Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ)

Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ)

Details
Description:

438 Main Street, Suite 1200
Buffalo NY 14202
Phone: (716) 853-3087
Phone: (716) 878-9297 (Kinship Legal Services Intake Line)
Agency Contact: Cheryl Kostrewa
Email: ckostrewa@elderjusticeny.org
Email: info@elderjusticeny.org
Website: https://elderjusticeny.org/

Counties Served: Erie and Niagara

The Center for Elder Law & Justice is a non-profit civil legal services agency, providing free legal representation in eight Western New York counties.

Kinship Care: https://elderjusticeny.org/services/kinship-care-legal-services-program/

The Kinship Care unit provides free legal representation to kinship caregivers of all ages in Erie and Niagara counties.

Services provided include:

  • Assistance with petitions
  • Representation in neglect and abuse, custody, guardianship, adoption, child support, family offense, and administrative matters.
  •  Assistance with applications for public benefits
  •  Eligibility: Must be a resident of Erie or Niagara County. If caregiver is age 54 or younger, income eligibility is at 200% of federal poverty guidelines. If caregiver is age 55 and over, there are no income eligibility guidelines
  •  Legal advice, consultation, and representation are available to caregivers who are actively in care of relative children and child is in danger of being placed in non-relative foster care.
  •  Legal advice, consultation, and representation are available to caregivers who are actively in care of relative children, with no Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement, on a case-by-case basis.

*Relative caregivers not in care of the child, or caregivers who already have legal support will not be eligible for CELJ’s kinship legal services*

Additional Services Include:

What to Expect at Family Court
June 2021 NYS Kinship Navigator Lunch and Learn Webinar
Click Here!

 

Contact Information
438 Main Street, Suite 1200, Buffalo, New York 14202
Cheryl Kostrewa
(716) 853-3087
  • Erie
  • Niagara
  • Legal Services