Inner Banks Legal Services

11/17/2025

We are honored that Inner Banks Legal Services was featured in NC IOLTA’s latest story highlighting the impact of free civil legal aid in Eastern North Carolina.

This article shares the powerful journey of Debbie Douglas, a grandmother who stepped in to raise her grandchildren after the tragic loss of both parents. In a moment of grief, fear, and uncertainty, Debbie turned to Inner Banks Legal Services for help securing guardianship so the children could remain in the only stable home they knew.

Led by Family Law Fellow Amelia Bryn Cooper, our team worked to navigate this rare and complex situation, ultimately ensuring the children’s safety, permanency, and legal protection. All services were provided free of charge through our Family Law Fellowship.

For many families across rural Eastern North Carolina, private legal services are simply not affordable, yet the need for support in custody, guardianship, and family transitions is tremendous. Debbie’s story reflects exactly why our nonprofit model exists and why access to justice matters.

With the recent freeze on IOLTA grantmaking statewide, the future of free and low cost legal aid programs is uncertain. To continue serving families like Debbie’s, we rely on the generosity of supporters who believe that every family, regardless of income, deserves strong legal protection.

If you are able, please consider making a tax deductible donation to support this work. Your contribution directly protects the rights and stability of children and families in our region.

Read the full story here:

Following the deaths of her grandchildren’s parents, Debbie Douglas turned to NC IOLTA grantee Inner Banks Legal Services for help with her complex guardianship petition — providing the family with legal certainty in a time of grief and transition.

11/14/2025

We are excited to share that Inner Banks Legal Services and our Family Law Fellows were recently featured by NC IOLTA.

The article highlights the amazing work of attorneys Amelia Bryn Cooper and Taylor Norton, who provide free and sliding scale family law services to some of the most underserved communities in Eastern North Carolina. This past year alone, they delivered more than 630 hours of free legal services, met with 269 individuals for consultations, and provided full representation to 58 clients at no cost.

As a nonprofit law firm focused on bridging the justice gap, we are proud to expand access to justice in rural counties where families have had limited access to legal help.

Unfortunately, the recent freeze on IOLTA grantmaking puts critical funding for free and low cost legal services across North Carolina at risk. To continue serving families in need, especially in urgent family law and domestic violence cases, we depend on the support of our community.

If you believe in increasing access to justice, please consider making a tax deductible donation to support our work. Every contribution helps a family receive the legal guidance they deserve.

We are so grateful for Amelia Bryn and Taylor and for the compassion, skill, and dedication they bring to this work every day.

Read the full feature here:

With funding from NC IOLTA, attorneys Amelia Bryn Cooper and Taylor Norton provide free legal services to individuals and families in historically underserved Eastern NC counties — ensuring that cost is not a barrier to support and guidance in divorce, child custody, domestic violence and other fa...

10/02/2025

💙 Small but mighty. 💙

With just 4 attorneys and 2 support staff, our team at Inner Banks Legal Services made a big impact this fiscal year (Oct 1, 2024 – Sept 30, 2025):

📞 647 consultations – more than one every weekday
⚖️ 202 families received full legal representation
📚 12 free legal clinics to share knowledge
💵 $400,000+ in legal help provided free or discounted

But here’s the truth: 🚨 We recently lost critical grant funding due to statewide changes - not because of our performance. Civil legal services, like the ones we provide, were left behind.

Now we’re asking for your help to keep justice alive in Eastern NC.
👉 Donate today at https://ibxlegal.org/donate

09/24/2025

✨ Free Power of Attorney Clinics ✨

Inner Banks Legal Services is offering FREE Power of Attorney (POA) Clinics through June 2026, made possible by a generous grant from the North Carolina Bar Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their support in helping us expand access to justice in our community.

📍 In-person only at our Washington, NC office
📝 Services provided:

General Power of Attorney (legal & financial decisions)
Health Care Power of Attorney (medical decisions)

⚠️ Please note: This clinic does not include wills, trusts, advanced directives, or other estate planning advice. For those services, we offer $99 estate planning consultations.

✅ Must live in Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell, Washington, or Pitt County
✅ Must bring valid government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)
✅ Cannot have been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s, brain injury, or other cognitive impairments, or have been deemed legally incompetent. In these cases, we offer a $99 adult guardianship consultation.

📅 Appointments are limited — book today to prepare for the future with peace of mind!
👉

08/22/2025

Ready to take the first step toward solving your legal issue? Now it’s easier (and more affordable) than ever!

💼 All consultations with an attorney are now just $99!*
This is your chance to sit down with a real lawyer, ask your questions, and get clarity on your next steps.

