Indiana Supreme Court hopes to train volunteers to help families facing foreclosure

Times of Northwest Indiana staff

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard said Thursday he hopes to train hundreds of lawyers across the state to help families in jeopardy of losing their homes.

Shepard said trial courts across Indiana have seen a 50 percent increase in mortgage foreclosures in the past five years.

He announced a training seminar to take place March 6 in Indianapolis to educate judges and lawyers about loan modification programs and mediation opportunities. He said he hopes the lawyers will provide their services for free.

"It makes sense that a person who is facing financial burden so severe that they may lose their home cannot afford to hire an attorney. That is why we are recruiting volunteer attorneys to help people who are in need of assistance," Shepard said.

Shepard said the training and call for volunteer lawyers is part of the Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network, a statewide effort coordinated by Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman to ward off the housing meltdown.