LEWISTON, Maine — After a mass shooting shook the Lewiston community, a handful of legal organizations are urging families and victims to seek out free legal advice thanks to a recent collaboration.
"'What happens if my loved one didn't have a will?' All sorts of questions like that may come up that folks never have thought they would have to deal with, and shouldn't have had to deal with," Pine Tree Legal Assistance Executive Director Tom Fritzsche said.
Announced in a press release Thursday morning, anyone with questions or issues impacted by the Oct. 25 incident can seek free, civil legal support and advice from Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Maine, Legal Services for the Elderly, and the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project.
"There's all sorts of things that can actually be a civil legal need that can be more complicated than they think at first," Fritzsche added. "We've made a special effort to make sure that for folks impacted by the tragedy in Lewiston, that there really is no wrong door to knock on."
While all of the organizations have already been assisting those affected since October, they hope this call to action can help answer any uncertainties for folks impacted.
"This is a unique situation, and I think anything that we can do to make any piece of this easier and less traumatic for people, we're ready to do that," Riley Albair of Disability Rights Maine said.
Experts said they can offer help with a handful of legal challenges, from managing physical or mental health expenses to complications with estates or social security survivor benefits.
"After this tragedy, this is the right thing, to let people know these are the services available," Fritzsche said.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance and Volunteer Lawyer Project will re-open for intake starting Jan. 2. Calls can be taken by Disability Rights Maine and Legal Services for the Elderly starting next week.