Quick links:
Unsure if you need legal assistance? Complete our online Indiana Legal Risk Detector: https://probononet.neotalogic.com/a/indianariskdetector
To apply for assistance and for program inquiries, call : 317-829-3104
Who We Serve
If you are a senior (age 60+) or an endangered adult (age 18+ with a disability) and are the victim of a crime, including abuse and financial exploitation, we can help you. There are no income or asset limits to qualify for LAVA Project services. We serve all 92 counties in Indiana with staff in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and South Bend.
Our Mission
The LAVA Project’s purpose is to assist those who have been impacted by the criminal actions of others and to seek justice for those who cannot speak for themselves or have been denied access to justice due to age, disabilities, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Our goal is to ease or eliminate the negative effects of these crimes by providing free civil legal services and social work support to our clients.
What We Do
We can provide you with confidential legal advice to know your rights and options as well as assist you in legal claims against adverse parties. We write advice letters, assist with negotiations, and litigate cases in court.
We can help you apply for assistance through the Indiana Victim Compensation Program (CJI: Victim Compensation: Home (in.gov)), if you qualify.
Social Support and Resources
We are here to help and offer support. This includes connecting you with non-legal resources you may need and offering support as you navigate the legal process.
The LAVA Project has a Social Worker on staff to assist our clients with a wide range of issues outside of their legal issues, including but not limited to:
- Housing/Rental Resources
- Food Assistance Resources
- Mental Health Resources
- Public Benefits Assistance Referrals
Case Type Examples
We will consider offering civil legal assistance for any issue related to the commission of a crime.
These are some of the most common case types we help with, but this list is not exhaustive.
- Power of Attorney Abuse – revocations, accountings
- Domestic Violence – protection orders, divorce
- Unwanted Abusive Housemates – eviction, trespass
- Theft/Conversion of Property
- Consumer Fraud and Scams
- Guardianship Termination and Accountings
We are here to help you.
Funding for the LAVA Project is principally provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. (CJI: Home (in.gov))
Last updated on October 14, 2022
Non-criminal, civil legal issues including public benefits such as food stamps, SSI/SSDI terminations, unemployment, land sale contracts, etc.
The application should take about 20 minutes to complete. You will need to answer questions about your income, assets, and household size. Submitting an application does NOT mean that we will accept your case. You should hear from us within about 14 days with a decision on whether we will be able to take your case.
Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) is a nonprofit law firm and the largest provider of free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people in Indiana. ILS helps clients who are faced with legal problems that harm their ability to obtain basic needs such as food, shelter, income, medical care or personal safety. ILS also handles cases in other areas including family law where there is domestic violence, housing, consumer law, access to health care, and access to government benefits. ILS does not handle any criminal matters.