Get help
Find a lawyer or free legal aid in the US
Key takeaways
- Legal aid organizations help eligible people with low income in civil matters, for free.
- State bar referral services connect you with a lawyer; several publish a low price for the first half hour.
- Charged with a crime and can't afford a lawyer? Ask the court about a public defender.
Start with free and official help. Legal aid covers many civil problems for people with low income, and state bar referral services offer low-cost first consultations. The prices below are shown exactly as each service publishes them.
We have no partnership with any of these services and receive no referral fee.
Free and low-cost legal help, by state
Checked Sep 28, 2026. We have no partnership with these services and receive no referral fee. Prices and availability can change; confirm with the service.
Legal aid offices by state: the programs LSC funds, and your court's self-help site
Legal aid is free civil legal help for people with low income. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974, funds 129 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. The table lists the programs it funds in the 50 states and DC, read from LSC's grantee list on November 1, 2026. LSC's own search finds the program that serves your address. LSC: Our Grantees · LSC: I need legal help
- Who qualifies. Each program adopts its own financial eligibility rules. For help paid with LSC funds, its income ceiling may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, with limited exceptions the rules allow, and it sets an asset ceiling that may leave out your home, the car you use for transportation and other exempt assets.45 C.F.R. § 1611.3(c), (d)
- An abuser's money does not count against you. For an applicant who is a victim of domestic violence, the program counts only the income and assets of the applicant and the household, not those of the alleged abuser, and not assets held jointly with the abuser.45 C.F.R. § 1611.3(e)
- Benefits can show eligibility. A program may let you show financial eligibility by your receipt of benefits from a government program for low-income individuals or families.45 C.F.R. § 1611.3(f)
| State | Legal aid programs LSC funds | Court self-help site (opened November 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Legal Services Alabama | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Alaska | Alaska Legal Services Corporation | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Arizona | Community Legal Services, Inc.; DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc.; Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Arkansas | Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| California | Bay Area Legal Aid; California Indian Legal Services, Inc.; California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; Central California Legal Services; Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc.; Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc.; Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; Community Legal Aid SoCal; Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc.; Legal Services of Northern California, Inc.; Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County | Self-Help Guide to the California Courts |
| Colorado | Colorado Legal Services | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Connecticut | Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc. | Connecticut Judicial Branch: Self-Help |
| Delaware | Legal Services Corporation of Delaware, Inc. | Delaware Courts: Self-Help |
| District of Columbia | Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Florida | Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.; Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc.; Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc.; Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.; Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.; Legal Services of North Florida, Inc.; Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. | Florida Courts: Self-Help Information (family courts) |
| Georgia | Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.; Georgia Legal Services Program | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Hawaii | Legal Aid Society of Hawaii | Hawaii State Judiciary: Self-Help |
| Idaho | Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Illinois | Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc.; Legal Aid Chicago; Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. | Illinois Courts: Self Help |
| Indiana | Indiana Legal Services, Inc. | Indiana Self-Service Legal Center |
| Iowa | Iowa Legal Aid | Iowa Judicial Branch: Representing Yourself |
| Kansas | Kansas Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Kentucky | Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky; Kentucky Legal Aid; Legal Aid of the Bluegrass; Legal Aid Society | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Louisiana | Acadiana Legal Service Corporation; Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Maine | Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc. | Maine Judicial Branch: Help Topics |
| Maryland | Maryland Legal Aid | Maryland Court Help Centers |
| Massachusetts | Community Legal Aid, Inc.; Northeast Legal Aid, Inc.; South Coastal Counties Legal Services; Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Michigan | Lakeshore Legal Aid; Legal Aid of Western Michigan; Legal Services of Eastern Michigan; Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc.; Michigan Advocacy Program; Michigan Indian Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Minnesota | Anishinabe Legal Services, Inc.; Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc.; Justice North; Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. | Minnesota Judicial Branch: Self-Help Centers |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Center for Legal Services; North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Missouri | Legal Aid of Western Missouri; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc.; Legal Services of Southern Missouri; Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Montana | Montana Legal Services Association | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Nebraska | Legal Aid of Nebraska | Nebraska Judicial Branch: Self-Help |
| Nevada | Nevada Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| New Hampshire | 603 Legal Aid | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| New Jersey | Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc.; Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc.; Legal Services of Northwest Jersey; Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation; South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Legal Aid | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| New York | Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.; Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc.; Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.; Legal Services NYC; Legal Services of the Hudson Valley; Legal Services of Long Island, Inc.; Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| North Carolina | Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| North Dakota | Legal Services of North Dakota | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Ohio | Community Legal Aid Services, Inc.; Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc.; The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati; Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Oklahoma | Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.; Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Oregon | Legal Aid Services of Oregon | Oregon Judicial Department: Self-Help Center |
| Pennsylvania | Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania; MidPenn Legal Services, Inc.; Neighborhood Legal Services Association; North Penn Legal Services, Inc.; Northwestern Legal Services; Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center; Summit Legal Aid | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| South Dakota | Dakota Plains Legal Services, Inc.; East River Legal Services | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Tennessee | Legal Aid of East Tennessee; Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands; West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Texas | Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas; Lone Star Legal Aid; Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Utah | Utah Legal Services, Inc. | Utah State Courts: Self-Help |
| Vermont | Legal Services Vermont | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Virginia | Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc.; Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc.; Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia; Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Inc.; Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc.; Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Washington | Northwest Justice Project | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| West Virginia | Legal Aid of West Virginia, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Wisconsin | Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
| Wyoming | Legal Aid of Wyoming, Inc. | Not checked: ask the court clerk |
Lookup · 51 states
Legal aid in your state: the programs LSC funds, and the court's self-help site
LSC's grantee list, and each state court's own self-help page where we could open it · checked Nov 1, 2026
Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.
