Your First CLARO MeetingHow to prepare for your first meeting with a CLARO administrator

Scheduling an appointment

Call for an appointment:

(716)828-8432

Appointments are scheduled during open CLARO sessions:

Tuesdays 5:00PM – 7:00PM

Fridays: 10:00AM – 12:00PM

Call the CLARO hotline and leave a message including:

Your name Your phone number A brief description of your

situation

Please speak slowly and clearly

What to bring with you: Please bring ALL papers

related to the issue you are having. These may include:

Judgments

Letters from Creditors

Certified Mail Receipts

Copies of Letters Sent by You

Bills

Credit Reports

If there is a default judgment against you, please bring a complete copy of your court file.

The creditor or a debt collector may have filed a collection lawsuit against you.

You should bring the Summons and Complaint.

What Papers?

These documents do not look as official as you might imagine…

Sample document can be found here.

Can a phone call fix this?

Keep in Mind:1.You are required to file an

Answer to a Complaint in writing.

2.You may also have more time to file the Answer than the Summons and Complaint states.

NO.Calling the number on the Summons and Complaint is not sufficient action.

CLARO assistance takes place during scheduled sessions which you must attend.

What Happens?

the context of debt collection action, the implications of such actions on

your credit, the ramifications of a judgment.

You will first meet with a WNYLC paralegal who will be administering the session. Once your intake is complete, you will meet with an attorney.

During the CLARO sessions attorneys meet with visitors and explain:

You’ve been served:

It is common to receive a Summons and Complaint in the mail, on your doorstep, or have it handed to you.

Bring a copy of the complaint with you to your CLARO meeting.

You Don’t Have the Papers?

State of New York Supreme Court: County of Erie

your file is located in New York State Supreme Court.

Civil Court of the City of Buffalo: County of Erie

your file is in Buffalo City Court.

You can get copies of your file from The Court:

Your file may be found in

either City or State Court,

the Courts are in different

locations.

You will be charged for the

copy.

Copy charges are

determined by the number

of pages.

A minimum charge may

apply.

If the document says:

State CourtYou are looking for the Actions and Proceedings departmentat the Erie County Clerk’s Office.

It is located at 92 Franklin St, in downtown Buffalo.

Filings may be available on-line:

http://www2.erie.gov/clerk/index.php?q=court-recordsfiling

Erie County Court Building

City CourtBuffalo City Court50 Delaware AveBuffalo, NY 14202

Copies are issued in the Civil Judgments Room on the first floor.

Electronic copies are currently not available.

Buffalo City Court Building

Quick Reference

Where to Go,What to Do

Note: these prices may change at any time

Your CLAROAppointment

Arrive a few minutes early.

If you are more than 15 minutes late, your appointment will be rescheduled.

Bring your paperwork/files.

Be prepared to take notes.

Questions might include the nature of the debt and information about your income, expenses, living situation, other debts, and credit history.

Upon your arrival at the CLARO site, you will be greeted by our administrator or a law student who will provide you with paperwork informing you about the nature of the free, limited-scope legal advice CLARO offers, and collect information about you and your issue for statistical purposes.

Meeting with an Attorney

Once you have completed the intake process, you will be seen by a volunteer attorney, who will be able to give you advice. Depending on the amount of volunteer attorneys available and the amount of other visitors, you may have to wait briefly until an attorney becomes available. The attorney you speak with will review the intake paperwork and any documents you have brought, and provide you with free, limited-scope legal advice to help you best represent yourself in your case. CLARO advice is limited-in-scope insofar as CLARO attorneys are not representing you in your case; instead, they are available to better prepare you to advocate for yourself by informing you about the law and your options.

A CLARO session can take between 30 minutes and two hours.

The length of the meeting depends on the nature of your legal issue.

TimeRestrictions

Due to time and resource constraints, we can only assist each visitor with one legal issue per visit.

However, if you have multiple legal issues, you may schedule as many CLARO appointments as you need.

Remember to Follow These Steps:1. Assemble ALL papers related to the issue you are having.

2. If you don’t have copies of your Summons and Complaint or the Judgment filed against you, obtain copies:

State of New York Supreme Court: County of Erie your file is located in New York State Supreme Court.

Civil Court of the City of Buffalo: County of Erie your file is in Buffalo City Court.

3. Contact CLARO and make an appointment – call the Hotline, (716)828-8432.

4. Arrive 5 minutes before your meeting is scheduled to begin.

5. Be prepared to discuss the specific issue you set up the appointment to address.

6. Expect to take notes as you will be required to carry out further tasks on your own.

7. If you will be unable to attend the meeting as scheduled, call in advance to cancel and set up another appointment.

Where to Go For Your CLARO Meeting

If your meeting is on Tuesday: If your meeting is on Friday:

Note: enter on Halbert St, at the back of the building. BFNC is on the second floor.

Which Court to Go To:There is an action against you in State Court:

92 Franklin StreetBuffalo, NY 14202

There is an action against you in City Court:

50 Delaware Ave,Buffalo, NY 14202

Directions to Erie County Court:

Erie County Court92 Franklin StreetBuffalo, NY 14202

Route 190 North to Exit 7 - Church Street. Left on Franklin Street.

Route 190 South, Exit 8 - Niagara Street. Right on Niagara Street to Niagara Square. Continue around Niagara Square to third street (Niagara Street) - right onto Franklin Street.

NY-33 West to Goodell Street. Cross Main Street - Goodell becomes Edward. Continue on Edward to Delaware Avenue. Make a left on Delaware Avenue to Niagara Square - around the circle to fourth street (Niagara Street) - right onto Franklin Street.

Directions to Buffalo City Court:

Buffalo City Court 50 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202

Route 190 North to Exit 7 - Church Street. Left on Delaware Avenue.

Route 190 South, Exit 8 - Niagara Street. Right on Niagara Street to Niagara Square. Continue around Niagara Square to second street - Delaware Avenue.

NY-33 West to Goodell Street. Cross Main Street - Goodell becomes Edward. Continue on Edward to Delaware Avenue. Make a left on Delaware Avenue to Niagara Square - around the circle to third street - Delaware Avenue.

Bad Weather? Cancellations?

From time to time, CLARO sessions are cancelled. This may be due to bad weather, holidays or other unforeseen events. You can check for scheduling issues on the CLARO website, under the “News” menu.

The link is here: http://clarobuffalo.org/?page_id=234

Call the CLARO Hotline: (716)828-8432

Thank You!This concludes the slideshow Your First CLARO Meeting. Visit CLARO online at http://clarobuffalo.org/

Further Questions or Concerns?