Offers Custody & Visitation Mediation, Divorce Arbitration/Mediation, Parent/Child Mediation Program, and Surrogate Decision Making Mediation involves the use of a neutral third party to facilitate discussion and decision making

Provides the courts to handle criminal, civil, small claims and traffic issues. Ramp, elevator, hearing impaired equipment

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Chautauqua County Inc., trains and supports court appointed, adult volunteers that advocate for children in the foster care system. Mission of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in Chautauqua County, New York is to provide an independent voice in court, advocating for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the pursuit of safe and permanent homes.

Free Clinics operated by the Legal Aid Society offer help with legal issues. Includes: self-help classes, self-help divorce clinic, self-help consumer law clinic. A Veteran's Clinic is also available To find out if you qualify for a clinic, call the Legal HelpLine at (877) 777-6152.

Highly specialized individual and group counseling for survivors of domestic violence.

Trained counselors facilitate groups for victims and survivors to help acknowledge their experiences of violence and learn non-violent methods of problem solving and communication.

WHO WE ARE AND HOW THE SERVICE WORKS

◦Public Service of the New York State Bar Association since 1981

◦Approved by the American Bar Association

◦Hundreds of attorneys experienced in more than 40 areas of law

◦Serving 45 counties in New York State

When you call (1-800-342-3661) the New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS), you will be asked what county you are calling from, and where in New York you would like to see an attorney. The LRIS staff will ask you to describe your problem. Any information you provide will be held in the strictest confidence. The LRIS counselors are not lawyers and therefore cannot give you legal advice, but will help you find the right resource for your situation. In the event that we do not offer lawyer referrals in your county, we will provide you with contact information for a lawyer referral service that does.

Need a lawyer in a different part of the country? Find the Lawyer Referral program in that geographic area through the ABA national directory.

WHAT IS THE COST?

If you are referred to an attorney through the lawyer referral service the attorney will provide you with a half-hour consultation for $35. (Free consultations are given for personal injury, social security, medical malpractice, veteran's and military law, unemployment or workers' compensation.) During your visit with the attorney, you and the attorney will discuss your matter and decide what further action to take, if any. There is no obligation for you to hire the attorney, nor is there any obligation on the part of the attorney to take your case. If the attorney agrees to represent you, the attorney will charge you at his or her regular rates.

If you can't afford to pay a lawyer, there may be a legal services association that can help. Visit lawhelpNY.org for further information.

Through funding from local Offices for Aging (OFA), we provide free legal advice and representation to seniors ages 60 and over on civil (non-criminal) legal matters. Our income or resource limits, do not apply when cases are verified to us by an Office of the Aging.

We handle multiple civil legal problems for seniors, including consumer problems, family matters, access to healthcare, public benefits issues, housing problems, future planning (for example wills, living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, and Medicaid planning), elder abuse and/or neglect, and additional legal issues.

When it comes to protecting your rights and ensuring proper resolution of legal issues, nobody should have to go it alone. Yates OFA's Legal Services program refers its customers to Legal Assistance of Western New York, where they can access legal representation on rights, benefits, and issues regarding civil law.

The Business Owner Planning (Business Succession Planning) Department works to develop a plan with business owners to ensure a smooth transition and continuation of a company upon the death, disability, retirement or sale of a business owner’s company. With a focus on asset protection and business preservation, our key services in Business Owner Planning include:

1.Selection and Formation of the most Suitable Entity for your Business: If you require assistance in selecting or forming a business entity that best suits your needs, whether that entity be a Corporation, Partnership, or Limited Liability Company, we can advise you and provide the services necessary to form the appropriate entity for your business.

2.Drafting and Structuring an Operating/Partnership/Shareholders Agreement tailored to your Business: If your business needs an Operating, Partnership or Shareholders Agreement that is tailored to meet the specific needs of your business, then we can work with you to develop, draft, and execute the appropriate agreement to suit the needs of your business.

3.Drafting and Negotiating Buy-Sell Agreements: If your business needs a buy-sell agreement to set forth the procedures upon the death, disability, or retirement of an owner, in order to provide for a smooth transition of the business in all phases to the remaining or new owner(s), than we can counsel, negotiate, and draft a buy-sell agreement that meets your business’ needs.

4.Advice and Consultation on your Business’ Existing Structure and Plan: Do you own a business and have already formed an entity, or executed an operating agreement or buy-sell agreement, but you are not sure whether the plan that you put in action is appropriate for your business’ needs? If so, we can review and consult with you regarding your plan, and change the existing plan to meet the needs of your business if necessary. If you are a Business Owner and you have questions regarding your business, call us to schedule an appointment to get the answers you need.

Types of Services

•Selection and Formation of Suitable Entity for a Company (Limited Liability Company, Partnership, or Corporation);

•Drafting or Comprehensive Review, Analysis, and Updating of existing Buy-Sell Agreements;

•Drafting or Comprehensive Review, Analysis and Updating of existing Operating, Partnership, or Shareholders Agreement;

•Implementation, Review, and Updating of Business Succession Plans;

•Drafting and Implementation of Note Sale in the Transfer of a Company;

•Transfers of ownership interests in a Company to an Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust as part of the Implementation of a Wealth Preservation Plan;

•Consult and/or Review the funding of a Buy-Sell Agreement, including Analysis of the proper Insurance Coverage (Life, Disability, Key Man or other insurance coverage) for Business Owners;

•Consult and/or Review Tax and Financial Planning of the Company.

.

Description: The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program provides problem resolution assistance to residents of nursing homes, adult homes, and family type homes for adults.