In a chapter of her life filled with turmoil, loss and uncertainty, a local mother sought pro bono assistance.
She was seeking a dissolution of marriage and needed to secure ownership of her family home that had been passed down for generations.
The attorney team of Troy Farquhar and Aaron Irving at Integrity Law, P.A., stepped in to assist. They describe their efforts here:
What were the basic facts of your case?
This case involved an unemployed mother with one minor child and one adult child.
Throughout the marriage the mother relied on her husband for support.
Unfortunately, as is too often the case, the husband abandoned the mother, child and home, leaving the mother without any means of support.
What were you able to accomplish for your client?
The client’s primary concern was to retain her ancestral home.
Fortunately we were able ensure that the home would remain in her name only, so she could pass it down to her children.
In addition, we were able to secure the mother some temporary monthly alimony to help supplement her income, as well as child support.
Why was the outcome important to your client?
Our client felt abandoned when her husband decided to leave the home. She was left to her own devices and oftentimes relied on her adult son for support.
Although we, as attorneys, can never guarantee a result, we explained to the client that we would do our best to get her the support she rightfully deserved.
The outcome was important because it helped the client close one terrible chapter in her life and begin anew. We feel we helped give her a fresh start.
Why was the experience important to you? That is, what did you gain from the experience?
Family law is a difficult area of practice. Quite often it is very adversarial, with lots of emotion and ill feelings involved.
We strive to remember that we are not so much helping a client to end a familial relationship, rather we are helping a family begin a new stage in their lives.
We are there to help guide a client through one of the most difficult times of his or her life. We are there to help.
What is the name of your firm? In what areas do you practice?
Integrity Law, P.A. We practice family, dependency and adoption law, landlord/tenant, foreclosure defense, personal injury, estate planning and probate, small business and real estate and title transactions.
What advice do you have for other attorneys considering pro bono involvement?
Get involved. Remember the oath of attorney that “I will never reject the cause of the defenseless or oppressed.”
We have a rule at Integrity Law. The attorneys must always have at least one ongoing pro bono case.
Attorneys interested in pro bono case representation and/or participation in pro bono outreach projects should contact Para at [email protected].