If you currently receive financial assistance through other public assistance programs such as SSI/SSP, Food Stamps Program, County Relief, Older Americans Act, and Developmentally Disabled Assistance Act, you may be eligible for additional free legal services in your state. You can only search for non-criminal (“civil”) cases. If you have been charged with a crime, ask your lawyer if you can get legal help in criminal matters. Pension Entitlement Centre – Get free legal help if you have problems with your pension, profit-sharing or retirement savings. Looking for more information on this topic? Visit LawHelp.org and select your state to find more self-help resources and information about free, low-cost legal aid providers in your area. Legal aid agencies do not charge fees for legal assistance provided. You may have to pay court fees to take a case to court. You may also have to pay for other expenses, such as copies of files, court reporters, etc. However, you will not be charged for the lawyer`s or paralegal`s time or advice. Private lawyers, legal aid clinics and advocacy groups with lawyers often handle cases that fall within their particular area of interest. For example, you might be able to get free help from a lawyer for a wage discrimination lawsuit against an employer if it has the potential to become a larger class action lawsuit.
LSC-funded legal aid in the red-shaded area is managed by: If you can`t afford a lawyer, but you think you qualify for free legal aid, the following can help you move in the right direction. However, be sure to check with your local court or local legal aid program for more detailed information about admission. Legal Services Corporation (LSC) – Find legal help for low-income individuals and families. Non-Texas residents can search the National Directory of Legal Aid Organizations or the American Bar Association`s Legal Referral Service for legal assistance. The Help4TN.org website and a toll-free phone line at 888-HELP4TN or (888) 395-9297 provide information and access to legal recommendations and advice, and TN Free Legal Answers matches individuals with pro bono lawyers. LawHelp.org – Find free legal aid programs in your community. Here you will find information about your legal rights by topic, e.g. housing, divorce, family allowances and debt collection. There are legal aid offices (also called legal counsel) in the United States. Legal aid organizations are non-profit organizations that provide free legal aid to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. While many legal aid centres only help people with very low incomes, some offices have more flexible income rules.
Created by FindLaw`s team of writers and legal writers| Last updated: 20 June 2016 If you are not eligible to receive free legal services based on any of the above criteria, you may want to speak to a lawyer in your area to discuss other fee arrangements. If the other party to your dispute lives with you, do not count their income as part of the household income and do not count it as part of the household. Your eligibility for free legal aid depends on a number of factors, such as your income, health, safety, location, and whether your problem is civil or criminal. You may be entitled to free legal aid from a court-appointed lawyer or public defender if your freedom is threatened (in other words, you must go to prison). A public defender is a lawyer who represents defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, and the Constitution guarantees the right to legal assistance in certain cases. This guide has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice depends on the particular circumstances of each situation. In addition, the law may vary from state to state. Some information in this guide may not be correct for your condition.
To find local resources, visit LawHelp.org and select your state. Who is still eligible for independent counsel? In non-criminal or “civil” cases, you are not entitled to a free lawyer. But there are many legal and pro bono aid programs that provide free legal aid to the poor in civil matters. These programs typically help people whose income is less than 125 percent of the federal poverty line, although in some cases they help people with slightly higher incomes. (See the table below for current income guidelines.) In addition, the elderly, the disabled, victims of domestic violence, military service or other special circumstances may be entitled to assistance, even if their income is slightly higher. Because these community-based programs often operate on very small budgets and do not have sufficient resources to serve all those eligible, they only handle certain types of cases and have to turn away many people who seek help. Who is entitled to independent counsel? The Constitution guarantees free legal aid to persons accused of a crime punishable by imprisonment and who cannot afford a lawyer. If you find yourself in this situation, ask for the appointment of a public defender at your first court appearance.
When a court decides that someone is “destitute” — with little wealth and no funds to pay for a lawyer — usually either a private attorney is appointed by the court and paid with district funds, or a public defense attorney program is appointed to represent the person. Some public defense programs are allowed to charge customers an “application fee,” though this is usually a small amount. LawHelp Interactive helps you fill out legal forms. If you are a victim of domestic violence or fear for your safety, you may be eligible for free legal aid from agencies that can help you gather evidence of abuse, including seeking injunctions. For immediate help wherever you are, contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Upsolve – Find free legal help to declare bankruptcy. Keep in mind that Chapter 7 bankruptcy information remains on your credit file for 10 years. This can make it difficult to get loans, buy a home, get life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy and other options for dealing with debt. There are several HIV/AIDS legal counselling programs that provide free legal assistance to low-income clients infected with HIV or AIDS in areas such as estate planning, employment or housing discrimination, insurance difficulties, family law issues and other legal issues. There are several legal aid organizations in Tennessee. These organizations are non-profit law firms that offer certain types of free legal aid to people who can`t afford a lawyer: If you can`t afford a lawyer, legal aid can help: Seniors Care Locator – Enter your postal code to find local offices for legal and aging service organizations.
Individual lawyers (also called lawyers) are experts in various areas of law. Some lawyers specialize in a particular area of law, such as commercial, civil, criminal or juvenile law. You need to determine what type of lawyer is right for your legal situation. Once you`ve found a lawyer, ask them about their experience, areas of expertise, and questions such as “How would you handle my case?” and “What do you charge for your services/what is your fee structure?” Armed Forces Legal Assistance – Find nearby military facilities with legal aid offices. Many legal aid offices may be able to resolve other issues such as immigration, consumers and people with disabilities. Some legal aid centres focus on one area of law, such as disability law or housing law. Some legal aid offices receive funding from the government, which may limit the type of cases they can accept. LSC is an independent, nonprofit organization founded by Congress in 1974 to provide low-income Americans with financial assistance for civil legal aid. The company currently funds 132 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations in every U.S. state, District of Columbia and territory. Many agencies provide free legal advice to immigrants and other non-citizens who need help with issues such as visa applications, green cards, deportation procedures, and work permits.