Free Legal Help

Who it fits: Anyone with a household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty line. LSC funds the largest network of free civil legal aid offices in the country.

What they help with: Eviction defense, foreclosure, domestic abuse protective orders, public benefits appeals (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI), and consumer fraud.

How to start: Visit lsc.gov and use the "Find Legal Aid" search box with your zip code. The site lists every LSC-funded office near you with its phone number and intake hours.

• •Civil cases only. LSC offices do not handle criminal defense.
• •Intake lines fill up early in the day — call when they open for the best chance.

Who it fits: Anyone needing free or low-cost civil legal help. The site is run by Pro Bono Net, the parent of Lawyers Without Borders volunteer programs in the US.

What they help with: Family law, housing, immigration, public benefits, debt, wills, and small claims. Plain-language self-help articles plus a directory of local legal aid programs.

How to start: Open lawhelp.org, pick your state, then enter a zip code. The site routes you to the right intake office and lists free legal clinics and forms for your county.

• •Best starting point if you are not sure which type of legal aid you need.
• •Includes Spanish-language pages and a "for seniors" filter on most state pages.

Who it fits: DC residents age 60 and older. (For other states, use the AARP volunteer attorney directory below.)

What they help with: Wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, eviction defense, consumer fraud, and elder abuse cases.

How to start: Call the AARP Legal Hotline for DC seniors at 202-434-2120 or visit aarp.org/lce. Outside DC, AARP runs a national volunteer-attorney finder by zip.

• •DC-only direct service, but the website has free templates for living wills and powers of attorney any senior can use.

Who it fits: Adults age 60 and older. Most states fund a free hotline with grants from the federal Older Americans Act.

What they help with: Quick legal questions on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, scams, family disputes, landlord problems, and end-of-life paperwork.

How to start: Visit eldercare.acl.gov or call the federal Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. Ask for the "senior legal hotline" in your state. They give you the number to call for a free 30-minute consult.

• •Most hotlines call you back within 1-3 business days.
• •Confidential — they will not share your information with your family or a nursing home.

Who it fits: Anyone representing themselves in court (called "pro se"). Most US state and county courts run a self-help center inside or near the courthouse.

What they help with: Filling out divorce papers, name changes, small claims, restraining orders, custody, and basic landlord-tenant filings.

How to start: Search "[your county] court self-help center" online or call the courthouse and ask for the self-help desk. Most also offer phone or video consults.

• •Staff are not attorneys and will not give legal advice, but they help you fill the forms correctly so the judge will accept them.
• •Many centers run free "ask-a-lawyer" clinics one evening a week — no appointment needed.

Who it fits: Adults with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty line. Run by the American Bar Association in 40+ states.

What they help with: A volunteer attorney answers a written legal question online — typical topics: debt collection, garnishments, wage theft, identity theft, contract disputes, and small landlord problems.

How to start: Open abafreelegalanswers.org, pick your state, sign up with an email, and post a written question. A volunteer attorney from your state replies within a few days.

• •Civil only — no criminal cases, no immigration cases, no court representation.
• •Great for the "is this legal?" or "what should I write back?" type of question.

Who it fits: People with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities, and their families. Every state has a federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) office.

What they help with: Special education disputes, housing discrimination, denial of Social Security or Medicaid waiver services, abuse and neglect in care facilities, and accessibility violations.

How to start: Open ndrn.org, click "Find Your P&A", pick your state, then call the local office. Initial intake is free and confidential.

• •Each state P&A office is independent and can sue government agencies and care facilities on your behalf.
• •They also handle voting access cases for people with disabilities.

Who it fits: Anyone who wants a quick will, lease, power of attorney, or simple LLC document and does not qualify for free legal aid.

What they help with: Drafting wills, trusts, leases, healthcare directives, and basic business documents. Both offer 30-minute attorney consults inside a monthly membership.

How to start: rocketlawyer.com or legalzoom.com. Pick a document, fill in the prompts, then add a paid attorney review if you want one.

• •Cancel any time. Most people use one month, finish their documents, and stop.
• •Not a substitute for a real attorney on a complex estate, divorce, or lawsuit.