ABA offers legal help to Florida victims

CHICAGO, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The American Bar Association said Friday its volunteers are available to give legal help to hurricane-ravaged Florida residents.

The Chicago-based ABA said residents of the Sunshine State are facing legal dilemmas in the aftermath of Hurricanes Charley and Frances, from whether they need to pay the mortgage on a house that was destroyed to finding out what damage is covered under their insurance policies.

Volunteer lawyers from the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Florida Bar are available to answer legal questions through a toll-free hotline open to hurricane victims (1-866-550-2929).

About 600 lawyers have volunteered to take calls.

Through a 1978 agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the ABA said, the ABA Young Lawyers Division has been called upon to provide legal

assistance to victims of natural disasters.

The ABA said when the president triggers federal assistance to a stricken area by declaring a "major disaster," the Young Lawyers Division mobilizes attorneys to coordinate volunteer activities through hotlines or disaster recovery centers.