Member Legal Assistance Program

Choctaw Nation Member Legal Assistance Program

The goal of the Choctaw Nation Member Legal Assistance Program is to provide assistance to Members in areas that are important to both Members and the Nation.  The Member Legal Assitance Program was created to assist Members who have limited or no access to legal assistance and have no other option when certain legal rights are at issue.  Please review all eligibility and program requirements before completing and submitting the Application for Member Legal Assistance.       

*Only Choctaw Nation attorneys who work in the Member Legal Assistance Program may give legal advice or assistance to individual Members*

 

Eligibility/Program Requirements: 

  • Must be an enrolled Member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
  • The legal issue must arise and must be able to be resolved within the courts of the Choctaw Nation or the courts of the State of Oklahoma
  • Assistance can only be provided for uncontested cases
  • Must complete and return the Application for Member Legal Assistance and an eligibility determination made before receiving services
  • Completion of the application does not guarantee a Member will receive assistance
  • This program is intended for Members who cannot otherwise afford legal assistance
  • Member Legal Assistance is ONLY authorized to provide assistance in preparing legal documents for filing. Member Legal Assistance WILL NOT attend court dates or provide any other legal services beyond preparing documents for filing  
  • Members are responsible for paying any filing or other fees associated with their cases
  • Member Legal Assistance CANNOT pay for a private attorney to represent a Member

 

The Member Legal Assistance Program provides assistance preparing documents for: 

  • Uncontested Divorce petition/response
  • Uncontested Guardianships
  • Uncontested Child custody 
  • Uncontested Child custody modifications
  • Uncontested Grandparent visitation
  • Name change

Assistance is NOT provided for:

Application for Member Legal Assistance Program

 

Assistance for the following may be available from other sources: 

  • Child Support (Choctaw Nation currently contracts with Chickasaw Nation Child Support Services to provide services to Choctaw Nation Members. CNCSS may be contacted at 580-436-3410 or https://www.chickasaw.net/Services/Family/Child-Support-Services.aspx)
  • Wills/probates (assistance may be available through Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, see contact info below) 
  • Criminal defense (assistance may be available, contact the court in which your case is pending)
  • Child Welfare (child has been removed from parental custody by government agency, assistance may be available, contact the court in which your case is pending)

 

Additional Legal Resources: 

  • OKLAHOMA INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES (OILS) For more than 30 years, Oklahoma Indian Legal Services has provided legal services to low-income Native Americans living in Oklahoma. OILS assists all Native Americans who are members of federally recognized tribes in a wide variety of legal matters.  Specializing in the areas of laws concerning tribal, state and federal laws, OILS staff of attorneys specializes in cases that include Indian Child Welfare Act, issues involving restricted lands, Indian housing and the individual rights of Native Americans. For more information about Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, visit www.oilsonline.org or call (800) 658-1497
  • Oklahoma City University School of Law
    Oklahoma Innocence Clinic
    (405) 208-6161
    800 N. Harvey
    Oklahoma City, OK 73102
    http://law.okcu.edu/