SEOLS Pro Bono Volunteer Highlight

SEOLS LITC Volunteer Helps Client Obtain Relief from Over $20,000 of Tax Debt by Winning Innocent Spouse Claim

reported by Tanisha Wilburn, January 17, 2007

LITC Volunteer ~ Abigail Gilbert, Esq.

Hometown ~ Detroit, Michigan

Education ~ B.A., Washington University, 2001; J.D. University of Cincinnati, 2004; Human Rights Fellow~as a fellow, worked with abused children; volunteer intern for the Department of Justice handling human trafficking issues under the TVPA (Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection) Act

Volunteer Experience ~ Child advocacy with Franklin County Children's Hospital and Franklin County Children Services

LITC Experience ~ Recently, local volunteer attorney Abby Gilbert helped one of the clients from the SEOLS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) obtain relief from a substantial tax debt. This particular client was in great need of our help because she had been a domestic violence victim and was being held responsible for over $20,000 of tax debt incurred by her ex-husband. Abby's diligent efforts in helping this client included petitioning the IRS for Innocent Spouse Relief and ultimately convincing the IRS to dismiss all of the client's tax liability. When discussing this case, Abby conveyed how much she enjoyed the work she did because she felt she was able to make a difference in someone else's life. Specifically, she was motivated by her client's situation because the client wanted to find a way to repay the debt, but just didn't have the means to do so. Also, even though Abby does not have a background in tax issues, she was surprised at how she was able to learn the pertinent law quickly to help her client. In all, Abby was thoroughly impressed by her experiences with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services and would be honored to volunteer her time for these types of cases in the future.

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