Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section Grant Program
The Real Estate Probate and Trust Law Section's Grant Program is administered by its Public Service Committee. Grants are awarded to fund projects that improve the civil justice process or provide access to the civil justice system and or fundamental legal services for Texans who are typically underserved by the legal system. Priority consideration is given to requests in the following areas: real estate law, landlord/tenant law, estate planning, elder law, disability law, foreclosures, guardianships and legal issues surrounding veterans. Grants awarded in recent years are listed below.
If you are aware of worthy organizations or projects that meet this criteria and are in need of funding, please take a moment to forward this information and encourage them to apply.
Each year, the Public Service Committee reviews and revises its Grant Criteria. Both the Grant Criteria and the Grant Application for the 2017-2018 Bar Year will be posted on the REPTL website. Applicants should carefully review the Grant Criteria and send their completed Grant Application and attachments to sections@texasbar.com, via email, at the State Bar Sections Department on or before January 10, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. Applications received after this date will not be considered. If you have questions that are not covered in the criteria and application, contact Tracy Nuckols, Manager, Sections Department, State Bar of Texas, via email or phone at 512.427.1710.
The Grant Criteria and the Grant Application for the 2017-2018 Bar year are posted below.
Summary of Grants Awarded by the Public Service Committee During the 2016-2017 Bar Year
Andrews Legal Aid Services “ALAS” program offers pro-bono or reduced-fee legal services for those who are unable to afford traditional legal services.
- Awarded $1,000 to fund the program’s first annual “Do I Need a Will” seminar and clinic.
Cathedral Health and Outreach Ministries DBA The Beacon is a non-profit organization that provides services for poor and homeless citizens of the Houston, Texas, and surrounding areas.
- Awarded $5,000 to provide representation for landlord/tenant education to prevent homelessness, probate actions to prevent foreclosures, fraudulent takings of real property, and estate planning and elder care.
Family Eldercare provides assistance to families in need of senior care for personal care, money management, counseling, and guardianship matters.
- Awarded $7,500 to provide guardianship services to incapacitated individuals referred by surrounding county courts.
Legal Aid Society of Lubbock delivers legal assistance to elders through their Elder Law Outreach Program.
- Awarded $12,500 to initiate a program to increase awareness among elderly about necessity for legal documents, such as simple Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, Medical Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills.
South Texas College of Law allows a diverse body of students the opportunity for legal education, preparing graduates to serve their communities and the law community with distinction.
- Awarded $7,366 to aid in pro-bono project for currently-enrolled law students to increase awareness of the Transfer on Death Deed through outreach activities conducted in the local community.
Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources (Texas C-BAR) is the leading statewide community development business law pro bono project linking transactional attorneys with nonprofits working to improve the quality of life for low-income Texas families.
- Awarded $10,000 to fund community legal education materials and services, providing information vital to the preservation and transfer of assets in low and moderate-income communities.
Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid’s mission is to promote the dignity, self-sufficiency, safety and stability of low-income residents in 68 counties in South, Central, and West Texas by providing high-quality, free civil legal representation, advice, and related legal education.
- Awarded $5,000 to fund TRLA Attorney K-Sue Park so that she may educate low-income El Paso residents about real estate fraud and their rights.
For previous Grants, see the following: