MVLS Welcomes Timothy J. Chance as New Tangled Title Staff Attorney Dedicated to Helping Clients through the Homeowner Program
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), the largest provider of pro bono civil legal services to low-income Marylanders, today announced renewed funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to grow its public awareness campaign, “Homeowner: My Home, My Deed, My Legacy” in 2020. The citywide program educates Baltimore City residents – especially low-income residents – about the importance of estate planning and the critical need to confirm their name is on the deed to their property. With the $200,000 grant, MVLS is growing its team with the addition of Timothy J. Chance as the organization’s new tangled title staff attorney.
“We are extremely grateful for the renewed funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to grow our “Homeowner: My Home, My Deed, My Legacy” program in 2020 as it validates the success we had in 2019,” said Susan Francis, executive director, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS). “In less than a year, we were able to maintain homeownership for a significant number of Baltimore City residents who had deed issues or other estate administration challenges. What’s more, our citywide awareness program educated thousands of residents who sought more information through our website and collateral materials so they too can remain in their homes. With the renewed funding we’re able to grow our team by adding Timothy as our new tangled title staff attorney who will be dedicated to helping clients through the Homeowner program.”
As MVLS’s new tangled title staff attorney, Timothy Chance will provide direct representation and brief advice to Baltimore City residents with estate administration, deed or other property related matters. In addition, he will be instrumental in screening clients for eligibility for the Homeowner program and will assist with matching clients with volunteer attorneys. Prior to joining MVLS, Chance was a staff attorney at the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance where he advised self-represented individuals regarding civil cases, specifically in housing and consumer matters, before the District and Circuit Courts of Maryland. Chance earned his J.D. from William & Mary Law School in Virginia.
“Over the last year, the My Home, My Deed, My Legacy program successfully assisted several hundred Maryland residents with resolving deed issues and securing ownership of their homes for themselves and their families,” said department Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “We are pleased to continue partnering with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service as they work to expand the program and help to stabilize more families and neighborhoods in the coming year.”
In addition to raising awareness of legal homeownership and the deed recording process, the “Homeowner: My Home, My Deed, My Legacy” campaign educates the public about the estate administration process, the importance of wills and health care directives and steps to avoid probate. To learn more about the “Homeowner” program or to see if your name is listed on the deed to your home, please visit www.myhomemydeed.org or call the “Homeowner” hotline at 443-451-4066. Resources are available in Spanish.
About Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
Founded in 1981 with a mission to provide access to justice for all, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) serves Maryland’s low-income residents by offering legal counseling and full representation for civil cases. MVLS matches clients with volunteer lawyers who represent them in a wide range of consumer, family and workforce re-entry situations, including foreclosure, bankruptcy, income tax disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, estate planning, criminal record expungement, divorce/custody and deed changes. For more information about MVLS’ services, visit www.mvlslaw.org.
