How to assist someone with self-representation if their command of the English language is extremely limited?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How to assist someone with self-representation if their command of the English language is extremely limited?
My mother is a co-defendant in an interpleader action with a life insurance company. She cannot afford an attorney and she does not speak English. I’ve been communicating with the insurance company and other co-defendant’s attorney on her behalf through a Power of Attorney. I not an attorney. How do I speak for her in a pro se case or can I? Would she need a court appointed interpreter or can I continue to act on her behalf before a judge?
Asked on July 16, 2012 under Insurance Law, New York
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have a power of attorney signed by your mother allowing you to assist in the matter that you have written about concerning the interpleader, that is sufficient.
As to an interpreter, if the court does not have an interpreter assisting on its own and if the other parties do not object to you acting as such, then you can act as your mother's interpreter at the court hearings.
If that does not work, you will need to retain an independent interpreter to assist with your mother's language issue.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.