New Jersey Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
Going to family court in New Jersey 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 New Jersey gets no more than two places to call, both checked in September 2026.
Statewide: Represent Yourself In Court. Statewide hub with guides, forms, and self-help kits for anyone going to court without a lawyer.
Atlantic County: court help from Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (609) 402-0100 ext. 47230, email Atl.capehelp.mbx@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Absecon, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Buena, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hammonton, Linwood, Longport, and Margate City.
Bergen County: court help from Bergen Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (201) 221-0700 ext. 25103, email BergenHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation, phone (201) 792-6363, email NNJLS@lsnj.org. Covers Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, and Edgewater.
Burlington County: court help from Burlington Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (609) 288-9500 ext. 38118, email BurlingtonHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Beverly, Bordentown, Burlington, Fieldsboro, Medford Lakes, Palmyra, Pemberton, Riverton, and Wrightstown.
Camden County: court help from Camden Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (856) 650-9100 ext. 43090, email CamdenHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Berlin, Brooklawn, Camden, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, and Gloucester City.
Cape May County: court help from Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (609) 402-0100 ext. 47230, email Atl.capehelp.mbx@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, West Cape May, West Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and Woodbine.
Cumberland County: court help from Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (856) 878-5050 ext. 15159, email CumGloSalHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Bridgeton, Millville, Shiloh, and Vineland.
Essex County: court help from Essex Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (973) 776-9300 ext. 56886, email EssexHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, phone (973) 624-4500, email enls@lsnj.org. Covers Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Glen Ridge, Newark, North Caldwell, and Roseland.
Gloucester County: court help from Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (856) 878-5050 ext. 15159, email CumGloSalHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Clayton, Glassboro, National Park, Newfield, Paulsboro, Pitman, Swedesboro, Wenonah, Westville, Woodbury, and Woodbury Heights.
Hudson County: court help from Hudson Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (201) 748-4400 ext. 60238, email HudsonHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation, phone (201) 792-6363, email NNJLS@lsnj.org. Covers Bayonne, East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, Kearny, Secaucus, Union City, and West New York.
Hunterdon County: court help from Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (908) 332-7700 ext. 13240, email SomHunWrnHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, phone (908) 231-0840. Covers Bloomsbury, Califon, Clinton, Flemington, Frenchtown, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lambertville, Lebanon, Milford, and Stockton.
Mercer County: court help from Mercer Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (609) 571-4200 ext. 74205, email MercerHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Central Jersey Legal Services, phone (732) 249-7600. Covers Hightstown, Hopewell, Pennington, Princeton, and Trenton.
Middlesex County: court help from Middlesex Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (732) 645-4300 ext. 88748, email MiddlesexHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Central Jersey Legal Services, phone (732) 249-7600. Covers Carteret, Dunellen, Helmetta, Highland Park, Jamesburg, Metuchen, Middlesex, Milltown, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, and South Amboy.
Monmouth County: court help from Monmouth Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (732) 358-8700 ext. 87260, email MonmouthHelp.mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Allenhurst, Allentown, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Deal, Eatontown, Englishtown, and Fair Haven.
Morris County: court help from Morris/Sussex Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (862) 397-5700 ext. 75160, email MRS-SSXHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, phone (908) 231-0840. Covers Boonton, Butler, Chatham, Chester, Dover, Florham Park, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham, Morris Plains, and Morristown.
Ocean County: court help from Ocean Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (732) 504-0700 ext. 64480, email OceanHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Barnegat Light, Bay Head, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Harvey Cedars, Island Heights, Lakehurst, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, and Point Pleasant.
Passaic County: court help from Passaic Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (973) 653-2910 ext. 24470, email PassaicHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation, phone (201) 792-6363, email NNJLS@lsnj.org. Covers Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Totowa, and Wanaque.
Salem County: court help from Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (856) 878-5050 ext. 15159, email CumGloSalHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from South Jersey Legal Services, phone (800) 496-4570, email sjls@lsnj.org. Covers Elmer, Penns Grove, Salem, and Woodstown.
Somerset County: court help from Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (908) 332-7700 ext. 13240, email SomHunWrnHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, phone (908) 231-0840. Covers Bernardsville, Bound Brook, Far Hills, Manville, Millstone, North Plainfield, Peapack and Gladstone, Raritan, Rocky Hill, Somerville, South Bound Brook, and Watchung.
Sussex County: court help from Morris/Sussex Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (862) 397-5700 ext. 75160, email MRS-SSXHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, phone (908) 231-0840. Covers Andover, Branchville, Franklin, Hamburg, Hopatcong, Newton, Ogdensburg, Stanhope, and Sussex.
Union County: court help from Union Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (908) 787-1650 ext. 22300, email UnionHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Central Jersey Legal Services, phone (732) 249-7600. Covers Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, and Summit.
Warren County: court help from Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage Court User Resource Center, phone (908) 332-7700 ext. 13240, email SomHunWrnHelp.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, phone (908) 231-0840. Covers Alpha, Belvidere, Hackettstown, Phillipsburg, and Washington.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in New Jersey without a lawyer? Start with Represent Yourself In Court, run by New Jersey Judiciary. 21 of 21 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact 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 if you qualify by income.
Does every New Jersey county have its own self-help center? No. 21 of 21 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Represent Yourself In Court, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in New Jersey.
Who gives free legal aid in New Jersey? New Jersey is served by 5 federally funded legal aid offices: 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. 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 New Jersey without a lawyer?
Start with Represent Yourself In Court, run by New Jersey Judiciary. 21 of 21 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact 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 if you qualify by income.
Does every New Jersey county have its own self-help center?
No. 21 of 21 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Represent Yourself In Court, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in New Jersey.
Who gives free legal aid in New Jersey?
New Jersey is served by 5 federally funded legal aid offices: 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. 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.