What's the Law Say?

Behavioral Health Advocate Rooney Reed joins Clint Adams to discuss Mental Health Treatment facilities in West Virginia, also known as Inpatient Psychiatric Care Facilities. Hear about the court hearing process that may result in a recommendation of being admitted to a Mental Health Facility. Learn about the methods of providing medication and therapy to prepare residents for reentering the commun...

Clint Adams is joined by Long-Term Care Ombudsman Ed Hopple to discuss how long-term care Ombudsmen (non-attorney patient advocates) work to ensure the rights of residents in nursing home, assisted living, and other long-term care facilities are fully maintained. Learn about what may take place during an ombudsman’s visit, who they may speak with, and different ways they can advocate for the right...

Clint Adams and James Lindsay, Chair of the Financial Exploitation Task Force at Legal Aid of WV, share information on financial exploitation. Financial exploitation refers to the intentional misappropriation of finances or wealth belonging to elderly, disabled, or incapacitated individuals. What does it mean to have a fiduciary relationship with someone, in terms of finances? What are the respons...

Legal Aid of WV’s Supervising Attorney for the Behavioral Health Advocacy Project, Jacki Schwaben, joins Clint Adams discuss different options for transferring control of legal, medical, and financial decisions for individuals over the age of 18 to another adult. This episode covers Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Power of Attorney. What are the steps to file for any of these options? Who is qu...

Attorney Bill Saviers joins Clint Adams to discuss factors of creating a will, a legal document that states what to do with one’s estate at their time of death. Hear about what should be included in a will, such as addressing specific items, establishing trusts, and determining guardianship of children. Learn how to get a will notarized or revoked. How often should you update your will? What does...

Clint Adams and attorney Leah Smith explain the role of a family court Guardian ad litem, an attorney appointed to represent a child’s best interest, in West Virginia. These attorneys are often appointed in cases of alleged child abuse, drug use, or domestic violence. They are tasked with investigating abuse by interviewing all relevant parties and records relevant to the child and offering their...

Clint Adams is joined by attorney Angie White to discuss options for childcare responsibility in the state of West Virginia. Learn about Temporary Care Agreements, Guardianships, and Adoptions. Clint and Angie share how to file for custody, which cases would be suited for family court versus circuit court, and steps to take to terminate a guardianship agreement.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Attorney Aimee Goddard joins Clint Adams to explain the role of Child Protective Services (CPS) and various options for relocating a child in cases of abuse or neglect. Learn about the purpose and responsibilities CPS has in investigating allegations, removing children from harmful environments and finding the best possible new home. Learn about guardians’ rights to an attorney in CPS cases and op...

Clint Adams and advocacy manager at Legal Aid of WV, Matt Jividen, discuss how to successfully rent a property and maintain a good relationship with those you are renting from. Hear about the importance of regularly communicating with your landlord, documenting conditions at move-in, and keeping records of correspondence. Learn about the purpose of a security deposit and how to increase the likeli...

Legal Aid of WV’s Supervising Attorney for the Legal Help for Renters Program, Katie Marcum, joins Clint Adams to guide listeners through Housing Law in West Virginia. They cover what subsidized housing is and who is qualified for it. What are the reasons tenants may be evicted from public housing and how can you use a “fair hearing” to challenge eviction? What is a Section 8 Housing Voucher and a...

Clint Adams is joined by Project Supervisor Richard Morris to speak about Legal Aid of WV’s Lawyer in the School Program. This program is designed to increase accessibility to free legal services by placing attorneys in a school environment where they can meet with both guardians and older students about civil legal issues. Attorneys can help clients with a broad range of matters including guardia...

Clint Adams is joined by attorney Melissa Kahle to discuss what steps you can take if your child has been denied Special Education services. How and when should you file a state complaint or Due Process Complaint? How can you have an independent evaluator or impartial hearing officer assess the situation? What are the benefits of holding a Resolution Meeting between the guardians of the child and...

Patricia DiFranco, attorney for the Family Advocacy Support & Training Program (FAST) at Legal Aid of WV, joins Clint Adams to speak about options for students seeking Special Education Programs in West Virginia schools. Learn about both 504 plans, derived from section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs. Who is responsible for determining if your...

Clint Adams and guest attorney Deana Cummings give an overview of Special Education in West Virginia schools. Eligible students have the right to specialized instruction at no cost to the guardians to accommodate their specific needs. Learn about the behavioral signs that your student may benefit from special education, such as a drastic change in grades, disinterest in attending school, and disci...

Clint Adams and guest attorney Dominque Razzook discuss what domestic violence is and how to obtain a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO) if you are a victim of domestic violence. Which relationships qualify as “domestic?” What are the steps needed to apply for a DVPO? When can you seek this service? What are some options if you are experiencing social or behavioral domestic violence?&n...

In this episode, Clint Adams is joined by attorney Molly Russell to discuss child support and modifying a child custody agreement. What are the steps to apply for child support through the BCSE (Bureau of Child Support Enforcement)? How do different factors, such as a guardian having a disability or being incarcerated, affect awarded child support? What should you do if you have a substantial fina...

Clint Adams is joined by Courtney Klus, leader of the Family Law Task Force at Legal Aid of WV, to discuss factors of sharing child custody between separated guardians. When the courts automatically favor 50/50 custody between guardians, what arguments and evidence can be used to alter this custody division? Can older children share their preferences with the court? What are the benefits of gettin...

Lorraine Eckard joins host Clint Adams to discuss the basics of the divorce process and the dividing of property between parties in accordance with West Virginia law. What are the legal reasons, or grounds, to file for divorce and what evidence is needed to meet certain grounds? What is an appraisal and how is it important for equally dividing property? What distinguishes marital property from ind...