Definiciones sobre asistencia legal para personas de bajos recursos en Washington

Explicación Simple

Esta ley define quiénes son las personas que pueden recibir ayuda legal gratuita o a bajo costo. Si no tienes dinero suficiente para pagar un abogado, puedes calificar como indigente.

Es como si estuvieras en un juego de fútbol, pero no tuvieras los zapatos adecuados para jugar. La ley te ayuda a conseguir los zapatos que necesitas para participar en el juego, que en este caso es el sistema judicial.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, un padre soltero, pierde su trabajo y tiene que cuidar de sus dos hijos. Su ingreso es muy bajo y no puede pagar un abogado para un caso de custodia. Gracias a esta ley, Juan puede solicitar asistencia legal gratuita porque cumple con los requisitos de ingreso.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 10.101.010 - Definitions The following definitions shall be applied in connection with this chapter:(1) "Indigent" means a person who, at any stage of a court proceeding, is:(a) Receiving one of the following types of public assistance: Temporary assistance for needy families, general assistance, poverty-related veterans' benefits, food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically, refugee resettlement benefits, medicaid, or supplemental security income; or(b) Involuntarily committed to a public mental health facility; or(c) Receiving an annual income, after taxes, of one hundred twenty-five percent or less of the current federally established poverty level; or(d) Unable to pay the anticipated cost of counsel for the matter before the court because his or her available funds are insufficient to pay any amount for the retention of counsel.(2) "Indigent and able to contribute" means a person who, at any stage of a court proceeding, is unable to pay the anticipated cost of counsel for the matter before the court because his or her available funds are less than the anticipated cost of counsel but sufficient for the person to pay a portion of that cost.(3) "Anticipated cost of counsel" means the cost of retaining private counsel for representation on the matter before the court.(4) "Available funds" means liquid assets and disposable net monthly income calculated after provision is made for bail obligations. For the purpose of determining available funds, the following definitions shall apply:(a) "Liquid assets" means cash, savings accounts, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, equity in real estate, and equity in motor vehicles. A motor vehicle necessary to maintain employment and having a market value not greater than three thousand doll