How To Find Legal Help In Houston For Identity Theft
In this community resources guide, you will get general information on finding Houston legal help if you are a victim of identity theft.
No one ever thinks they will become the victim of ID theft, but it happens all the time. If someone has stolen your identity you may not know where to turn for help. The good news is there are steps to take and people to help you if someone steals your identity.
The information in this article is not legal advice, so you should consult with a lawyer before taking any steps to resolve identity theft. This guide merely provides a starting point for you to better understand who in Houston helps individuals who are the victims of ID theft.
What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is the unauthorized use of someone’s personal information for criminal purposes. This can include using someone’s name and Social Security number to open a bank account or obtain credit, renting property, or taking out a loan. If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, it’s important to take action as soon as possible.
6 Steps To Fight Identity Theft
The Texas Attorney Generals’ Office offers up six steps that you can take if someone steals your identity:
- Stop Ongoing Damage
- Report ID Theft Crime
- Fill out ID Theft Affidavits
- Prevent Further ID Theft Abuse
- Monitor Your Credit Report
- Declare That You are a Victim
You can learn more about these 6 steps by visiting the Texas AG website.
How To Get A Texas Attorney For Identity Theft
The Texas AG’s office encourages you to get an attorney if you are the victim of identity theft. One place that they suggest you contact for referrals to Texas ID theft attorneys is the State Bar of Texas.
This is a website that can help you find a lawyer that is licensed to practice in Texas. You can search by location, area of law, or name of the attorney. You can contact the State Bar of Texas by dialing 800.252.9690.
Finding Free Legal Advice In Houston For Identity Theft
You can find a number of pro bono attorneys in our guide titled How To Find Legal Advice In Houston. This could be a good starting point if you have a low-income.
| Name | Contact | Areas of Law/Services |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU website | 713.942.8146 | Civil rights, racial equality, LBGTQ, Immigration, Voting rights, free speech violations, |
| Houston Volunteer Lawyerswebsite | 713.228.5826 1111 Bagby, Suite FLB300, Houston, TX 77002 | Legal clinics, Veterans, pro bono attorneys, |
| Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) website | 713.228.0735 ext 102 712 Main St, Suite 2700, Houston, TX 77002 | Pro bono attorneys , family separation, counseling, immigration, asylum, visas, protection from deportation, |
| YMCA International Services | Asylum, refugees, domestic violence, human trafficking, naturalization, citizenship, family reunification, refugee employment, civics classes, immigration, | |
| Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts website | Patent attorneys, copyright, trademarking, licensing, dispute resolution, legal help for artists, | |
| Lone Star Legal Aid website | 800.733.8394 | Domestic violence, expungement, help enrolling children into Medicaid, bankruptcy, renters rights, unlawful termination, child support, family law, guardianship, foreclosure, housing, adoption, parental rights, landlord problems, IRS, veterans, |
| Advocate Legal Senior Center website | 832.393.4074, 3611 Ennis St, Houston, TX 77004 | Guardianship, geriatric, veterans benefits, SSI, Social security, senior housing, probate, estate planning, wills, trusts, |
| Texas Advocacy Project website | 800.374.HOPE | Domestic violence, sexual assault, protective orders, Crime Victim's Compensation Program, divorce, legal clinics, |
| Central American Resource Center website | 713.665.1284, 6006 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77081 | DACA, visa, asylum, naturalization, citizenship, domestic violence, human trafficking, immigration, |
| Catholic Charities Immigrant Legal Clinic Website | 713.874.6750 or 713.595.4100 | Immigration, DACA, citizenship classes, refugee, asylum, visas, unaccompanied minors, family law, US passport services, legal clinics, |
| Texas Veterans Legal Assistance Project Website | 512.477.6600 | Military discharge upgrades, Probate, Bankruptcy, Housing, Employment, Family law Expungement, Department of VA benefits |
| South Texas College of Law Houston Website | 713.646.2990 ext 2933 | Child Welfare, Estate Planning, Family Law, Guardianship, Probate, Veterans |
| University of Houston Law Center website | 713.743.2094, 4604 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204 | Pro bono legal clinic offering help to those with low-income. |
| Texas Southern University Legal Clinic Website | 713.313.7275, 3100 Cleburne Street, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77004 | Criminal Law, Family Law Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, Wills, Probate, Guardianship |
| Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs website | 512.475.3800 | Offers programs like foreclosure prevention, housing discrimination, utility assistance and more. |
| Houston Apartment Association website | 713.595.0300 | Resolves disputes between tenant and landlord. Provides consultation to renters, an online complaint form and resources for both landlords and renters. Housing, renters, landlords, evictions, |
| Texas Attorney General website | 800.621.0508 | Renters rights, housing discrimination, online consumer complaint form, housing, renters, landlords, evictions, |
One specific legal assistance agency on this list is called Lone Star Legal Aid. They are one of the low-cost legal agencies in Houston that may be able to help you if someone has stolen your identity.
They offer a video that walks you through “identity theft solutions” to help you start the process of resolving your identity theft.
Conclusion
The identity theft resources on this guide are a good starting point for anyone who may be struggling with identity theft.
The other thing to keep in mind is that identity thieves often steal financial information like credit card numbers, banking account information, or Social Security Numbers. This means it’s also important for victims of ID Theft to monitor their bank accounts closely for suspicious activity – even after they’ve taken all the steps necessary to resolve identity theft issues.
If you’re unsure what steps should be taken next when faced with identity theft problems don’t hesitate to contact a local attorney or the Texas AG office.
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Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
