Explaining the Law and Providing Self-Help Information for Low-Income Iowans
There are 20 resources
Buying a House
Buying a home on a contract can be a way for persons who are low-income or who have poor credit to become homeowners. However, there are certain risks to know about to avoid surprises after the contract is signed.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Car Title Loans
Before new legislation was adopted by the Iowa Legislature in 2007, car title loans were a very expensive way to borrow money. The new legislation limits the amount of interest that can be charged. This can still be an expensive loan.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Credit Counselors: What to Expect, What to Avoid
Are you in debt and feel like you can't make any headway? One frequent piece of advice is to consolidate the debt and have a single monthly payment. This resource looks at factors you should consider.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Deferment, Forbearance and Consolidation of Student Loan Debts
Higher education is expensive. After leaving school, many former students find it hard to meet their monthly student loan payments and it is easy to fall behind. A lot of former students do not know that there are alternatives out there that will help to either reduce or stop student loan payments before they fall behind.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
HO! HO! HO! Holiday Loans
Tax preparation and check cashing operations will soon be dusting off their pay stub and holiday refund loan offers. Holiday or pay stub loans may seem tempting, but are they a good idea?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
How to Use Small Claims Court
(Separate Website)
This Manual has been prepared to assist persons who want to sue or defend themselves in Small Claims Court in Iowa without hiring a lawyer. It outlines the basic steps involved in bringing and defending a small claims action and answers some basic questions for the person who chooses to "go it alone."
By: Iowa State Bar Association
Keep More Money in YOUR Pocket When You Have Your Taxes Done
Some commercial tax preparers offer Refund Anticipation Loans, these are high cost loans. These loans promise to get your money from your refund to you faster. What you may not realize is that you are paying a lot to get your check only a few days faster.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Payday Loans - a Convenience You Can't Afford!
The use of "payday loans" (also sometimes known as "cash advance loans", "check advance loans"
or "delayed deposit checks") has become a ritual for many working Iowans, including the elderly.
Unfortunately, the Iowans using these types of services do not realize what the service is costing them.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Payday Loans: An Expensive Way to Borrow Money
Payday loan businesses extend credit by giving cash in exchange for a check which is dated for some time in the future, also called a post-dated check. If you figure the interest rate on these loans the same way banks calculate interest rates on their loans, the Annual Percentage Rates you pay for these loans can range from 145% - 6442%!!!!!
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Predatory Lending - Don't Be a Victim
Predatory lenders take advantage of unsuspecting consumers by marketing and making mortgage loans with vastly inflated interest rates and fees and other burdensome terms. Predatory lending is a serious problem throughout the country, one that can leave you penniless and homeless.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Questions and Answers About Predatory Lending
Predatory loans contain extraordinarily high interest rates and fees. Here is some information for consumers on this type of lending.
Refinancing
A lot of people try to deal with debt by refinancing their loans. Refinancing means paying an old debt with a new debt. Sometimes that makes sense because your total cost of borrowing money may be less. Refinancing may look good now when interest rates are lower than they have been in years. However, smaller monthly payments do not always mean that refinancing will be a good deal for you as a consumer. This article takes a general look at this topic and gives some tips to protect yourself.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Shopping for Credit
There are a few key items of information a consumer should look for before signing a credit agreement. She may be in for a surprise at how much money it costs to “buy now, pay later.”
Student Loan Borrower Assistance
(Separate Website)
National Consumer Law Center?s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers. This site is for people who already have student loans and want to know more about their options and rights.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Student Loan Disability Discharge
College education is expensive. The average college graduate has $19,000 in student loan debt. This can be hard to repay. It is especially hard to repay for students who become disabled and can’t work. Fortunately, you might have options if you are in this situation.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Basic Rules of Credit Cards
Using a credit card to cover a major purchase or essential family living expense is generally a bad idea. Credit cards should only be used as a source of funding for emergencies such as car repairs, or for short-term loans for large purchases only.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
The "SCRA" is a federal statute passed by Congress to allow military members to suspend or postpone some civil obligations so the military member can devote his or her full attention to military duties.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Think Twice Before You Take Advantage of an "Instant or Quick Refund"
Instant refunds, quick refunds, or similar terms might be used to describe a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL). These are high-cost loans offered by paid tax preparers through banks and other lenders.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Utility Customers Are Entitled to Reasonable Payment Agreements to Pay High Utility Bills
People who have not been able to pay their high utility bills from last winter are not automatically in danger of having their utilities disconnected. Rules of the Iowa Utilities Board require utilities to offer customers an opportunity to enter into a reasonable payment agreement to avoid having utilities disconnected if the customer is not behind on a previous payment agreement.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Watch Your Wallet!
Getting into a debt-rut is a lot easier than getting out of it. Here are some tips about special pitfalls common to high-priced debt .
By: Iowa Legal Aid
READ THIS BEFORE USING ANY PART OF THE IOWA LEGAL AID WEBSITE (ILAW) If you cannot afford a lawyer and have a legal problem in Iowa, you may be able to get free legal help. Call Iowa Legal Aid. To find out which office serves your county, call 1-800-532-1275 or 515-243-2151 in the Des Moines calling area. If you are age 60 or over, you may be able to get free legal advice from The Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161 or 282-8161 in Des Moines. All numbers are Voice and TTY.
This Website Does NOT Give Legal Advice. When you use ILAW, you are just making a request for information. No part of this site or any link found through this site is meant to give you legal advice. Using any part of this site does not make you a client. If you send an e-mail to anyone you reach through this site, it does not make you a client of any lawyer. See a lawyer to get complete, correct, and up-to-date legal advice.
ILAW Only Has a General Summary of the Law. It is not meant to fully explain topics. Do not assume what you read on ILAW applies to your specific case. Also, the law may vary from state to state. What you find on this website may not apply where you live or to court actions filed in other states.
The Law Often Changes. Content on this site was correct when it was written. Check the date on each page. Do not assume what you see here is still correct when you read it.
Links. This website has links to other Internet sites. We have these links so you can find help on legal matters from the justice community. Other sites are responsible for all content on their sites.
E-mail. Using ILAW or sending e-mail through this website does NOT make you a client of any person or program you reach through this site. When you use e-mail, you risk having someone else access part or all of your message.
As You Look at this Website, Remember it is Not a Substitute for Legal Advice.
The Iowa Legal Aid Website is a project of Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyer Projects of the Iowa State Bar and Polk County Bar Associations, and HELP Legal Assistance
