will request basic information such as name, address, income and type of legal problem or legal information a caller is seeking.

In 70 of Oklahoma's 77 counties - including Tulsa County - SPLASH is supported by the Areawide Aging Agencies. Callers from supported counties will be transferred to a Legal Aid attorney for a legal assessment and advice.

If all attorneys are busy, the caller will get a return call within two business days. Callers with high-priority cases who are financially eligible will be forwarded to Legal Aid's litigation offices for further consideration.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income individuals and their families and to older people in the areas of family, consumer, housing, health and employment law.

— FROM STAFF REPORTS