Latest News

After the dentist extracted all her teeth, Mary had to wait for her new dentures. She was excited to learn they were ready, but when she arrived at her dentist’s office, the staff said she couldn’t have them. Unless she paid out of pocket. The price was $2,600. Mary was devastated. She’d been dropped by her dental insurance, the office […]

Chris Johnson was raising two children with his wife, Leah, when he found out she was having an affair with someone else. Though Chris was only the biological father of one of the children, he wanted to shield both of his kids from their mother’s intentional neglect. When Leah decided to move to Indiana with her new partner, she willingly […]

When 91-year-old Mr. Fowler, a veteran living in Smith County, reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid for help writing a will, he believed he already had Title to the home he and his late wife shared. But he hadn’t gone through probate after her death, and as he learned from our attorneys, that meant he didn’t legally own the […]

Jack is a 25-year-old man living with anxiety, depression, a sleep disorder, and a learning disability with associated mental limitations. He is also a cancer survivor—diagnosed with leukemia at just four years old, which took years of treatment before he went into remission. Jack has been on disability benefits since 2015 and, with no work experience, depends on these benefits […]

At 66 years old, Ms. Olivares lives a quiet life in a modest apartment, relying solely on her Social Security disability income. She doesn’t own a car and had long put behind her the financial strains of the past—until she was served court papers this January over a student loan debt she thought was resolved nearly a decade ago. Back […]

Lisa James worked at her job for nearly five years before feeling forced to resign due to a hostile work environment. Despite regularly working more than 40 hours per week, she was denied the overtime pay she was legally owed, and her employer claimed that she quit voluntarily. After being denied unemployment benefits by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Ms. […]

How long does it take to pay off a $400 loan? It depends on the interest rate. James* got a loan for $400. The interest rate was so high, he could never pay it off. Why? Because the fees piled up too fast. He paid $50 every month for three years. That’s more than a thousand dollars; way more than […]

Denise paid more than $2,000 a month to rent her apartment. Her refrigerator broke. Her landlord didn’t fix it correctly. At first it was ok. She told someone in the front office. They gave her $200 for the spoiled food and fixed the refrigerator. But then, the refrigerator failed again. Water leaked everywhere. A month later, the refrigerator stopped working […]

After more than twenty years of marriage, an East Texas woman experienced the sudden loss of her husband. Just a few months later, she faced another devastating loss when her adult daughter also passed away. Jane had been living with her daughter in a home that her daughter had purchased a few years prior. As a result of this loss, […]

Ms. Rayo came to Lone Star Legal Aid following the death of her husband, facing a complex web of legal and financial uncertainty. Her husband had been the sole owner of their home and the only person listed on the mortgage and utility accounts. As an elderly, Spanish-speaking widow, she was navigating grief, paperwork, and the risk of losing access […]

COVID-19 was a difficult time that affected many people. The Smith family in particular faced many financial challenges. George, his wife Madison and their child went through extreme hardships due to both of them losing their jobs, which resulted in them becoming behind on rent for a privately owned property. Their landlord claimed to send them a notice to vacate […]

Jessica needed medical treatment. Every time she called the Texas Health and Human Services Department (HHSC), she got the “run-around,” she said. The doctor said her Medicaid plan was inactive. HHSC said it was active. Jessica’s Medicaid plan is called QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary). For people on Disability, QMB covers expensive co-pays for treatments like the one Jessica needed. Since […]

When 65-year-old Royce Galbreath reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid, she had already received a denial from FEMA. A widow living with limited mobility, Royce relied on her cane and walker to move around her home, made accessible by a ramp and lift system. But after Hurricane Beryl tore through her neighborhood, her home was no longer the safe […]

After serving in Iraq helping rebuild schools, medical clinics, and places of worship, Ms. Schexnayder came home to a different kind of battle—this time with her health and the Social Security system. She stopped working in 2022 after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Even before the diagnosis, she had been dealing with serious health problems that made working difficult. The […]

When you’re living on a fixed income, every dollar matters. Ms. T, 57, resides with her husband in their quiet home as empty nesters. With both relying on limited Supplemental Security Income (SSI), any unexpected deductions or changes in benefits can create significant financial strain. After her husband was awarded SSI, Ms. T came to Lone Star Legal Aid with […]

For many families, Social Security benefits are a vital source of support. When those benefits disappear unexpectedly, it can truly shake their world. This was the reality for our client, Ms B, a dedicated 45-year-old mother of two, who faced an overwhelming situation when her disabled son’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits were suddenly stopped. Even though she had tried […]

When Landlords Won’t Accept Rent Renters are legally obligated to pay rent. But what happens when a tenant tries to pay—and the landlord refuses to accept it? Unfortunately, that’s what happened to Mr. Kenneth Murray, a 66-year-old veteran, whose story highlights a disturbing housing trend that can leave vulnerable tenants at risk of losing their homes. Mr. Murray is a […]

Seven years ago, an East Texas county attempted to foreclose on a home over unpaid property taxes. This property was given to Elena by her husband before he passed away. Elena’s home was eligible for property tax exemptions, but due to a mistake, taxes accumulated throughout the years and were not paid. The other defendants in the case were relatives […]

Mallory and Nelson exchanged their vows in 2007 and were married until 2023. During their marriage, Nelson exhibited abusive behavior and engaged in illegal activities. Tragically, their 11-year-old grandson experienced severe trauma due to Nelson’s actions, which contributed to serious health issues, including seizures. Mallory didn’t think twice. She needed an escape, and this was it.   Mallory contacted Lone […]

Our client, Autumn, is a minor who never received notice if her Children’s Medicaid was renewed for the new year. Her mother renewed her benefits along with her other young daughters. One daughter received renewal, while Autumn did not receive a response. Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) told Autumn’s mother that her case would be escalated, but they never […]