BANGOR – The Maine State Troopers Foundation has awarded Penquis Community Action Program a grant of $2,500 to help clients of the Law Project pay for expenses related to their cases.

Approximately 90 percent of the Law Project’s clients are victims of domestic violence who seek assistance obtaining divorces, orders of protection from abuse or harassment and parental rights of children. They often need expert witnesses, depositions and certified medical records to substantiate their claims but, in many cases, are unable to afford the fees.

In parental rights cases, it is often advantageous to have a court-appointed individual to represent the best interests of the children.

That person interviews the children and parents, and may also speak to doctors, review medical and school records and talk to teachers. He or she makes a recommendation to the court in the form of a report and often testifies at the trial. Such representation is needed in roughly 40 percent of the Law Project’s cases, but is rarely used because clients simply cannot afford the expense.