Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc is a dedicated provider of free civil legal aid services for low-income Mainers, specializing in a wide range of civil legal matters. With a strong commitment to fairness and justice for all, the organization stands out for its comprehensive self-help tools and multilingual accessibility, ensuring that vulnerable populations have the resources they need to navigate the legal system.
The organization employs a client-centered approach, offering extensive educational materials and guidance across numerous legal areas. It focuses on empowering individuals through knowledge, with specialized units for Indigenous peoples, veterans, farmworkers, and survivors of domestic violence. Its services are tailored to assist those facing economic hardship, with an emphasis on making legal information understandable and actionable.
Services Offered
- Rental Housing (eviction, unsafe housing, utilities)
- Money, Taxes, and Debt (debt collection, liens, income and property taxes, identity theft, credit)
- Health and Public Benefits (MaineCare, Medicare, SSI, TANF, SNAP/Food Stamps, General Assistance)
- Homeownership and Foreclosure (property taxes, liens, tax programs for homeowners, foreclosure)
- Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Abuse (laws, protections for survivors, resources)
- Divorce, Custody, and Family (divorce, parental rights, child support, guardianship, name changes)
- Indigenous Peoples Unit (cross border rights, Tribal Court)
- Farmworkers, Work, and School (rights of farmworkers, workers’ rights, education rights)
- Going to Court (self-representation resources, small claims court, criminal charges)
- Veterans (servicemembers’ and veterans’ laws, VA benefits, education, job training)
Pine Tree Legal Assistance serves residents across Maine and provides resources in multiple languages, including English, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Croatian, French, Arabic, Polish, and others. The organization also publishes the Wabanaki Legal News and offers specialized support through its various legal units.
