News and stories about our work advancing civil legal rights for low-income Texans.
♥ GIVE TO LSLA – Make a gift today to ensure more families get life-saving help.
When a lease ends, many tenants expect their security deposit to come back in full. When renters move out, one of the biggest worries is whether they’ll get their security deposit back. Too often, landlords keep part—or even all—of a deposit for reasons that don’t seem fair. For Texas tenants, it helps to know what the law says and what […]
When Laura’s husband, Ron, strangled her during an assault, she feared for her life and the safety of her children. Ron was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony: assault by impeding breath or circulation. Laura quickly obtained a Protective Order to shield herself, her two sons, and her sister—but she also knew she needed to take the next step […]
After the 2021 winter freeze, 80-year-old Carolyn Addison Rivera’s life was upended. Like countless Texans, her home suffered damage from frozen pipes. When she turned to a plumber for help, the work performed was substandard and came with an inflated bill. When Carolyn rightfully disputed the charges, the plumber retaliated by slapping a mechanic’s lien on her home. Suddenly, she […]
Mr. Wilkins wanted to help his friend. She needed a car, so he co-signed on the loan. The 67-year-old disabled veteran didn’t realize he’d agreed to pay the car note if his friend defaulted. A few months passed and they lost touch. Twelve years later, something happened with the car and Mr. Wilkins had to appear in court. By the […]
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Technology Innovation Grant (TIG)-funded AI ChatBot Project continues to evolve as we prepare for internal rollout. Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress in functionality, expert engagement, and national visibility. Expert-Led Content Development We’ve moved into the subject matter expert (SME) phase for NAVI, our client-facing chatbot, with SME input also benefiting our internal […]
Taylor is a 29-year-old veteran in rural East Texas. She lives on a small veterans benefit check in a modest apartment with her young daughter. She called Lone Star Legal Aid because she needed a Durable Power of Attorney, or DPOA. The purpose of a DPOA is to allow you to designate a person to take care of your person […]
Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Everything gets harder after an eviction. First of all, you’re homeless. Secondly, you have an eviction on your record, which makes it harder to find a landlord who will rent to you. That’s why our attorneys work hard to keep people from getting evicted in the first place. Marcia received an eviction notice because she was late with her rent […]
For most of his adult life, Mr. Roberts lived with both mental and visual impairments. His challenges grew even more severe after he survived a violent crime in which he was shot in the head, face, and arm. The bullets fragmented so extensively that pieces still remain lodged in his head and face. These injuries, combined with his existing impairments, […]
Ms. Walker turned to Lone Star Legal Aid after receiving a devastating notice from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency had stopped her disability benefits and claimed she owed more than $27,000 in overpaid benefits—an amount that later increased to over $33,000. SSA alleged the overpayment was due to wages earned from September 2016 to September 2018, even though […]
This August, the curtain rises on justice, laughter, and a great cause. Night Court presents Law’s Anatomy, a musical parody that blends law, medicine, and mayhem—all while raising funds for Houston-area legal nonprofits, including Lone Star Legal Aid’s Military & Veterans Unit. Dates: August 20–23, 2025 Location: The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts Tickets: https://my.thehobbycenter.org/overview/7719?promo=LONESTAR Use promo code LONESTAR […]
When Ms. Thompson moved into her new apartment in Conroe under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, she believed she had finally found a safe, stable home. Her rent portion had been estimated and approved by the Montgomery County Housing Authority (MCHA), and she paid what she was told was her share. But just weeks later, without warning, her […]
Soon, the Social Security Administration may start taking back up to 50% of your monthly check if you have an overpayment. If your check is reduced, or if you get any notice of an overpayment, don’t wait. Call Lone Star Legal Aid for help: 1-800-733-8394. Our attorneys can work with the Social Security Administration to modify your repayment plan – […]
Mr. Palmer, a disabled man living on a fixed income, has rented a space in the same RV park for over four years without issue. But everything changed when new management took over the property. Without warning, Mr. Palmer received an eviction notice—his first ever—accusing him of violating park rules. The experience left him overwhelmed and afraid. Facing the possibility […]
Gerard Smith, a disabled Air Force veteran and devoted single father, had done everything he could to keep his children safe and housed. After falling on hard times, he began renting an Airbnb as a temporary place to stay; since they were renting long-term without any complaints, the landlord offered Gerard’s family a six-month lease. After signing, Gerard found that […]
Lone Star Legal Aid stands in solidarity with Texans in the aftermath of the Kerr County flash floods, and are ready to help. On July 4, 2025, a catastrophic flash flood struck the Texas Hill Country—especially along the Guadalupe River—resulting in more than 119 confirmed deaths and many more missing. The loss of life has been the most heartbreaking outcome […]
When Drew, a disabled Army veteran, fell behind on rent, he faced more than just a late payment. He faced the very real threat of homelessness. Living in a rented RV without running water, Drew was already enduring unsafe and unsanitary conditions. When his landlord moved to evict him, it pushed an already desperate situation to the brink. But Drew […]
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 […]
Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025. All offices will reopen on Monday, July 7, 2025. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.