Get Free Legal Advice At The Library Today

The housing market may be rebounding, but there are still thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure in Hillsborough County. Staff at the is hoping to help some of them gain a better understanding of their financial situation.

The library is hosting "Ask a Lawyer: Bankruptcy, Foreclosure & Debt Management."

The hour long session will begin at 6 p.m. today and feature lawyers from the Hillsborough County Bar Association. The lawyers will give a presentation on the state's laws regarding bankruptcy and real estate. Attendees will be able to ask questions.

The seminar is the brainchild of Ann Bush, the library's branch supervisor.

“I think there are people who need this information," Bush said. "I see one of my job as providing information to people, not just in book format."

Last year the Tampa Bay area had a foreclosure rate of almost 5 percent, according to Realty Trac, an online foreclosure listings site. Westchase was certainly not immune to the trend. The website currently list more than 1600 properties within the 33626 zip code that have entered into foreclosure due to bank default.

The Upper Tampa Bay Regional library offers two free legal advice sessions a year. The next session will be held on Feb. 16 when attorneys will be on hand to discuss family law, including divorce, child custody and name-change.

For more information on Wednesday's legal information session, visit the information desk at the library or call (813) 273-3652 or visit www.hcplc.org.