Know any really cheap or pro bono lawyers?
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 at
6:11 pm
When I was younger my great grandmother opened an account for me. When she died the custodial name went to my grandmother who refuses to sign it over. Does anyone know of a cheap lawyer or pro bono lawyer? I am a college student who does not make much.
Im in California
So, where are you? Any lawyers I know that are cheap or work pro bono won’t help you if you are in a totally different part of the country or IN a different country.
If you are in the US, look in your local phone book for Legal Aid. They can either help you or direct you to local lawyers who do pro bono work.
Use your local lawyer referral service. In many places, an initial visit is $25 or so. You can find out quickly whether or not you may have a claim on that money.
Opening an account in her own name, intending the money to go to you, may mean that you have no real claim on the money unless your great grandmother included a provision in her will. If the account was hers (even if you understood that she intended it for you), it would have been included in the inventory of her estate to be distributed to heirs.
If she opened an account in your name and with your Social Security number or tax ID, you may own it and do not need your grandmother’s permission to access the account.
As a college student, you may have a legal services program available for students at your college. Check with your student services office.