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Home > Volunteer > Case Listing

 

June 2008

VIP offers the unique opportunity to positively affect the lives of low income Philadelphia residents. We provide resources to assist you throughout the case, including mentors, interpreters, law students and training materials. Join the VIP team by taking a case!

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Urgent Need

 
Probate/Water Shut Off| I am interested in this case >
(48)     080198
Client lives in her home that is currently titled to her deceased parents as tenants by the entireties.  Client's father died in 1979 and her mother died in 2000 leaving the property to client.  Client's sister was named as the executor but never opened the estate.  Client's property has a cracked water pipe that requires significant repairs.  Client will qualify for a water department loans as she has title.  The water is currently shut off.  Client would like assistance probating her mother's estate and transferring the property into her name so she can restore water service and enter into real estate tax payment agreements.  All the family members named in the will would cooperate with the client.
           

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LITIGATION

FAMILY LAW

Custody | I am interested in this case >
(66)     080084
Client is seeking to modify the custody agreement for her son. Client and the child’s father have been sharing custody for three years, with son moving between homes every other day. Client believes the arrangement has been detrimental to son and to the family. Client is very concerned about son’s declining school performance and other behaviors. Client does not feel the opposing party is parenting responsibly in son’s best interest.
  
Divorce | I am interested in this case >
(66)     080183
Client, mother of four (one minor and three adult children), has been forced out of her home by adulterous spouse. Opposing party is not allowing client to access the family home to collect her personal items, and he has filed for divorce. Client requires representation in the divorce proceedings in order to ensure her property interests, and custody of minor child.
  
(66)    080108
Client, mother, is seeking assistance to change her 8-year-old daughter’s last name from child’s abusive biological father’s last name to client’s name. There has been a no-contact order in place for the father since 2007 that prohibits father from having contact with child due to the courts evaluation of father’s sexual abuse of child. 
 

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OTHER LITIGATION

TORT

Torts | I am interested in this case >
(66) 080599
The plaintiff claims that he fell on client’s property. Client has no knowledge of the incident. Client says that there is a hole in the pavement, which is completely covered by plastic and a wooden board.  Client does not have homeowner’s insurance, and is in need of representation to defend against this claim. An Arbitration hearing is scheduled for July 28th, 2008.

 

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LAWWORKS

 SMALL BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT

Nonprofit | I am interested in this case >
(48)   080544
Local church owns two connected properties, both of which have delinquent real estate taxes.  One of the properties has been sold at Sheriff’s Sale, but the buyer and the Sheriff’s Department are willing to work out a deal to return the property to the church.  Client would like assistance negotiating a deal to return the property to the church and applying for real estate tax-exemption for both properties
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Nonprofit 
| I am interested in this case >
(34)   080519
Civic association, which serves a Philadelphia community through programs like park clean-up, summer concerts, and monitoring of zoning issues, currently has 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status.  Civic association needs consultation on whether it should change to 501(c)(3) status.
 

 

 

 

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LAWWORKS 

HOMEOWNERSHIP 

Homeownership/Real Property | I am interested in this case >
(48)     080325
Client was record owner of her home along with her mother. They shared the property as joint tenants with a right of survivorship.  Client's mother died.  Due to hard financial times, Client was forced to declare bankruptcy.  During this bankruptcy period, the property was improperly sold at a Sheriff's Sale.  Client brought a successful lawsuit to restore title in her name; however, the deed returning title granted the property to the client and estate of her deceased mother. Client would like assistance in correcting title to her property to show her as the sole record owner.
  

Probate | I am interested in this case>
(48)     070938
Client, currently living on Social Security Disability, lives in the home of her deceased mother. Client’s mother died intestate in 1981. Client had one brother who also died intestate in 1993. The brother is survived by his wife and two children. The brother’s wife has been uncooperative but unlikely to contest client taking title to the home. Client will need assistance with obtaining title to her home through a §3546 petition in order to enter into a payment plan for delinquent real estate taxes
 

Probate  | I am interested in this case> 
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48)     070939
Client resides in the home of her deceased mother. Client’s mother owned several properties before she died intestate.  Mother is survived by her husband, Client, and Client’s five other siblings. Client would not like to probate her mother’s entire estate because she does not want to be responsible for the other properties. We believe client can gain title to this property through a §3546 petition. Client’s father and siblings are willing to assist in the §3546 petition to determine title in Client’s name. Client would like assistance with the §3546 petition so she can gain title to enter into a payment plan for delinquent real estate taxes.

  

Probate  | I am interested in this case>
(48)     080213
Client works to support her child and disabled brother. She currently resides in her home that is currently titled in her grandmother’s name. Grandmother died widowed and intestate. Grandmother’s heirs are willing to sign over their interest so Client can have full title. Client would like assistance with probating her grandmother’s estate and placing the property in her name so she is eligible for payment agreements and grants.

  

Probate  | I am interested in this case>
(48) 080176
Client lives in the home titled in his deceased father’s name. Client’s father died widowed and intestate. Client’s father had two daughters with his first wife, and had Client with his potential common law wife. Client does not know where his step-sisters are located and does not think his father and mother were actually married. Client would like assistance probating his father’s estate in order to place title into his name, or in the alternative, using a §3546 petition.

Probate  | I am interested in this case>
(34)    080322
Client, a 33-year-old mother of two, is living in the property owned by her grandmother.  Client's grandmother passed away in 2001, with a will naming client's mother as the Executrix and leaving the property to client and client's two siblings.  Client has been living in the property since that time and maintaining it, including making monthly payments on the back real estate taxes and back water bill.  Clients two siblings are willing to give their interests in the property to her and have signed statements to that effect.  The will also left two other properties in Louisiana to client's mother, uncle, and brother, but the condition of these properties is unknown and no one is interested in obtaining title to them.  As a result, client needs assistance in filing a §3546 Petition for Determination of Title in Orphan's Court, so that she can obtain title to the property and enter into a more affordable payment plan for the back taxes.