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When Tyler lost his fiancée Esmeralda during childbirth, his world changed in an instant.
Suddenly, a single father to both their newborn daughter and the 7-year-old son they had together prior, Tyler faced not only profound grief, but also an unexpected legal barrier. Because Esmeralda passed before their baby girl could be named on a birth certificate, their daughter had no legal identity: no birth certificate, no Social Security number, and no access to healthcare coverage. Even though paternity was confirmed through testing and Tyler was the sole caregiver for both children, state agencies refused to issue documentation without the mother’s sworn testimony.
Tyler was doing everything right. He worked full-time, cared for his children with help from family, and took every step asked of him. But he couldn’t navigate the legal roadblock. After months of reaching out to law firms that either couldn’t take his case or charged more than he could afford, he finally found hope. He found Charleston Legal Access (CLA).
CLA took immediate action, providing full legal representation to file for a determination of paternity and to secure the birth certificate that his daughter urgently needed. Thanks to CLA, Tyler’s daughter now has the identity, rights, and protections that will allow her father to take care of all her needs. Charleston Legal Access stood up for Tyler’s right to be recognized as a father and for his daughter’s right to a secure and brighter future.
Tyler is not alone...
Millions of Americans face civil legal issues, including evictions, custody battles, debt collection, and immigration proceedings, without a lawyer by their side.
South Carolina has one of the highest rates of unrepresented people in civil cases—around 70% must navigate the court system alone.
This justice gap doesn’t just impact low-income families. Middle-class families, who often earn too much to qualify for legal aid but cannot afford the high cost of private attorneys, are left without meaningful access to justice.