MUSCATINE LEGAL SERVICES

Muscatine Legal Services provides direct representation to low income residents of Muscatine County and helps to disseminate knowledge about the law and legal processes to the public. We cover a wide variety of civil legal problems facing low income Muscatine County residents. These include domestic violence, public assistance and benefit programs such as Social Security and unemployment compensation, illegal evictions and consumer matters. Our office also assists clients with custody and dissolution of marriage actions where child support, alimony payments and property division may be an issue. By pursuing these matters on behalf of our clients a positive economic impact is realized for both individuals and for Muscatine County. Anytime a resident can secure an economic benefit, they are less reliant on the public welfare system or the County for their support. Our office is also involved with the legal representation of minor children in two types of court proceedings. These are custody cases and Children in Need of Assistance cases. By representing minors in these types of actions, we assist the Court with ensuring that the children are part of the legal process and adequately protected during legal proceedings. MLS does guardianship and conservatorship cases as well as draft wills and power of attorney documents for clients. In 2017 MLS started assisting county residents who became subject to foreclosure actions. While several clients have eventually lost their homes in these types of actions; we have had some success in delaying sale and gaining time for others to refinance or obtain cash and resources to catch up their mortgage and save the property from foreclosure.