Massachusetts Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
Going to family court in Massachusetts without a lawyer is common, and you do not have to figure it out alone. The court runs free help for people representing themselves, and nonprofit legal aid offices give free legal help to parents who qualify. Below, every county in Massachusetts gets no more than two places to call, both checked in September 2026.
Statewide: Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free help by phone, video or in person for people without lawyers filling out court forms and understanding court rules.
Statewide: Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries, email lawlibraries@jud.state.ma.us. Free legal research help and represent-yourself resources at 15 court law libraries open to the public statewide.
Barnstable County: court help from Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from South Coastal Counties Legal Services, phone (800) 244-9023. Covers Barnstable Town.
Berkshire County: court help from Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from Community Legal Aid, phone (855) 252-5342. Covers North Adams and Pittsfield.
Bristol County: court help from Taunton Court Service Center. Free legal aid from South Coastal Counties Legal Services, phone (800) 244-9023. Covers Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, North Attleborough Town, and Taunton.
Dukes County: court help from Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from South Coastal Counties Legal Services, phone (800) 244-9023. Covers Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven.
Essex County: court help from Lawrence Court Service Center. Free legal aid from Northeast Legal Aid, phone (978) 458-1465. Covers Amesbury Town, Beverly, Gloucester, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lynn, Methuen Town, Newburyport, Peabody, and Salem.
Franklin County: court help from Greenfield Court Service Center. Free legal aid from Community Legal Aid, phone (855) 252-5342. Covers Greenfield.
Hampden County: court help from Springfield Court Service Center. Free legal aid from Community Legal Aid, phone (855) 252-5342. Covers Agawam Town, Chicopee, Holyoke, Palmer Town, Springfield, West Springfield Town, and Westfield.
Hampshire County: court help from Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from Community Legal Aid, phone (855) 252-5342. Covers Amherst Town, Easthampton Town, and Northampton.
Middlesex County: court help from Lowell Court Service Center. Free legal aid from Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, phone (617) 603-1700. Covers Cambridge, Everett, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, and Watertown Town.
Nantucket County: court help from Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from South Coastal Counties Legal Services, phone (800) 244-9023. Covers Madaket, Nantucket, and Siasconset.
Norfolk County: court help from Massachusetts Court Service Centers. Free legal aid from Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, phone (617) 603-1700. Covers Braintree Town, Franklin Town, Quincy, Randolph Town, and Weymouth Town.
Plymouth County: court help from Brockton Court Service Center. Free legal aid from South Coastal Counties Legal Services, phone (800) 244-9023. Covers Bridgewater Town and Brockton.
Suffolk County: court help from Boston Court Service Center. Free legal aid from Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, phone (617) 603-1700. Covers Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop Town.
Worcester County: court help from Worcester Court Service Center. Free legal aid from Community Legal Aid, phone (855) 252-5342. Covers Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Southbridge Town, and Worcester.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in Massachusetts without a lawyer? Start with Massachusetts Court Service Centers, run by Massachusetts Trial Court. 8 of 14 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, and Northeast Legal Aid if you qualify by income.
Does every Massachusetts county have its own self-help center? No. 8 of 14 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Massachusetts Court Service Centers, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in Massachusetts.
Who gives free legal aid in Massachusetts? Massachusetts is served by 4 federally funded legal aid offices: South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, and Northeast Legal Aid. Each one serves set counties, so check the listing for your county. 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 Massachusetts without a lawyer?
Start with Massachusetts Court Service Centers, run by Massachusetts Trial Court. 8 of 14 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, and Northeast Legal Aid if you qualify by income.
Does every Massachusetts county have its own self-help center?
No. 8 of 14 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Massachusetts Court Service Centers, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in Massachusetts.
Who gives free legal aid in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is served by 4 federally funded legal aid offices: South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, and Northeast Legal Aid. Each one serves set counties, so check the listing for your county. 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.