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Maximum Legal Services Corporation |
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Maximum Legal Services Corporation (MaxCorp) is a non-profit organization originally created by the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (LASH) in 1987 to provide legal services otherwise unavailable to underprivileged persons. Currently MaxCorp operates through two projects: 1) the Guardianship of the Property project, and 2) the Disabled Rights Legal Project, which includes consultation to and legal representation of parents in special education cases. Originally housed at LASH and funded by a LASH loan and grants from the Hawaii Justice Foundation, the agency is now a self-supporting non-profit corporation funded by fees for service.
Guardianship of the Property MaxCorp serves as guardian of the property and trustee for various individuals through the Guardianship of the Property (GOP) project begun in 1993. Originally, the GOP Project served disabled children and adults by providing supervision over assets and property for protected persons in cases regarded as too small for supervision by trust companies, but too large for court supervision. The project also serves as trustee for others not able to utilize other trust companies.
Typically, MaxCorp is court appointed as guardian of the property or co-signor for minors and incapacitated persons who are not able to handle their own funds. Such funds include court judgments and awards, social security benefits, and annuity or structured settlement payments. MaxCorp provides periodic accounting and reporting to the courts, public agencies such as the Office of the Public Guardian, and co-guardians and settlers.
MaxCorp serves as trustee and administers special needs trusts (also known as supplemental needs or Medicare trusts) for disabled persons, including investment and supervision of funds, and payment of living expenses for the protected person. These trusts allow disabled persons to retain their eligibility for government benefits while providing for special needs over and above their entitlements.
MaxCorp works closely with state and federal agencies, private providers and other professionals (such as attorneys and accountants) to provide for the protected person's life expenses and continued income. MaxCorp currently services accounts with assets ranging from $12,000 to over $1,000,000. Fees for services are reasonable and minimal to accommodate those of limited means.
Disabled Rights Legal Project The Disabled Rights Legal Project (DRLP) was designed to assist persons with disabilities in securing rights, entitlements and access to resources. MaxCorp and DRLP have been involved in several significant education cases in Hawai`i. Cases include the Felix v. Lingle lawsuit filed in federal court to secure mental health services and support for children with special needs. DRLP continues to provide free civil legal services to parents of children with special needs throughout Hawai`i. This includes technical advice and legal representation to parents regarding their children's special education needs in public schools in Hawai`i. We resolve cases by settlement, mediation, administrative due process hearing and federal lawsuits.
Maximum Legal Services is a member of the National Guardianship Association.
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Revised:
02/13/08.Copyright ©
2003 The Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii. All rights reserved. |
