For questions, contact Senior Information & Assistance at 707-468-5132 (or 1-800-510-2020 within Lake and Mendocino Counties) or email us at IASpecialist@ccmc1.org.
	Home > Table of Contents > Legal & Advocacy Legal & Advocacy AARP 601 E St. NW, Washington DC 888-687-2277 Non-profit membership organization providing advocacy and services, free tax preparation help, driver’s safety program, insurance programs and more for adults age 50+. See www.aarp.org. Adult Protective Services (APS) Investigates reports of elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect. Intervenes to resolve the problems that place the adult at risk, and refers him/her to needed services that allow the individual to stay safely in his/her home if possible. Lake County 16170 Main St., Unit C, PO Box 9000, Lower Lake 888-221-2204 or 995-4680 Night/weekend emergency 995-4680 See www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/SocialServices Mendocino County 764 S. Franklin St., PO Box 1306, Fort Bragg 962-1102 747 S. State St., PO Box 839, Ukiah 877-327-1799 or 463-7900 472 E. Valley St., Willits 456-3700 24-Hour emergency line 877-327-1799 See www.mendocinocounty.org/government/health-human-services-agency . Area Agency on Aging of Lake & Mendocino Counties (AAA) 16170 Main St., Unit F, PO Box 9000, Lower Lake 995-3744 Plans, coordinates, and implements the development of, and access to, community-based support services for individuals 60 years of age or older and their caregivers. See www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Social_Services/. Behavioral Health/Mental Health Patient's Rights Advocate Provides representation for behavioral health/mental health clients. Lake County 888-334-3390 See www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Behavioral_Health. Mendocino County 463-4614 See www.mendocinocounty.org/home/showdocument?id=1982. California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) 650 Harrison St., 2nd Fl., San Francisco 800-474-1116 or 415-974-5171 Dedicated to improving the quality of care for California's long-term care consumers, and educating people about nursing homes, residential care/assisted living, and long-term care issues. Pre-placement counseling, estate planning information, Medi-Cal, and on-line nursing home and residential care/assisted living guides and fact sheets. Lawyer referral service. See www.canhr.org. California Indian Legal Services Provides legal assistance for issues specific to Federal Indian Law for elders, land issues, wills, and probate. Eligibility: individuals below 125% income guidelines, according to Legal Services Corp. Some individuals up to 200% of income guidelines accepted. See www.calindian.org. Lake County 117 J St., Ste. 201, Sacramento 800-829-0284 ext. 350 or 916-978-0960 ext. 350 Mendocino County 324 F St., Eureka 800-347-2402 or 707-443-8397 Disability Services & Legal Center 415 Talmage Rd., Ste. B, Ukiah 463-8876 Provides independent living skills training, information and referral, Social Security Administration benefits counseling, peer support, and assistive technology solutions. Free disability law clinic at Ukiah office second Thu of the month, by appointment only. Off-site hours in Lake County available; call for an appointment. www.MyDSLC.org. Lake County Mediations PO Box 1173, Lakeport, CA 95453 380 N. Main Street, Ste. I, Lakeport 263-6800 Provides trained mediators as an alternative to litigation for many types of conflict: landlord/tenant issues, elder care issues, business, real estate, neighborhood disputes, organizational conflict, and many others. A mediator facilitates respectful communication and empowers the parties to discuss, analyze, and problem solve in a collaborative manner. Eligibility: Per person fee per mediated session; sliding scale for those on low fixed incomes. Call to schedule an appointment; no walk-ins. See www.LakeCountyMediations.org. Lake Family Resource Center ~ Rape & Domestic Violence Crisis Center 5350 Main St., Kelseyville 279-0563 24/7 crisis line 888-485-7733 Provides services to victims and families. Advocacy, peer counseling and restraining orders are available. Therapy and counseling services. Shelter for women, men, and children through the Freedom House. See www.lakefrc.org. LawHelpCA.org Website provides information about common legal issues and a directory of organizations that offer free or low-cost legal advice and representation. The site is administered by The Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC), a statewide membership organization for the almost 100 nonprofits funded through IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Account) grants by the State Bar of California. See www.LawHelpCA.org. Legal Services of Northern California ~ Senior Law Project 421 N. Oak St., Ukiah 877-529-7700 or 462-1471 Provides free legal assistance to seniors 60+ and to low-income residents of Lake and Mendocino Counties in the areas of housing - tenant rights, public benefits, health rights, foreclosure, naturalization, criminal records clean-up, and education cases. Additional services for seniors 60+ include Advance Health Care Directives, planning for incapacity, elder abuse, consumer rights, and senior scamming. Call or visit office to determine eligibility to receive services. See www.lsnc.net or www.lsnc.info. