May 2019 Newsletter

NEWSLETTER / May 2019
South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) is a non-profit law firm. We provide free legal services in a wide variety of civil (non-criminal) legal matters to eligible low income residents of South Carolina. Our mission is to provide legal services to protect the rights and represent the interests of low income South Carolinians.
	Adopting Family Timmy came to live with his grandmother Cathy a few months after he was born. SC Department of Social Services (DSS) removed him from his mother due to neglect, abuse, and use of drugs in his presence. In the few months that followed, Cathy was granted custody of the baby. She already had custody of Timmy’s older brother, Kyle, who came to be with her under similar circumstances. Read More
	Missed the Tax Deadline. Now What? (Part 2) This is Part 2 of the two-part article that walks you through what happens if you as a taxpayer fail to timely file your tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Read More
	Individualized Education Program (IEP) If you are a parent of a child with an IEP and your annual review is sometime soon, here are some quick tips to help you navigate the meeting. Read More
	Employment Unit Greetings from the Employment Unit of South Carolina Legal Services! What do we do, you ask? Our Unit serves the civil legal needs of low-income South Carolinians with employment-related issues. Read More
	Rock Hill Office The Rock Hill office welcomed a new staff attorney. Carla Bryson joined the office in April. She will be practicing primarily in the areas of consumer, housing, education, and family law. Read More
	WAYS IN WHICH SOUTH CAROLINA LEGAL SERVICES IMPACTS THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME SOUTH CAROLINIANS Family Ensuring safety, stability and security for families Correcting or establishing a birth certificate to allow persons to work, vote, and receive pension Establishing custody or adoption to ensure that a child has a stable home and allowing the custodian to make medical and education decisions Obtaining visitation so that children have quality time with parents Securing child support and alimony to alleviate the need for public resources Partnering with Fathers and Families to help fathers establish and restore relationships with their children PUBLIC BENEFITS Obtaining and maintaining income for disabled and low-income families Protecting the rights of the poor and disabled at home and on the job Helping the poor and disabled afford food and medical care Assisting client in self-sufficiency planning Partnering with other community organizations to reach and educate low-income population