Legal Resources
The United Way of Pekin is dedicated to providing access to legal resources for those in our community who need them. This page is a gateway to legal assistance services, designed to support individuals facing legal challenges without the means to navigate them alone. Our commitment is to bridge the gap between our community members and the legal guidance they require.
In partnership with local legal aid organizations and volunteer attorneys, we offer a range of services including legal counseling, representation in civil matters, and educational workshops on legal rights and responsibilities. These resources are crucial for those dealing with issues such as family law, housing disputes, and employment law, ensuring fair and equitable access to justice.
Legal challenges can be daunting, but with the right support, they become manageable. We encourage you to explore these legal resources, whether you are seeking assistance for yourself or looking to understand how you can help others in legal need. Access to legal support is a key component in building a just and equitable community.
The Need for Legal Assistance…
There are a variety of reasons and issues in which someone might need legal aid or representation. Our local partner agencies cover a wide variety of services that help individuals and families in so many vital ways from domestic violence orders of protection, elder abuse support, adult protective services, guardianship, fair housing, and more.
Domestic Violence and Orders of Protection - Women
Domestic Violence and Orders of Protection - Men
Elder Abuse and Adult Protective Services
Maya Angelou -
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Local Legal Resources
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Center for Prevention of Abuse's: An Order of Protection is a legal document, granted by a judge, to help protect a victim of violence, abuse, and harassment. Orders are drafted to meet and to protect the desires of the individual victim and are enforced by law enforcement and the courts. CFPA staff are located at Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford County courthouses to help victims with the process of seeking an Order of Protection.
Prairie State Legal Services staff are also available to assist in the obtaining of orders of protection. Call 815-965-2134 for assistance or visit them here.
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Center for Prevention of Abuse's, Adult Protective Services (APS) assists seniors 60 years and older and individuals with disabilities ages 18-59 who are victims of abuse, neglect and/or financial exploitation. Eligible clients live in Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Stark, Woodford, and Fulton Counties and reside in their own home/apartment or the home of a caregiver. APS caseworkers, trained by the Illinois Department on Aging, investigate all reports, and provide follow up support services. If you are a senior or an adult with a disability who is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited at home, please call 309-637-3905.
Prairie State Legal Services staff assist with elder abuse (including financial exploitation), and court orders to stop abuse, harassment or stalking. Call 815-965-2134 for assistance or visit them here.
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Center for Prevention of Abuse's, Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for people who live in licensed facilities. Eligible clients live in Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Stark, Woodford, and Fulton Counties. If you are a senior or an adult with a disability being abused, neglected, or financially exploited in a long-term care facility such as a nursing home, assisted or supportive living, a developmentally disabled home, etc., please call 309-272-2917. For more information about this program, please click here.
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Prairie State Legal Services staff are potentially able to assist with these issues. Call 815-965-2134 for assistance or visit them here.
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Prairie State Legal Services is able to assist individuals by negotiating on you behalf with landlords or other housing providers, investigate what you feel might be housing discrimination through the use of fair housing testing, help you in filing formal complaints through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the IL. Department of Human Rights, or in court and represent you if or when you file a complaint. Call 815-965-2134 for assistance or visit them here.
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Prairie State Legal Services can assist individuals with general housing related issues such as,
Subsidized housing (public housing, Section 8 and other rental assistance) evictions, termination of assistance, rent calculations, and admissions issues
Discrimination and disability accommodation
Eviction from mobile home parks
Evictions by private landlords
Housing protection for seniors, veterans, people living with HIV/AIDS
Foreclosure, property tax and other homeownership issues
We receive special funding to conduct Fair Housing enforcement, testing, and education in several communities across our service area.
Call 815-965-2134 for assistance or visit them here.
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Prairie State Legal Services provides many services overall. Here is a list of other services in which they may be able to assist you with.
Seeking expungements and sealing criminal records, restoring driver’s licenses, and removing other barriers to employment, education and housing
SNAP (Food Stamp) and TANF (cash) denials, calculations, overpayments and sanctions
Medical assistance denials, terminations, spend down issues (Medicaid, Medicare)
SSI and Social Security denials, cessations, terminations, overpayments and garnishments
SSI/SSD applications for people living with HIV-AIDS
Special education, school discipline, and school enrollment issues
Community Care Program and Home Services Program issues
Tax disputes with IRS, including innocent spouse relief, identity theft, and collections
Nursing home discharges
Home care services
Guardianships of adults to ensure access to healthcare
Powers of attorney and other advance directives
Call 815-965-2134 for assistance or visit them here.
Partner Agencies With Legal Resources