💳 *Bankruptcy consultations are FREE because peace of mind shouldn’t come with a price tag.

👩‍💼 * Want to see if you qualify for our free family law services? You can book an appointment with our assistant, Makayla, to be screened at no cost to you.

📅 Don’t wait, book your consultation today and move forward with confidence!
👉 www.ibxlegal.org

08/08/2025

💳 Still using your debit card for everyday purchases?
Here’s why that might be a big mistake 👇

🔓 If your debit card is compromised, the money comes directly out of your bank account. That means:

❌ You could be out hundreds (or thousands) of dollars
❌ Your rent, utilities, or other bills could bounce
❌ It could take weeks to get your money back — if the bank agrees it was fraud

✅ Credit cards, on the other hand, offer built-in fraud protection. You can dispute charges before you ever owe a dime.

💡 Pro tip: Use a credit card for daily expenses, and pay it off in full every month to avoid interest. That way, you protect your cash and build credit at the same time.

At Inner Banks Legal Services, we believe in helping our community make smart, informed decisions — not just in court, but in life.

Check out InnerBanksLegal’s video.

08/07/2025

🎉 Today we say a big THANK YOU to our summer intern, Matthew Stocks, as he wraps up his time with us at Inner Banks Legal Services.

Matthew, a student at NC State University and future law school hopeful, brought insight and dedication to everything he touched. Matthew helped us reorganize our files for smoother workflow, sat through consultations and court hearings, to digging into data that helps us better understand how we serve our clients.

His contributions have made a real impact behind the scenes, and we’re grateful for all he’s done to help us improve how we operate.

This internship was made possible thanks to the generous support of the SECU Public Fellows Internship Program, and we’re so thankful for their commitment to community-focused work.

Best of luck, Matthew! We know you’re going to do great things! 👏🐺⚖️

08/05/2025

We’re excited to be part of National Night Out, a fun, family-friendly event! Come meet our team, learn about our mission to expand access to justice in Eastern North Carolina, and pick up some free goodies. 💙⚖️

See you at Beebe Memorial Park!

08/04/2025

💳 Just turned 18? Here’s how to build credit the right way.

Getting your first credit card can feel exciting but it also comes with responsibility. Done right, it can set you up for future success. Done wrong? It can cost you big time.

✅ Start small and smart:
• Skip the $5,000 limit offers.
• Start with a secured credit card — it’s like credit with training wheels.
• Use it for basic life expenses only: gas, groceries, phone bill.
• Pay it off in full every month — before the statement even generates.

That means:
✔ No interest
✔ No debt
✔ Positive credit history

🚀 Over time, this builds strong credit — which can help with loans, cars purchases, and even car insurance rates.

❌ But remember: credit is a tool, not free money. Use it wisely.

At Inner Banks Legal Services, we’re here to help our community understand the legal and financial steps that lead to a better future.

Check out InnerBanksLegal’s video.

08/04/2025

🚨 Have you had the chance to meet Makayla or Tiffany yet?
They’re the newest faces at Inner Banks Legal Services, having joined our team in July!

Makayla and Tiffany bring fresh energy and a deep commitment to our mission of ensuring equal access to justice for all. We’re thrilled to have them on board and can’t wait for you to get to know them!

Meet the whole IBLS team here: https://ibxlegal.org/staff/

Our Staff Sarah Beth Withers Attorney Read Bio Amelia BrynCooper Attorney Read Bio TaylorNorton Attorney Read Bio Makayla Fields Legal Assistant Read Bio Tiffany Tillery Secretary Read Bio Sarah Beth Withers Attorney Read Bio Amelia BrynCooper Attorney Read Bio TaylorNorton Attorney Read Bio Makayla...

08/01/2025

We've had the absolute best summer with Ireland Haltigan as our intern! Ireland has been a vital part of our team, assisting with trial prep, legal research, drafting, and even sitting in on court hearings at both the state and federal level. Many of you may have met her during consultations, and if you’ve noticed us popping up on TikTok lately, thank Ireland for that push! 🎥⚖️

Next week, we’ll say goodbye as she heads back to Campbell Law to begin her 2L year. While we’re sad to see her go, we are so proud of all she’s accomplished and can’t wait to see where her legal journey takes her. We’re hopeful she’ll return to Eastern North Carolina to continue her legal career in the future, our doors will always be open!

A huge thank you to the Legal Oasis Summer Fellowship Program through The Incubator for Legal Practice and Innovation for sponsoring this incredible opportunity. 💼✨

07/31/2025

We handed over the editing reins to our Gen Z intern for this office tour… and she did not disappoint 😂✨

Check it out on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8kyRrw5/

144 likes, 7 comments. “Come visit us for an actual tour!”