Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
SeniorLAW Helpline - 877 PA SR LAW (1-877-727-7529) The statewide toll-free SeniorLAW Helpline - 877 PA SR LAW (877-727-7529) - provides free legal advice, information and referrals by telephone for all Pennsylvania seniors 60 and over.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Petition to Waive Court Costs
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a Petition to Waive Court Fees which can be used to ask the Pennsylvania Court for permission to file legal papers for free. This form can be used in most types of court cases in Pennsylvania. Approval to waive fees is not automatic. You will need to ask the Court to approve your Petition. Instructions will be included. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form; you will need to answer questions while connected to the Internet.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word to print your documents.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Information for Senior Citizens
(Separate Website)
Housing information for Senior Citizens from HUD.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
"Homeownership for All" Video Webcasts
(Separate Website)
This series of webcasts gives you some brief, basic, easy-to-understand guidance about the homebuying process. Watch all five or select ones that best fit your current needs.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Buying a Home
(Separate Website)
Information and tips on buying a home.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Banking
Shopping for a Mortgage
(Separate Website)
Information on shopping for a mortgage to finance or re-finance your home.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Banking
Escrow Accounts: Frequently Asked Questions
(Separate Website)
Frequently asked questions (and Answers) about Escrow Accounts.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Banking
Predatory Lending
(Separate Website)
Information from HUD on predatory lending and what you can do to protect yourself.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Don't Be A Victim Of Loan Fraud - Protect Yourself from Predatory Lenders
(Separate Website)
Informational brochure on loan fraud and the danger of predatory lendors.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
High Cost Predatory Home Loans: How to Avoid the Traps
(Separate Website)
Information on how to protect yourself by knowing the warning signs of predatory loan practices.
By: Federal Citizen Information Center
Deceptive Home Improvement Contractors Complaints
(Separate Website)
Information for home owners with HUD insured loans on avoiding deceptive home improvement contractors.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP)
(Separate Website)
Information on the Homeowners? Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP). This is a unique loan program designed to protect citizens who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.
By: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Frequently Asked Questions about the Homeowner's Emergency Mortgage Assistance Loan Program
(Separate Website)
Questions and answers about the Homeowner's Emergency Mortgage Assistance Loan Program from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
By: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program Counseling Agencies
(Separate Website)
Listing of Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) Counseling Agencies. Counseling agencies prepare applications and forward information to PHFA for processing.
By: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
REfinance to an Affordable Loan (REAL) Program
(Separate Website)
Is your adjustable rate or interest-only mortgage about to explode? Are you at risk of losing your home unless you can refinance to more affordable terms? If so, the REAL program may be your answer!
By: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
How to Avoid Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
This booklet explains how property owners can avoid losing their homes because of delinquent payments.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Avoiding Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
Tips and information on how you can avoid having your home foreclosed.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Banking
HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages. A list of agencies in Pennsylvania is provided here.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
Tips from HUD on how to avoid foreclosure of your home.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ten Tips to Avoid Foreclosure (Video)
Ten tips from HUD and FHA about how to avoid foreclosure.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
How to Manage Your Mortgage If Your Lender Closes or Files for Bankruptcy
(Separate Website)
Fact sheet for consumers describing what to do if their mortgage company or mortgage servicing company closes or files for bankruptcy.
By: Federal Trade Commission
About Reverse Mortgages for Seniors - Section 255 - Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM)
(Separate Website)
This insured reverse mortgage can be used by senior homeowners age 62 and older to convert the equity in their home into monthly streams of income and/or a line of credit to be repaid when they no longer occupy the home. The loan, commonly known as HECM, is funded by a lending institution such as a mortgage lender, bank, credit union or savings and loan association.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Reverse Mortgages for Seniors
(Separate Website)
Information about Reverse Mortgages, what they are, how they can give older Americans greater financial security, and also information on being aware of scam artists.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Understanding Reverse Mortgages
(Separate Website)
Information on what a "reverse mortgage" is and whether it is a good alternative for you.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Banking
Reverse Mortgages: Are They for You?
(Separate Website)
This Consumer Advisory, issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, is designed to help you better understand reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgages are complex loans and are secured by your home. It is important to understand the terms, risks, and costs before you sign a reverse mortgage contract. Make sure to consider alternatives to reverse mortgages.
By: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Homeowners Insurance
(Separate Website)
List of publications and resources to help answer your questions and help you understand your options regarding Homeowners Insurance.
By: Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Disaster Housing Assistance Program (Video)
Information on the the Transitional Housing Closeout Program, the sucessor to the Disaster Housing Assistance Program. Video with captions.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Information on Federal Making Home Affordable Programs
Making Home Affordable.gov
(Separate Website)
This website provides homeowners with detailed information about the Home Affordable Refinance Program and the Home Affordable Modification Program, along with self-assessment tools and calculators to empower borrowers with the resources they need to determine whether they might be eligible for a modification or a refinance under the Obama Administration's program. Through this website, borrowers can also connect with free counseling resources and access other useful tools and information.
By: U.S. Government
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Making Home Affordable (Video)
(Separate Website)
Video about the Making Home Affordable program of the U.S. Government. For more information on the Making Home Affordable program, and to see if you quality, visit http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov or contact the Homeowners HOPE Hotline at (888) 995-HOPE.
By: U.S. Department of Treasury
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Home Affordable Modification Program
(Separate Website)
If you can no longer afford to make your monthly loan payments, you may qualify for a loan modification under this program to make your monthly mortgage payment more affordable. Millions of borrowers who are current, but having difficulty making their payments and borrowers who have already missed one or more payments may be eligible.
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
Home Affordable Refinance Program
(Separate Website)
If you are a homeowner who is current on your mortgage payments but unable to refinance to a lower interest rate because your home value has decreased, you may be able to refinance under this program.
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
Asked and Answered : Questions from Homeowners Like You
(Separate Website)
Read responses to questions from homeowners like you.
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
Borrower Frequently Asked Questions
(Separate Website)
FAQ on the Making Home Affordable Program which offers two different potential solutions for borrowers: (1) refinancing mortgage loans, through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), and (2) modifying mortgage loans, through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
Contact Your Mortgage Servicer
(Separate Website)
Once you have determined if you are eligible for a Home Affordable Refinance or Modification, the next step is to contact your mortgage servicer to discuss your situation. Here is a list of servicers who have agreed to participate in the Home Affordable Modification program.
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
Modification Evaluator
(Separate Website)
This tool will calculate a mortgage payment guideline amount based upon your current financial situation.
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
Payment Reduction Estimator
(Separate Website)
This Payment Reduction Estimator will determine what your current mortgage debt-to-income is and how much your monthly payment may be reduced if you qualify.
By: Making Home Affordable.gov
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PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
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