Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tyler Levsen, Staff Attorney and Legal Research Adviser from Family Legal Care
2:32:12
ยท
132 sec
Tyler Levsen from Family Legal Care testifies about the challenges veterans face in family courts and the services his organization provides. He emphasizes the importance of continued support from the city council to assist veterans with legal issues related to child support, custody, visitation, and domestic violence.
- Family Legal Care helps over 28,000 people annually to self-advocate in family court cases.
- Veterans often struggle with child support arrears and enforcement actions that can lead to financial hardship.
- The organization provides one-on-one legal advice, conducts educational workshops, and offers bilingual helplines for veterans dealing with family law issues.
Tyler Levsen
2:32:12
Okay.
2:32:12
Oh, there I am.
2:32:14
Thank you.
2:32:15
My name is Tyler Levson, and I am a staff attorney and legal research adviser of Family Legal Care, formerly Lyft.
2:32:21
Thank you to Chair Holden and members of the Veterans Committee for the opportunity to speak today about the issues veterans are experiencing in family courts.
2:32:29
I'd also like to thank the city council for its continued support, without which we could not assist veterans and their families to confront issues at the heart of their well-being, like child support, custody, and visitation, and domestic violence.
2:32:41
Our work is especially important now as thousands of veterans have been laid off from their federal jobs, and the VA faces possible budget cuts, layoffs, and termination of contracts during the programs that veterans rely on.
2:32:52
We hope you will continue your support for our essential services and resources for veterans.
2:32:57
Over 80% of litigants come to family court without an attorney, and Family Legal Care is the only organization dedicated solely to empowering New Yorkers to represent themselves in family court.
2:33:07
Each year, we help over 28,000 people to self advocate for positive outcomes in their child support, custody, visitation, and domestic violence cases.
2:33:15
Veterans need specialized support to deal with those issues as there are unique aspects to their situation and laws that impact the process and results for them.
2:33:24
For example, most of the veterans we serve are struggling with child support arrears from cases that could be modified.
2:33:30
This can lead to enforcement actions against them, such as having money garnished from their military retirement pension or VA disability benefits.
2:33:38
But if the wrong amount is being collected or if it is withheld improperly, this can lead to financial hardship.
2:33:42
Family Legal Care is here to help.
2:33:45
My colleagues and I provide one on one legal advice consultations as well as legal information at the city's courthouses or through our bilingual helplines.
2:33:52
We also conduct legal education workshops and webinars on common family law issues for veterans.
2:34:00
The court's decisions touch the lives of thousands of children and families with profound long term effects on their safety, economic security, health, and well-being.
2:34:08
The the demand for free expert legal advice has never been greater, continues to grow, and Family Legal Care is the only organization in New York City filling this need.
2:34:18
With continued support from the city council, we continue to be a part of the solution.
2:34:22
Thank you for your time.