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Criminal Expungement, Eviction Sealing, and Low-Income Taxpayer Assistance Legal Clinic

Indianapolis area residents who qualify are invited to participate in this clinic to receive legal assistance in having crimes expunged and evictions sealed. Taxpayers can also receive assistance in answering legal questions related to problems with their federal taxes and the IRS.

Services Offered

Indianapolis area residents who qualify are invited to participate in this legal clinic to receive legal assistance in having crimes expunged and evictions sealed. Hoosier taxpayers can receive assistance in answering legal questions related to problems with their federal taxes and the IRS. Hoosier taxpayers can also receive assistance related to tax court, seeking relief from tax debt, correcting tax errors, and in helping explain letters from the IRS or Indiana Department of Revenue. These taxpayers can also receive assistance in helping resolve tax preparer fraud and tax identity theft issues. Staff from Indiana Legal Services, Inc. and the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic will be providing assistance on all of these topics. Criminal expungement and eviction sealing assistance is free of charge to those who qualify. Tax consultations are offered free of charge to anyone regardless of their income. Taxpayers who want full legal representation usually must meet income requirements.

• Registration & Location - Criminal Expungement & Eviction Sealing
  Registration is required through Eventbrite for criminal expungement and eviction sealing appointments. Assistance for these two topics will take place in the Knall and Riley Rooms at Central Library. Participants who register will meet with a member of the legal team to determine if they are currently eligible to receive criminal expungement and eviction sealing services, or when they might become eligible.
  
  After eligibility has been verified, the legal staff can provide some assistance pertaining to the criminal expungement and eviction sealing processes. Legal staff may also contact individuals after the event so that they can receive further assistance in completing paperwork that is needed for court filing.
  
  
• Registration & Location- Low-Income Taxpayer Legal Clinic
  Registration is not required for low-income taxpayer consultations. Tax practitioners will be available to meet with people on a first-come, first-served basis at two tables near Central Library’s Riley Room. Representatives are able to assist with a variety of problems related to federal taxes and the IRS. Low-income tax clinics are not a tax preparation service. 

Do You Qualify?

• Indiana Legal Services, Inc.- Criminal Expungement & Eviction Sealing 
  Indiana Legal Services (ILS) offers free legal assistance to someone whose income is within 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. In certain circumstances, an applicant may be financially eligible for legal assistance if the applicant is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The ILS website has more information about eligibility requirements.
  
  
• Indiana Legal Services, Inc.- Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
  The ILS low-income taxpayer clinic can provide free consultations and advice to all taxpayers regardless of income. Taxpayers who need help beyond free consultations and advice such as needing the ILS to represent them before the IRS or the U.S. Tax Court must have an income that falls below 250% of the federal poverty level. The ILS low-income taxpayer clinic is not a tax preparation service.
  
  
• Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (NCLC)- Criminal Expungement & Eviction Sealing 
  The NCLC offers free legal assistance for criminal expungement to those whose income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. The criminal expungement team may be able to assist people whose income is a little over 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines as well. The NCLC also offers free legal assistance for eviction sealing to those whose income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.z
  
  
• Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic- Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
  The NCLC low-income taxpayer clinic can provide free consultations and advice to all taxpayers regardless of income. Taxpayers who may need the NCLC to present them before the IRS or U.S. Tax Court must have income that falls 250% of the federal poverty level. The NCLC low-income taxpayer clinic is not a tax preparation service.

State of Indiana Eligibility Requirements- Criminal Expungement & Eviction Sealing

Participants cannot file for criminal expungement until a set number of years have passed since the conviction or sentence. The ILS website has more detailed information on how to determine if you are eligible for expungement.

The website Indiana Legal Help has more information to determine your eligibility for eviction sealing.

Social Workers

The library’s two social workers will also be available to help people at a table near Central Library’s Riley Room throughout the entirety of the event. The social workers can provide information and consultations on topics like housing, education, health, food assistance, and many other subject matters. The social work team can discuss services that are available, assist in finding applications for services, assist in finding organizations with relevant resources, and can create action steps to accomplish your goals. Please see the library’s Social Work Services page to learn more about the assistance they can provide. Registration is not required to receive assistance from the library’s social workers during this event.

Transportation

If you are in need of transportation to the free legal clinic, access to free bus transportation may be available. Please call 317-275-4476 and leave a voice message. A library staff member will return your call as soon as possible. Transportation is not guaranteed as there are a limited amount of bus passes available.

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