Is legal aid actually free?

Key takeaways

• Emergency numbers are ungated on this desk.
• Legal aid is free for people who qualify, with limited capacity.
• Court papers are same-day work.

Do this today

1. If you are in danger, call 911.
2. If you have court papers, open LawHelp.org the same day.
3. Dial 211 for local rent, shelter, food, or utilities.

What this page is not

• Not a hotline we staff.
• Not a promise that legal aid can take every case.
• Not legal advice.

Confirm it locally

Caps, clocks, and entry hours live in your state chapter. Search below, or take the paper to legal aid if a court is named.

Terms on this page

Legal aid

People also ask

• What number should I call right now?
• Do I need an account to use this help page?
• Is a landlord notice the same as being evicted?
• Is there a national tenant-rights law in the United States?
• What should I do if I get an eviction notice?
• How do I find free legal help as a renter?

Official sources

• LawHelp.orgFree legal aid by state. Start here for court papers.
• HUD tenant rightsFederal floor and state HUD pages.
• Cornell LII landlord-tenant tableIndex of official state chapters. We name the chapter; we do not paraphrase a number out of it.
• 211Local rent, shelter, food, and utilities, in many languages.