MCLSC FAQs – Mississippi Center for Legal Services

Who qualifies for assistance from MCLSC or Are there any Eligibility Requirements?

Generally, low-income people qualify based on household income and the number of people in the home. The financial threshold for eligibility is 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. (Example: 1 person household-$18,225; 4 person household $37,500). Eligibility may extend to 200% of poverty if certain special circumstances exist. There are also some special grants that do not require income eligibility for people who are age 60 and above, or people who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. There is also a limit on the amount of assets owned by persons in the home. Assets include things like stocks, bonds, savings and checking account, which can be readily converted to cash, and property (except the homestead), money market accounts, long term CD’s.

What is considered income?

Income is the current annual total cash receipts before taxes of all people who are residents of the home and contribute to the support of the household. Total cash receipts include, but are not limited to wages and salary before deductions; self-employment income after business deductions; Social Security payments; unemployment and worker’s compensation; veterans benefits; alimony; child support payments; military allotments; pension benefits; insurance annuity payments; income from dividends, interest, rent paid to you; and any recurring current and available financial support.

How can I apply?

(A) You can currently apply for services via our call center intake. The Call Center Intake Number is 1-800-498-1804 (Selection Option 1).

(B) Online Intake is currently suspended, but will be available soon for non- emergency cases. Check https://mscenterforlegalservices

How long will it take for my intake application to be approved or rejected?

Usually, your application will be approved or rejected during the initial intake call and interview. The exact length of time to let you know if your case is accepted or rejected will depend on the circumstances of your case and the number of people calling for assistance at the same time. Please be patient and stay on the line until you can speak with an intake worker because you cannot leave a message. If you hang up you will lose your place in line. You will be told as soon as possible if you qualify for assistance based on your household income and the type of case for which you are seeking help. There are some circumstances where your case may be sent to the local office for that office to further evaluate your case for representation.

What can I do if my intake application is denied?

If you would like additional clarification regarding your application status please give us a call at 1-800-498-1804 (Selection Option 1). There is also a prescribed grievance procedure for the denial of assistance that you can access through intake.

What type of legal help do you all provide?

We provide assistance for a variety of civil legal matters. For a list of the types of cases that we handle please visit: https://mscenterforlegalservices.org/what-we-do/

What do you all not assist with?

We do not assist with criminal, worker’s compensation, or personal injury cases. We are also restricted from handling some other matters, including but not limited to class actions, lobbying, abortion rights, euthanasia, representing persons who are incarcerated and drug related evictions from public housing.

What is the difference between Civil Legal Issues and Criminal Legal Issues?

Civil cases and criminal cases are two different types of cases that go to court. Civil cases are about disputes between people or organizations. Criminal cases are about crimes that people have allegedly committed.

Do you help with child support issues?

We will only assist with child support as part of a custody or divorce case handled by us.

Do you help with expungements?

We can help with expunging certain criminal records. Be mindful that expungements are limited to specific criminal matters that can be taken off your record (multiple misdemeanors, but only one felony), . and there may be a waiting period before the record can be expunged.

My landlord won’t fix things - can you all help me?

For more information regarding the assistance we are able to offer contact our Call Center at 1-800-498-1804 (Selection Option 1).

Are you all closed during the holidays?

Yes, the Mississippi Center for Legal Services is closed for all major U.S. Holidays.

What are your normal call center hours?

Our normal call center hours are Monday-Thursday 9:30 am-3:30 pm.

Which counties do you serve?

We currently serve 43 counties: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Wilkinson, Yazoo

Can I get help if I am not in one of your 43 service counties?

(A) While Mississippi Center for Legal Services (MCLSC) cannot assist with cases that are not in one of the 43 counties that we serve, other legal providers may be able to assist you. (If your case is in our service area, but you do not live in the service area, we may still be able to assist you).

(B) Other Legal Providers: North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance, Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project, Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights, Northcutt Legal Clinic and Mississippi Center for Justice.

Are there any fees or will I be charged for anything?

While Mississippi Center for Legal Services (MCLSC) offers legal assistance free of charge, you may be required to pay certain fees associated with your case, such as the court filing fee and process server fees. MCLSC does not work for profit and MCLSC does not receive the court fee.

I haven’t heard from my attorney - what’s next?

MCLSC Attorneys are hard at work providing assistance to multiple clients and sometimes may require more time before getting back to you. If you have any immediate or urgent questions or concerns, feel free to leave a voicemail for your attorney or send an email using this link: https://mscenterforlegalservices.org/contact-us/

Can I get help for one of my friends or family members?

Generally speaking, you may not get assistance for another adult (even if they are a family member or friend). You can provide your friend or family member with a link to our website or provide them with our Call Center Intake number so that they can learn more about our services and how we may be able to assist them.

Can you help me if I have court today?

While we may be able to assist you. We are not able to handle court appearances that are scheduled during the day of your intake/application. Due to the nature of our work, we must allow our attorneys enough time to adequately prepare for any court appearances to ensure quality legal representation for all of our clients.