Family Law Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

Pro Bono: Attorneys help family move and recover its security deposit

Pro Bono: Attorneys help family move and recover its security deposit

Now in its fourth year, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Eviction Defense Self Help Project focuses on assisting tenants facing an eviction or dealing with unsafe conditions in a rental residence owned by a private landlord. Stable housing often is the foundation for steady employment, educational achievement, good mental and physical health and economic autonomy. The project originated from a collaboration with Smith, Gambrell & Russell and the law firm continues to support the effort with several attorneys volunteering each month.

Dennis Harrison2021-12-02T11:38:08-05:00December 2nd, 2021|Family Law, News, Pro Bono|

JALA secures home, income for mother and children after domestic violence incident

JALA secures home, income for mother and children after domestic violence incident

One night can dramatically change a parent and child’s life when violence infiltrates a home and a family. When it happened to “Arnette Bravely,” she made the tough choice to call upon law enforcement and the courts to help secure safety for herself and her family. She knew she and her children would face a lot of uncertainty, but she persisted and spoke out against her abuser.

Dennis Harrison2021-08-23T15:24:04-04:00August 23rd, 2021|Children's Health, Client Stories, Family Law|

Veterans Services Unit helps father keep majority time-sharing of his daughter

Veterans Services Unit helps father keep majority time-sharing of his daughter

In 2010, Troy Bragg, a post-9/11 veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, discovered he was the biological father of a daughter and immediately filed a petition for paternity on his own. His petition was granted, and he and his daughter’s mother reached a mutually agreeable parenting plan and time-share agreement. The judge’s order provided Bragg with majority time-share, which was successful for 10 years. But in August 2019, the girl’s mother began to take from Bragg’s time with their daughter and tried to alienate her from Bragg.

Dennis Harrison2022-09-23T11:15:06-04:00July 9th, 2021|Client Stories, Family Law, Veterans Services|

JALA attorneys work together to help Army veteran retain custody of her baby

JALA attorneys work together to help Army veteran retain custody of her baby

“Julia,” 26, a U.S. Army veteran and mother of three, became pregnant and moved to Jacksonville to begin a new life with children, her partner and their soon-to-be-born child. But with the stress of the pandemic, cracks appeared in their relationship. After being with her for their baby’s birth, the father told Julia that he was going to take the baby to see his parents, who were visiting from out of town. Julia agreed. But it turned out that the baby’s father was in fact headed out of state with the baby. When she begged him to return, he refused.

Dennis Harrison2021-05-14T11:54:55-04:00May 14th, 2021|Client Stories, Family Law, Veterans Services|

You can lose your kids, home and freedom without ever seeing a lawyer. It’s a profound injustice.

You can lose your kids, home and freedom without ever seeing a lawyer. It’s a profound injustice.

You can lose your kids, home and freedom without ever seeing a lawyer. It’s a profound injustice. Opinion by the Washington Post

Dennis Harrison2021-03-03T16:02:20-05:00March 3rd, 2021|Fair Housing, Family Law, News|

Message from JALA CEO Jim Kowalski

Message from JALA CEO Jim Kowalski

It will be a long time before any of us forgets 2020. While the year has been rough on all of us, it has been especially hard on the low-income population Jacksonville Area Legal Aid serves, many of whom were among the first to suffer the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the coronavirus were not only evident in our community’s medical facilities, but also its food banks, shelters and yes, at JALA, where we fielded more than 9,000 requests for assistance, a 40% increase over 2019. Two areas where the needs increased the most were in eviction prevention and protection from domestic violence. Our attorneys and staff rose to the challenge of serving thousands of clients while working remotely for everyone’s safety. When we succeed, we stabilize families and thereby the community at large. Your support will enable JALA to serve more of those who would otherwise not have access to civil legal aid, thereby increasing the community’s resilience as we all seek to emerge from the global pandemic and restore our collective prosperity. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy and happy holiday season, and thank you for your support.

Dennis Harrison2021-01-04T10:50:48-05:00December 20th, 2020|Fair Housing, Family Law, News, VOCA|

Domestic violence cases surge during pandemic

Domestic violence cases surge during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a doubling of requests for help from domestic violence survivors, with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s staff handling nearly 300 domestic violence intakes through early December 2020, compared to 140 in all of 2019. “There has definitely been an increase in survivors requesting family law assistance since the pandemic,” said Michelle Broyles, division chief of JALA’s Family Law & Victim Advocacy Unit. “On a normal day, survivors live in fear, but when there is a lock down, ‘safe at home’ is not safe for everyone. Lockdowns force survivors to stay in close quarters with their abusers.”

Dennis Harrison2020-12-17T13:54:22-05:00December 17th, 2020|Family Law, News|

Michelle Broyles Leads JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit

Michelle Broyles Leads JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit

As a child in Kentucky, Michelle Broyles made a little book in school about how she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. “My friend actually saved my picture book,” said Broyles, division chief of JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit. “He kept it, and I didn’t even realize it. I actually made that decision in second grade but had forgotten about it by the time I got to law school until my friend called me to congratulate me on having achieved my life’s goal.”

Dennis Harrison2021-05-10T14:51:34-04:00December 14th, 2020|Family Law, News, VOCA|

Susannah Collins serves veterans, domestic violence survivors and others pro bono

Susannah Collins serves veterans, domestic violence survivors and others pro bono

Susannah Collins is a family law attorney, social investigator, attorney ad litem, and Florida Supreme Court certified family law mediator whose law office is located in Jacksonville’s historic district of Riverside. Her practice focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, domestic violence, child time sharing, alimony, enforcement, civil parental kidnapping, and extended family adoptions. Since her practice began nearly 20 years ago, Collins has also offered many legal services pro bono.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-24T17:16:00-04:00October 22nd, 2020|Family Law, News, Pro Bono, Veterans Services|

JALA gets grandfather custody so he can enroll his grandson in kindergarten

JALA gets grandfather custody so he can enroll his grandson in kindergarten

At the request of a local judge, Michelle Broyles, Division Chief of JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit, began advocating on behalf of “Dre,” 5. Dre’s mother struggles with substance abuse, which led to Dre being bounced around between his grandfather in Connecticut and different people in Jacksonville, some of whom were family and some friends.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-24T17:27:57-04:00October 18th, 2020|Client Stories, Family Law|