News Release: Free Disaster Legal Services Available for Utah Quake Survivors

Mackenzie CopeDisasters, News releases, Resources

SALT LAKE CITY – A free legal aid hotline was created as part FEMA’s Disaster Legal Services (DLS) program for the Magna Earthquake and its aftershocks.  The service is open to residents of Salt Lake and Davis counties.

Residents who need legal assistance for earthquake-related issues but cannot afford an attorney can call toll-free 800-662-4245. The line is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. DLS attorneys are not FEMA employees. Their services are confidential, and they do not share information with FEMA.

When you call, be prepared to explain that you are seeking assistance related to the earthquake and aftershocks (between March 18 and April 17) and talk briefly about the legal assistance you need.

Attorneys can answer questions about:

  • Home-repair contracts and contractors.
  • Life, medical and property insurance claims.
  • Applying to FEMA and appealing FEMA decisions.

Legal assistance also includes:

  • Getting a new will and other important legal documents lost or destroyed.
  • Consumer-protection issues like price gouging.
  • Advice on avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process.
  • Receiving other available government benefits.
  • Landlord-tenant issues.
  • Mortgage foreclosures.

Callers should be aware that there are limits on these legal services. For example, help is not available for cases where lawyers are paid part of a settlement by a court. (Those cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.)

The hotline is a partnership between Utah Legal Services, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, DisasterLegalAid.org and FEMA.

If you require a reasonable accommodation or an alternative format of available information such as American Sign Language format, or audio format, please submit your request to: [email protected].

For more information on Utah’s recovery from the Magna Quake, visit, www.fema.gov/disaster/4548, or https://earthquakes.utah.gov/magna-quake/

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.