Assists people with cases in the following areas:
Non-contested marriage dissolutions (divorces that are agreed or in which the other party will not respond)
Establishment of a parenting plan and child support in non-contested cases when the father has already been determined
The SHP Program completes all of the legal paperwork, so clients are relieved of the pressure of having to complete documents on their own. We are here to instruct clients about the legal process, inform clients of their rights and responsibilities, and to assist with the paperwork. We are available throughout the legal process to address any questions or concerns about the court process.

Self Help Plus offered at King County Bar Association

Provides legal information and support in uncontested divorce cases, and with establishing parenting plans; attorneys do not provide representation.

Programs that provide assistance for people who are initiating or responding to a suit for an annulment of their marriage, which establishes that a marital status never existed; a legal separation, which suspends the marriage so far as concerns the cohabitation of the two parties; or a divorce, which totally dissolves the marriage relationship. These programs may also discuss and represent the individual's interests regarding distribution of property assets and parenting issues regarding any children.

Divorce Assistance

Programs that train people to represent themselves in court when initiating or responding to a specific type of civil litigation.

Self Representation Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who want to obtain custody of their children as a part of a divorce or separation action, who want to appeal all or a portion of the terms of a previous child custody decision, or in the case of a noncustodial parent, who want to establish or appeal the terms of a visitation award or a court-ordered visitation schedule. Included are programs that provide child custody/visitation assistance for people who are not legally married but have children together.

Child Custody/Visitation Assistance

Programs that help people obtain, complete and/or file official forms, certificates, documents, applications or other paperwork that is required to apply for benefits or services, initiate or respond to legal action or to officially handle or document the occurrence of a transaction; that help people acquire copies of official documents on file elsewhere; or that review legal documentation an individual has received to help explain its meaning.

Certificates/Forms Assistance

Offers free self-help packets designed for those who need explanative information regarding SSI/SSDI overpayment, continuing disability review (CDR), and age 18 redetermination.

Self-Help Packets offered by Benefits Law Center

Offers free self-help packets designed for those who need explanative information regarding SSI/SSDI overpayment, disability review, and age 18 redetermination.

Programs that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving complaints that have been filed by people who have applied for or are receiving assistance through the Social Security Disability program and believe that they have been discriminated against, that their rights have been violated or that the Social Security Administration has failed to take appropriate action with respect to their application or benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance Appeals/Complaints

Programs that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving complaints that have been filed by people who have applied for or who are receiving assistance through SSI and believe that they have been discriminated against, that their rights have been violated or that the Social Security Administration has failed to take appropriate action with respect to their application or benefits.

SSI Appeals/Complaints

Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.

Individual Advocacy

Programs that provide assistance for prospective or current public financial assistance recipients who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits to which they are entitled by law under various income support entitlement programs. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, how much they can work without affecting their benefits (for some programs), the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with public assistance benefits staff; and/or represent them in administrative hearings or judicial litigation. Included are welfare rights organizations that offer a range of advocacy services as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance. Entitlement programs include (but are not limited to) General Relief (GR), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Welfare Rights Assistance

Programs that teach people who are affected by an issue the skills that are necessary to stand up for themselves, participate in decisions that are being made about their lives and secure the information, opportunities, respect and services to which they are entitled.