Washington, D.C. Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
If you are handling a divorce, custody, support or protective order case in the District of Columbia on your own, start with the free help that already exists. This page lists, for each of the 1 districts, the court's self-help program and the free legal aid office that serves it, with phone numbers and websites.
Statewide: Family Court Self-Help Center, phone (202) 879-0096. Free walk-in and call-in help with divorce, custody, visitation and child support for people without a lawyer.
Washington, D.C.: court help from Family Court Self-Help Center, phone (202) 879-0096. Free legal aid from Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia, phone (202) 832-6577. Covers Washington.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in the District of Columbia without a lawyer? Start with Family Court Self-Help Center, run by District of Columbia Courts, Superior Court Family Court Operations Division, phone (202) 879-0096. It serves every district in the District of Columbia. For free legal advice, contact Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia if you qualify by income.
Who gives free legal aid in the District of Columbia? The District of Columbia is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia. Each one serves set districts, so check the listing for your district. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get free help with a family court case in the District of Columbia without a lawyer?
Start with Family Court Self-Help Center, run by District of Columbia Courts, Superior Court Family Court Operations Division, phone (202) 879-0096. It serves every district in the District of Columbia. For free legal advice, contact Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia if you qualify by income.
Who gives free legal aid in the District of Columbia?
The District of Columbia is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia. Each one serves set districts, so check the listing for your district. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.
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.
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.