Legal Help After a Disaster

The aftermath of a disaster brings numerous challenges, from securing basic needs to navigating complex legal issues. If you have been impacted by a disaster in California, resources are available to assist with securing federal aid, filing insurance claims, replacing lost legal documents, resolving landlord-tenant disputes, consumer protection matters, and more.

Below are key resources to legal assistance and support during disaster recovery.

Download a “Legal Assistance After a Disaster” pamphlet in your preferred language:

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Disaster Assistance Improvement Program: Apply for support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover housing, repairs, and other essential needs.

United Policyholders: Provides support for consumers to understand and navigate insurance claims and related issues.

Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC): Provides comprehensive information and legal resources for survivors of disasters in California, including help with insurance, housing, and consumer protection.

DLAC also has a statewide helpline to connect anyone impacted by a disaster in California with legal assistance free of charge. To reach the helpline, call 888-382-3406 and leave a message at any time.

Finding an attorney

Applying for federal aid

FEMA helps in a variety of ways, including helping to pay for home repair, funeral costs, and cleanup. Monitor FEMA announcements to determine if disaster assistance is available in your area. If FEMA assistance is available, be aware of the deadline to file for individual assistance with FEMA. Each impacted county may have a different deadline.

Undocumented immigrants may be eligible for individual assistance from FEMA if a family member has an officially recognized immigration status in the United States.

Replacing lost documents

Recovering after a disaster may start with establishing who you are or where you lived. If you’ve lost important personal documents, such as your driver’s license or ID card, birth certificate, marriage license, or other records, there are resources on how to replace them. DLAC and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) offer guidance on how to get copies or request replacements. To find a list of documents and how to replace them, visit DLAC and CalOES.

Getting help from state agencies and nonprofits

Other state agencies and nonprofit community groups can help with emergency food assistance, unemployment, shelter, crisis counseling, or other health concerns after a disaster strikes.

Avoiding legal fraud after a disaster

Exercise caution if you are approached by people promising to offer legal services after a disaster. This is particularly important when you suffer major losses. Attorneys and their representatives must follow stringent rules about offering their services. Others, including notarios, may be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or other forms of fraud. More information about how to avoid and report legal fraud.

Lawyers and their representatives are prohibited from:

  • Soliciting clients in person or by telephone calls or other real-time electronic contact;
  • Soliciting clients who have made known to the lawyer a desire not to be solicited or if the transmission of the solicitation involves intrusion, coercion, duress, or harassment;
  • Mailing written communications offering legal representation unless the communication is clearly labeled as an advertisement on the outside of the envelope; and
  • Sending recorded or electronic communications offering legal representation unless the communication is clearly labeled as an advertisement at the beginning and end of any such communications.

Reporting legal fraud and other attorney misconduct

You can also call the State Bar’s multilingual Contact Center at 800-843-9053 for help filing a complaint.