Free Pro Se Help Directory: Court Self-Help and Legal Aid for Every State and County
Every state runs some kind of free help for parents who go to family court without a lawyer, and nearly every county is served by a free legal aid office. The hard part is finding the right one. Pick your state and county below, or type your city, and you get no more than two places to call: your court's own self-help program and the legal aid office that serves you, with phone numbers, emails and websites where the office publishes them.
Alabama: Alabama Self-Representation Guide, phone (334) 229-0566, email marilyn.floyd@alappeals.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services Alabama.
Alaska: Alaska Court System Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Alaska Legal Services Corporation.
Arizona: Arizona Court Self-Service Center. Free legal aid from Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Community Legal Services, and DNA-Peoples Legal Services.
Arkansas: Arkansas Judiciary Self-Help Resources, phone (501) 682-9400. Free legal aid from Legal Aid of Arkansas.
California: California Courts Self-Help Guide. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northern California, California Rural Legal Assistance, Bay Area Legal Aid, Central California Legal Services, California Indian Legal Services, Inland Counties Legal Services, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, Community Legal Aid SoCal, and Legal Aid Society of San Diego.
Colorado: Colorado Judicial Branch Self-Help Resources. Free legal aid from Colorado Legal Services.
Connecticut: Connecticut Judicial Branch Self-Help Section. Free legal aid from Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut.
Delaware: Delaware Courts Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Legal Services Corporation of Delaware.
District of Columbia: Family Court Self-Help Center, phone (202) 879-0096. Free legal aid from Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia.
Florida: Florida Courts Help. Free legal aid from Three Rivers Legal Services, Legal Services of North Florida, Florida Rural Legal Services, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Bay Area Legal Services, Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, and Legal Services of Greater Miami.
Georgia: Georgia Courts Self-Help Resources. Free legal aid from Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
Hawaii: Hawaii Judiciary Self-Help Resources. Free legal aid from Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.
Idaho: Idaho Court Assistance Office & Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Idaho Legal Aid Services.
Illinois: Resources for Self-Represented Litigants, phone (833) 411-1121, email AccessToJustice@illinoiscourts.gov. Free legal aid from Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Prairie State Legal Services, and Legal Aid Chicago.
Indiana: Self-Service Legal Center. Free legal aid from Indiana Legal Services.
Iowa: Iowa Judicial Branch - Representing Yourself. Free legal aid from Iowa Legal Aid.
Kansas: Kansas Self-Help. Free legal aid from Kansas Legal Services.
Kentucky: Kentucky Court of Justice Self-Help Portal, phone (502) 573-2350. Free legal aid from Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky, Kentucky Legal Aid, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, and Legal Aid Society.
Louisiana: Resources for Self-Represented Litigants, phone (504) 310-2407, email library@lasc.org. Free legal aid from Acadiana Legal Service Corporation and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation.
Maine: Maine Judicial Branch Legal Help & Guides, phone (207) 822-0792. Free legal aid from Pine Tree Legal Assistance.
Maryland: Maryland Court Help Center, phone (410) 260-1392. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, and Northeast Legal Aid.
Michigan: Self-Represented Litigants. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Michigan Advocacy Program, and Lakeshore Legal Aid.
Minnesota: Minnesota Judicial Branch Self-Help Center, phone (651) 435-6535. Free legal aid from Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Justice North, Central Minnesota Legal Services, and Justice North.
Mississippi: Preparing for Court, phone (601) 974-0470, email nicole.mclaughlin@courts.ms.gov. Free legal aid from Mississippi Center for Legal Services and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services.
Missouri: Missouri Litigant Awareness Program. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation.
Montana: Court Help Program. Free legal aid from Montana Legal Services Association.
Nebraska: Nebraska Judicial Branch Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Legal Aid of Nebraska.
Nevada: Nevada Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Nevada Legal Services.
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Judicial Branch Self-Help, phone (855) 212-1234. Free legal aid from 603 Legal Aid.
New Jersey: Represent Yourself In Court. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation, Central Jersey Legal Services, and Essex-Newark Legal Services Project.
New Mexico: New Mexico Courts Self-Representation Hub, phone (855) 268-7804. Free legal aid from New Mexico Legal Aid and DNA-Peoples Legal Services.
New York: NY CourtHelp. Free legal aid from Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Legal Assistance of Western New York, Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Legal Services NYC, Neighborhood Legal Services, and Legal Services of Long Island.
North Carolina: NC Guide & File. Free legal aid from Legal Aid of North Carolina.
North Dakota: North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota.
Ohio: Access to Justice Resources, phone (614) 387-9000. Free legal aid from Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Community Legal Aid Services, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, and The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.
Oklahoma: OSCN Self-Help Resources. Free legal aid from Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma.
Oregon: Family Law Self-Help. Free legal aid from Legal Aid Services of Oregon.
Pennsylvania: Representing Yourself. Free legal aid from North Penn Legal Services, MidPenn Legal Services, Summit Legal Aid, Northwestern Legal Services, Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center.
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Judiciary Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Rhode Island Legal Services.
South Carolina: South Carolina Judicial Branch Self Help Resources, phone (803) 734-1800. Free legal aid from South Carolina Legal Services.
South Dakota: South Dakota UJS Self-Help, phone (855) 784-0004. Free legal aid from East River Legal Services and Dakota Plains Legal Services.
Tennessee: Self-Help Center. Free legal aid from Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, West Tennessee Legal Services, and West Tennessee Legal Services.
Texas: TexasCourtHelp.org. Free legal aid from Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Lone Star Legal Aid, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Utah: Utah Courts Self-Help Center, phone (888) 683-0009, email selfhelp@utcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Utah Legal Services.
Vermont: Vermont Judiciary Access and Resource Center, phone (802) 879-1185, email selfhelp@vtcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services Vermont.
Virginia: Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help. Free legal aid from Virginia Legal Aid Society, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Blue Ridge Legal Services, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, and Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia.
Washington: Self-Help Washington, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Court System Self-Help Law Center. Free legal aid from Legal Action of Wisconsin and Legal Action of Wisconsin.
Wyoming: Self-Help Forms. Free legal aid from Legal Aid of Wyoming.
What is a court self-help center? It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.
What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid? A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.
Is the help really free? Yes. Court self-help centers and legal aid offices do not charge for their help. Court filing fees are separate, and most courts have a form to ask the judge to waive them if you cannot afford them.
What should I have ready before I call? Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.
Why are there only two places listed for my county? On purpose. A long list sends a stressed parent in circles. For each county we list the court's own self-help program and the free legal aid office that serves it, and we checked that both are real, open, and meant for people without lawyers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a court self-help center?
It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.
What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid?
A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.
Is the help really free?
Yes. Court self-help centers and legal aid offices do not charge for their help. Court filing fees are separate, and most courts have a form to ask the judge to waive them if you cannot afford them.
What should I have ready before I call?
Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.
Why are there only two places listed for my county?
On purpose. A long list sends a stressed parent in circles. For each county we list the court's own self-help program and the free legal aid office that serves it, and we checked that both are real, open, and meant for people without lawyers.