Charged with a crime?
If you cannot afford a lawyer in a criminal case, ask the court about a public defender. The referral services and legal aid above are mostly for civil problems. See also your rights when police want to question you.
Before you call: what to prepare
- A short timeline: what happened, and when.
- The documents: letters, contracts, pay stubs, court papers, messages.
- Names of the people and organizations involved.
- Any deadline on a letter or court paper, and the date you received it.
- What you want to happen next.
Checklist
Ready to call?
Tick each point as you get it ready.
Every point comes from this page and its official sources. Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere. Not legal advice.
Common questions
Can I get a free lawyer?
In a criminal case, the court can appoint a public defender if you cannot afford a lawyer. In civil cases, legal aid organizations help eligible people with low income for free.
What does a lawyer referral service do?
It connects you with a lawyer who handles your kind of problem. Several state bar services publish a low price for the first consultation.
How much does a first consultation cost?
It depends on the service. The table above shows each price as the service publishes it, for example up to $20 for up to 30 minutes through the State Bar of Texas service.
Do I need a lawyer to get a document notarized?
No. A notary public checks who is signing and completes the certificate, but a notary who is not a lawyer may not draft the document or give legal advice. Where to find one, what it costs in your state and whether you can do it online are on how to get a document notarized.
What is legal aid?
Free help with civil (non-criminal) legal problems from nonprofit programs, for people with low income. The Legal Services Corporation funds 129 of them, in every state, DC and the territories. See legal aid by state.
Who qualifies for legal aid?
Each program sets its own income and asset ceilings. For help paid with LSC funds, the income ceiling may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, with limited exceptions, and a domestic violence victim's abuser's income and assets are not counted.
Official sources
- USAGov: Find a lawyer for affordable legal aid usa.gov
- Legal Services Corporation: I need legal help lsc.gov
- State Bar of California: Find a lawyer referral service calbar.ca.gov
- State Bar of Texas: Lawyer Referral & Information Service texasbar.com
- The Florida Bar: Lawyer Referral Service floridabar.org
- New York State Bar Association: Lawyer Referral Service nysba.org
- Legal Services Corporation: Our Grantees (129 independent nonprofit legal aid programs, by state; read November 1, 2026) lsc.gov
- 45 C.F.R. § 1611.3: LSC financial eligibility policies (income ceiling of 125% of the federal poverty guidelines; asset ceilings; domestic violence victims; eligibility through benefits) ecfr.gov
- Self-Help Guide to the California Courts (state court self-help site) selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
- Connecticut Judicial Branch: Self-Help (state court self-help site) jud.ct.gov
- Delaware Courts: Self-Help (state court self-help site) courts.delaware.gov
- Florida Courts: Self-Help Information (family courts) (state court self-help site) flcourts.gov
- Hawaii State Judiciary: Self-Help (state court self-help site) courts.state.hi.us
- Illinois Courts: Self Help (state court self-help site) illinoiscourts.gov
- Indiana Self-Service Legal Center (state court self-help site) in.gov
- Iowa Judicial Branch: Representing Yourself (state court self-help site) iowacourts.gov
- Maine Judicial Branch: Help Topics (state court self-help site) courts.maine.gov
- Maryland Court Help Centers (state court self-help site) mdcourts.gov
- Minnesota Judicial Branch: Self-Help Centers (state court self-help site) mncourts.gov
- Nebraska Judicial Branch: Self-Help (state court self-help site) nebraskajudicial.gov
- Oregon Judicial Department: Self-Help Center (state court self-help site) courts.oregon.gov
- Utah State Courts: Self-Help (state court self-help site) utcourts.gov
Related
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.