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of Lake and Mendocino Counties 16170 Main St., Unit F, PO Box 9000, Lower Lake 262-4525 24-hour reporting line 800-231-4024 Receives and investigates complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing and residential care homes. Visits facilities regularly to monitor quality of care. See www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Social_Services/AAA/. Mendocino County Behavioral Health Advisory Board 1120 S. Dora St., Ukiah 472-2300 Advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and Mental Health Services Director on matters concerning mental health in the county. Native American Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program 77826 Covelo Rd., Covelo 983-9333 Provides support for victims of domestic violence, including transportation, court accompaniment, assistance with restraining orders, referrals to counseling, etc. See www.rvit.org. Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy 427 F. St., Ste. 232, Eureka 268-1388 Advocates on behalf of persons with a developmental/intellectual disability in Lake and Mendocino Counties; services include consultation, representation, training, investigating complaints, and assuring compliance of law by facilities and other service providers. May also assist the individual, who feels he/she has a developmental disability and should qualify for Regional Center services, in his/her attempt to be found eligible for those services. Eligibility: Any person with a developmental/intellectual disability. See www.disabilityrightsca.org/about/OCRA.htm. Project Sanctuary 461 N. Franklin St., Fort Bragg 961-1507 @RCMS Dental Clinic, 175 Main St., Point Arena 882-3457 564 S. Dora St., PO Box 450, Ukiah 462-9196 24-hour Crisis Line 800-575-HELP (4357) Services to prevent and lessen the effects of domestic violence and sexual assault, including 24-hour crisis hotline; emergency safe shelter for battered women and their children; peer counseling, transitional housing program in Ukiah; individual and group counseling; prevention and education programs; legal assistance; and a volunteer program. Contact Ukiah office for schedule at other Inland locations.See www.projectsanctuary.org. Public Guardian/Public Administrator The Public Guardian initiates the Court process to invoke and renew conservatorships. The Public Administrator handles the affairs of individuals who die without family to administer their estates. Provides case management for conserved persons with mental health disabilities, dementia, or severe frailty. Lake County 16170 Main St., PO Box 9000, Lower Lake 995-4680 Mendocino County 747 S. State St., PO Box 839, Ukiah 468-7056 Self-Help & Family Law Facilitator’s Centers Provides legal information and neutral legal help to self-represented litigants. Areas covered may include: divorce, separation, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal/partner support and other family law issues; guardianship; restraining orders for domestic violence, civil harassment, and elder and dependent adult abuse; name changes; and small claims cases. Other areas of Self-Help may include: evictions, expungements of misdemeanor criminal records, etc. Does not provide legal representation nor advice but can help with understanding the law and court procedures and completing court forms. California Courts Online Self-Help Center Website provides information that enables individuals to work better with an attorney, and represent themselves in some legal matters. English, Spanish, and other languages. See www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm. Lake County Superior Court 7000-A South Center Dr., Clearlake 994-4612 See www.lake.courts.ca.gov/sh/. Mendocino County Superior Court 100 N. State St., Rm. 304, Ukiah 468-2020 See www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/self_help/self-help.asp. Fort Bragg: Bi-monthly clinics at 700 S. Franklin St. Courthouse. Covelo & Gualala: Live video help every Tues from 3 to 5 p.m. See www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/self_help/shla.asp for schedules of assistance in Fort Bragg, Gualala, and Covelo. Senior Legal Hotline ~ Western States Pension Assistance Project 866-413-4911 Provides free pension counseling and assistance to residents of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii or nonresidents with questions about retirement benefits earned in those states. Call, or submit email inquiry through website. See https://lsnc.net/slh. State Council on Developmental Disabilities North Coast 505 S. State St., PO Box 245, Ukiah 463-4700 Advocates, promotes, and implements policies and practices that achieve self-determination, independence, productivity, and inclusion in all aspects of community life for Californians with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and their families. See https://scdd.ca.gov/northcoast. Victim / Witness Program Offers comprehensive support for victims of violent crime. Includes crisis intervention, emergency assistance, resource referral and follow-up – including for counseling/therapy. Assists in applying to the State Victims Compensation Program. Provides orientation to the Criminal Justice System, supplies court escort and support, case status and disposition. Assists with restitution recovery, employer and creditor intervention, and more. Networks with county and community agencies. Lake County 420 Second St., Lakeport 262-4282 See https://victims.ca.gov/victims/counties/lake.aspx. Mendocino County County Courthouse, Rm. 501 100 N. State St., PO Box 144, Ukiah 800-785-3332 or 463-4218 Appointments may be arranged at offices in Fort Bragg. See https://victims.ca.gov/victims/counties/mendocino.aspx.