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FAQ 

  Frequently Asked Questions

The following are questions that people ask frequently about our services, qualifying, and other topics of interest. If your question is not answered here, please contact OCLA at the  County Courthouse Annex in Shalimar, Florida, for more information at (850) 651-7254. 

1. What is OCLA?  
   
   Okaloosa County Legal Aid, Inc. See the About OCLA page for more information.
   

2. What kinds of legal problems does OCLA handle?
    
   Specific areas of Family Law, only. See the Law Services page for details. 

3. What will happen when I call?

   When you call our offices, a Legal Aid staff member will ask you a few brief questions about your legal problem, your income, and the income of other members of your household.  If it appears that you qualify for services, the staff member will then attempt to locate an attorney who is willing to assist you with your legal problem.
    

4. Will the OCLA staff answer legal questions for me?
   
   Please see the bottom of the page for a description of how we handle providing services.

5. How do I apply for OCLA services?
   
   You may contact the OCLA office by phone or in person to be screened for eligibility at (850) 651-7254, or at the Crestview number (850) 689-5000 ext. 5980.

6. Am I eligible for legal aid?
   
   Please see the Qualifying page for more information about how we determine eligibility.

7. Will I be responsible for any costs?
   

   Services are provided free to eligible persons.  However, only the attorney's fee is waived through the Legal Aid program and you may be responsible for certain expenses such as court costs or sheriff's fees.
    

8. What will happen once I am referred to an attorney?
   

   Once a staff member has located an attorney for you, you will be contacted and given the information necessary to schedule the appointment and to make the necessary preparations prior to the appointment.  Please be aware that Legal Aid makes no guarantees that the attorney located will be willing to represent you in court or provide any other assistance beyond general legal advice in regards to your matter.  The Legal Aid staff will, however, do their best to locate an attorney who is willing to assist you as much as possible with your matter.
    

These questions are only a sampling of some of the questions that people ask frequently about our services, qualifying, and other topics of interest. If your question is not answered here, please contact OCLA directly. Thank you!

You may contact the OCLA office by phone or in person to be screened for eligibility at (850) 651-7254, or at the Crestview number (850) 689-5000 ext. 5980

We serve Justice by serving those who could not afford legal representation without our help. In doing so, we also serve ourselves, our community and our nation.

Qualifying Disclaimer

Okaloosa County Legal Aid, Inc. (OCLA) provides civil legal assistance to people who qualify for assistance who are residents of Okaloosa County, Florida. Qualifying is based on federal financial eligibility standards that are based on a combination of gross income and number of people in the household, among other factors. 

DIRECTORY

For Attorneys

• Volunteer with OCLA

Law Links

• Consumer Services
• Florida Bar Assoc.
• Florida Courts
• ACLU
• Public Defender's Assoc.
• Elder Law
• FindLaw (Florida)

FL Government Links

• FL Atty. General
• Okaloosa County
• Okaloosa Clerk of the Court

Other Resources

• Homes & Communities
• Employment Hints from the State of Florida. Includes Job Bank. 
• Other County Government: Okaloosa County web page
• ProBonoLaw.org
• Consumer Handbook Online 
• Social Security Administration

DISCLAIMER

Links included here are not to be considered endorsements of any kind, but rather are included as a community service only.