Learn about the law and your legal rights in North Carolina. Find self-help resources to resolve your legal problems without a lawyer.
There are 15 resources
Self-Help
After a Disaster: Repairing Your Home
(Separate Website)
If your house has been damaged by a natural disaster - flood, fire, snow/ice, tornado or earthquake - chances are you're on the hunt for a reputable contractor to help with repair and restoration. Inevitably, the demand for qualified contractors after a disaster usually exceeds the supply. Enter the home repair rip-off artist, who may overcharge, perform shoddy work or skip town without finishing your job.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Disaster Preparation and Aftermath
(Separate Website)
This publication from Legal Aid of North Carolina is a guide that explains what steps to take before and after a natural disaster in order to protect your legal interests.
By: Legal Aid of North Carolina
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery
(Separate Website)
The goal of the site is to help people recover from disasters and rebuild their lives by providing affordable, timely and accessible financial assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses.
By: U.S. Small Business Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Home and Personal Property Disaster Loans
(Separate Website)
If you are in a declared disaster area and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration - even if you don't own a business. As a homeowner, renter and/or personal-property owner, you may apply to the SBA for a loan to help you recover from a disaster.
By: U.S. Small Business Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief
(Separate Website)
The IRS has gathered resources for individuals, businesses, tax professionals, as well as charitable organizations for helping them get back on track after a natural disaster.
By: Internal Revenue Service
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
(Separate Website)
This is the official North Carolina disaster page, complete with news releases, helpful resources, and steps to take to apply for disaster aid whether you are a business owner or individual.
By: Dept. of Homeland Security
Small Business Administration Disaster Loans
This is the SBA's comprehensive site for disaster loans. It touches on areas such as fact sheets, how to apply for a disaster loan, what type of loans are available, etc.
By: Small Business Administration
Other Formats:
Separate Website
Hurricanes...Health, Safety, and Human Services
(Separate Website)
This site contains important advice on how to prepare for a hurricane and what to do in a hurricane's aftermath. Specific topics include food preparation, water cleanliness, and safety from asbestos and wild animals.
By: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Applying for Federal Help
(Separate Website)
If you live in a county designated as a federal disaster area, you may be eligible for disaster grants or low-interest loans. This short video explains how to apply.
By: Dept. of Homeland Security
Low-Interest Disaster Loans
(Separate Website)
Following a disaster declared by the president, FEMA partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help disaster survivors. The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.
By: Federal Emergency Management Agency
North Carolina Statutes
(Separate Website)
The North Carolina General Assembly is offering access to the Statutes on the Internet as a service to the public. These statutes are the general laws that govern North Carolina's legal system.
By: North Carolina General Assembly
Disaster Legal Services Manual
(Separate Website)
This manual explains legal proceedings that result in damages from natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes.
By: North Carolina Bar Association (Young Lawyers)
Do You Need Legal Help?
(Separate Website)
This will explain who is eligible for our services, what kind of cases Legal Aid normally handles, some examples of them, and how to locate an office near you.
By: Legal Aid of North Carolina
Rebuilding After Disaster Strikes This flyer talks about hiring contractors and filing an insurance claim after disaster strikes.
By: The North Carolina Bar Association
Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
(Separate Website)
Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the President declares their location to be a major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS may grant additional time to file returns and pay taxes. Both individuals and businesses in a presidentially-declared disaster area can get a faster refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on the tax return for the previous year, usually by filing an amended return.
By: Internal Revenue Service
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Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal advice and representation in some types of cases. Click on the icon to find out what types of cases are handled and to apply online.
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