News: Latest News

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2008-08-18

Homes hotline to help owners

Bradenton Herald

With 77,000 Floridians in foreclosure, attorneys across the state are banding together to offer legal advice to keep others from losing homes.

The initiative called FLASH or Florida Attorneys Saving Homes has launched a toll-free telephone hotline to help homeowners getting behind on their house payments.

An estimated 11.6 percent of Florida property owners are more than 30 days past due on a mortgage payment or in foreclosure, according to organizers of the initiative which include The Florida Bar, The Florida Bar Foundation, Florida Legal Services, Inc. and the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.

"We felt homeowners having trouble with their mortgage would have better success negotiating with their lender if they had the assistance of an attorney," said Kent Spuhler, executive director of Florida Legal Services, Inc. "We believe this is the first project of its kind that pairs homeowners with volunteer attorneys before the foreclosure is started in an effort to stem the avalanche of foreclosures."

Anyone who fears that he or she will soon be unable to make mortgage payments or who have already missed payments but have not yet had any foreclosure action filed with the court are urged to call the hotline at (866) 607-2187.

Callers will then answer a few initial questions and pro bono attornies will negotiate with lenders on behalf of the homeowner to create a loan that allows the homeowner to remain in the home

Lawyers interested in volunteering should visit the pro bono Web site at: www.floridapro bono.org.

Florida attorneys offer advice for those facing threat of foreclosure.

http://www.bradentonherald.com/

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Dana Laganella
Affordable Attorneys
Gerling Law Group Chartered
Offices in Sarasota and Bradenton
941-756-6600

	Bradenton Florida 6148 State Road 70 East Bradenton, Florida 34203 Telephone: 941-756-6600 Fax: 941-782-5575		Sarasota Florida 9040 Town Center Parkway Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202 Telephone: 941-756-6600 Fax: 941-782-5575