Succession planning and divorce are among the reasons drought-affected farmers are dipping into a new pot of money at the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) NSW Central Region.
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A Law Society of NSW grant of $50,000 is another "card in the pack" for RFCS Central Region counsellors to deal out to struggling clients, says its Dubbo-based chief executive officer (CEO) Jeff Caldbeck.
Individual applicants can get up to $1200 to pay for legal advice from a solicitor who must be a member of the Law Society.
Couples can get up to $2400.
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Mr Caldbeck reported of about six to eight farmers accessing the funding so far.
"We're pleased to be able to do it, " he said after revealing Orana Law Society president Andrew Boog had "facilitated" the receipt of the grant.
"There's no complicated forms to fill out," Mr Caldbeck said.
"It's really to do with the counsellors recommending that people get paid."
The CEO said the RFCS Central Region either paid solicitors directly or reimbursed clients who chose to pay the bills out of their own pockets initially.
This comes out of lawyers' pockets because the Law Society doesn't get government funding.
- Orana Law Society president Andrew Boog
Mr Boog said the grant was "just a way to assist those struggling because of the seasons".
"It's doing something," he said. "Others may be able to give you cheap groceries and others are prepared to extend credit, and here's something we can do."
Mr Boog said the grant was a grassroots effort to help farmers affected by the continuing drought.
"This comes out of lawyers' pockets because the Law Society doesn't get government funding," he said.
Mr Caldbeck said the drought had been "overshadowed" by bushfires and then the coronavirus dubbed COVID-19.
Recent rain had boosted hope of a "wonderful season coming" as long as there was follow-up rain and a better soil profile, he said.
"But none of them are going to get a pay day until it grows, is harvested and sold," the CEO said.
Mr Caldbeck also said graziers currently faced paying huge amounts of money for livestock which was "not so easy".