Please help! Needing attorneys in N.Y.

[BAM]

Hi. I hope someone can help me to help my cousin. I will do my best in explaining what I know. My cousin was married to someone in Florida who committed fraud. He did not do his taxes properly and owes a lot of money in tax liens. His wife (my cousin) signed the tax returns trusting that her husband was doing everything on the up and up. A special prosecutor that was flown in for the case even admitted that my cousin was innocent but because her name was on the returns, she is also liable and the IRS has been on her tail constantly. He is in federal prison and she is left trying to survive with no means of paying back what is owed. She is attempting to file bankruptcy but doesn't have the money to do so and is getting some possible poor advice on this subject. She is now in N.Y. living in a tiny room in the basement of a friend who is helping her as best as she can. As you can imagine, there's a lot more to this case and my cousin is basically going through hell right now.

Does anyone know any attorneys who specialize in tax or bankruptcy law in Nassau County or perhaps someone who has worked with the IRS who can give this woman some hope, some direction, some comfort? I'm going to take this one step further. Is it possible that you may know of someone who does Pro Bono work? All the money that she/they had, went to attorneys in the past and now he's in prison (very low security with privileges) while she's left trying to survive with the residuals of what HE has done.

My cousin and I would be most grateful for any help that might be offered. I never like to use the word desperate but in this case I have to. She is in a desperate situation. Thank you so much for your help.

Bam

 

[alsrnbsn]

Bam- I am sorry, I can't help with your questions, but I am very sorry that your cousin is having to go through this! I have a feeling that her husband might be living up the road from me. There's a minimum security federal prison on the Naval base that my DH used to work on up the road from where I live (> 9 miles, though) where most of the inmates have committed fraud or embezzlement.

 

[acatalina]

Did you try getting online and searching for attorneys in that area and send them all a letter or call them. Maybe one can help you out. Maybe Nancy will know something.
It is awful. You can kill someone and get off , but don't pay taxes and they slap you in jail and take everything you got..
Good luck.
Anne
Aka( Storm)

http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina

 

[Beavs]

Why don't you co0ntact your library for assistance? They can put your hands on a directory at least.

 

[onedayatatime]

Try calling law schools in the area that may have student-training legal clinics that can provide some help at a reduced fee.

Here's one link to NYU law school:
http://www.law.nyu.edu/

Maybe Nancy will have some good ideas. I think she is a lawyer.


-Barb

 

[nancy324]

The first thing I would do would be to call the Legal Aid Society of New York: http://www.legal-aid.org/DocumentIndex.htm?docid=20&catid=2
If they can't help, they will refer your cousin to someone who can help.
-Nancy

 

[BAM]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions and support! I have to run out now but will follow up on what you have suggested when I return. It has been a very difficult road with no light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully we will find a resolution soon.

Thank you again!

Bam

 

[howrobin]

The Bar Association of the City of New York has a Legal Referral Service which is a panel of lawyers with various specialties. your friend may need 3 kinds of expertise, tax, bankruptcy, matrimonial. The phone number is 212-382-6600. Don't know whether they have anyone who does pro bono.

 

[nancy324]

I agree that you should also try the ABCNY, as howrobin suggested, by going here:
http://www.nycbar.org/LRS/index.htm
Nancy
ETA:<--upon further consideration, I would start with the ABCNY, and not the Legal Aid Society, because bankruptcy is not likely to be an area of expertise for the LAS.

 

[BAM]

Thank you for the referral to the Bar Association. I am passing along all of this info to my cousin and she is very grateful to all of you. If no one minds, I would like to post the results that we get from all of your suggestions. It's just nice to know that people like all of you understand. Thanks for your help!

Bam

 

[BAM]

I just wanted to post a quick update. My cousin saw a bankruptcy attorney yesterday who was going to charge her a LOT less than one of the other lawyers she had a consultation with. She felt very comfortable with him and got good vibes from him. He gave her a sense of hope which she hasn't had in a very long time. She hasn't yet had an opportunity to look into all the wonderful suggestions that have been posted here but she will be doing so. Again, we both thank all of you!

Bam