TRENTON, N.J.  – A toll-free hotline, 1-888-541-1900, is now available for New Jersey survivors facing legal issues because of Hurricane Sandy.  Disaster survivors with storm-related legal issues can call the hotline to request free legal assistance.

The office will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday by members of the Young Lawyers Division of the New Jersey Bar Association. Voice messages can be left when the office is not staffed.

The type of legal assistance available includes:

• Assistance with replacing legal documents that may have been lost due to flooding.
• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance-related claims.
• Assistance in consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures.
• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems.
• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems.
• Creditor-debtor matters.
• FEMA appeals.

Callers will be interviewed to determine what help they need and then will be matched with a volunteer attorney who can provide assistance or general legal information regarding their issue.

When calling, survivors should make clear that they are seeking legal assistance related to Hurricane Sandy.

The hotline is part of a long-standing partnership between FEMA and the American Bar Association.

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