Free legal help available to homeowners facing foreclosure

by Tristan Henry (thenry@wsbt.com)

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(WSBT file photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Sep 20, 2008 at 1:50 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 20, 2008 at 10:50 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — There is free legal help available to low-income and elderly homeowners in Indiana who have defaulted on their mortgage and are facing a lawsuit.

Indiana Legal Services held a Housing Fair Saturday at Indiana University South Bend. The organization received a grant to help them fight for homeowners in six local counties.

"The ones we tend to take are the ones that are three months or more behind in their mortgage payment — where the lawsuit has been filed or a judgment has been entered — that's when we enter the process," said Joe Zielinski with Indiana Legal Services.

Zielinski says there are three common defenses used to fight a foreclosure lawsuit:

1. A company sues you for payment but they don't actually own your mortgage.

2. The mortgage company stops accepting your payments after you miss one time.

3. Improper fee charges.

Zielinski says St. Joseph County is third in the state for the number of foreclosures.

Indiana Legal Services covers homeowners in St. Joseph, Elkhart, Lagrange, LaPorte, Marshall and Starke counties.

For more information on obtaining free legal help, go to their website: www.indianajustice.org

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