North Dakota Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
Going to family court in North Dakota 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 North Dakota gets no more than two places to call, both checked in September 2026.
Statewide: North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free information, forms, and guidance by phone or email for people handling a civil court case without a lawyer.
Adams County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bucyrus, Haynes, Hettinger, and Reeder.
Barnes County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Dazey, Fingal, Kathryn, Leal, Litchville, Nome, Oriska, Pillsbury, Rogers, Sanborn, Sibley, and Tower City.
Benson County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Brinsmade, Esmond, Knox, Leeds, Maddock, Minnewaukan, Oberon, Warwick, and York.
Billings County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Medora.
Bottineau County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Antler, Bottineau, Gardena, Kramer, Landa, Lansford, Maxbass, Newburg, Overly, Souris, Westhope, and Willow City.
Bowman County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bowman, Gascoyne, Rhame, and Scranton.
Burke County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bowbells, Columbus, Flaxton, Lignite, Portal, and Powers Lake.
Burleigh County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bismarck, Lincoln, Regan, Wilton, and Wing.
Cass County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Alice, Amenia, Argusville, Arthur, Ayr, Briarwood, Buffalo, Casselton, Davenport, Enderlin, Fargo, and Frontier.
Cavalier County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Alsen, Calio, Calvin, Hannah, Langdon, Loma, Milton, Munich, Nekoma, Osnabrock, Sarles, and Wales.
Dickey County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Ellendale, Forbes, Fullerton, Ludden, Monango, and Oakes.
Divide County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Ambrose, Crosby, Fortuna, and Noonan.
Dunn County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Dodge, Dunn Center, Halliday, and Killdeer.
Eddy County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers New Rockford and Sheyenne.
Emmons County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Braddock, Hague, Hazelton, Linton, and Strasburg.
Foster County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Carrington, Glenfield, Grace City, and McHenry.
Golden Valley County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Beach, Golva, and Sentinel Butte.
Grand Forks County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Emerado, Gilby, Grand Forks, Inkster, Larimore, Manvel, Niagara, Northwood, Reynolds, and Thompson.
Grant County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Carson, Elgin, Leith, and New Leipzig.
Griggs County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Binford, Cooperstown, and Hannaford.
Hettinger County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Mott, New England, and Regent.
Kidder County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Dawson, Pettibone, Robinson, Steele, Tappen, and Tuttle.
LaMoure County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Berlin, Dickey, Edgeley, Jud, Kulm, LaMoure, Marion, and Verona.
Logan County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Fredonia, Gackle, Lehr, and Napoleon.
McHenry County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Anamoose, Balfour, Bantry, Bergen, Deering, Drake, Granville, Karlsruhe, Kief, Towner, Upham, and Velva.
McIntosh County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Ashley, Lehr, Venturia, Wishek, and Zeeland.
McKenzie County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Alexander, Arnegard, and Watford City.
McLean County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Benedict, Butte, Coleharbor, Garrison, Max, Mercer, Riverdale, Ruso, Turtle Lake, Underwood, Washburn, and Wilton.
Mercer County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Beulah, Golden Valley, Hazen, Pick City, Stanton, and Zap.
Morton County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Almont, Flasher, Glen Ullin, Hebron, Mandan, and New Salem.
Mountrail County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers New Town, Palermo, Parshall, Plaza, Ross, Stanley, and White Earth.
Nelson County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Aneta, Lakota, McVille, Michigan City, Pekin, Petersburg, and Tolna.
Oliver County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Center.
Pembina County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bathgate, Canton City (Hensel), Cavalier, Crystal, Drayton, Hamilton, Mountain, Neche, Pembina, St. Thomas, and Walhalla.
Pierce County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Balta, Rugby, and Wolford.
Ramsey County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Brocket, Churchs Ferry, Crary, Devils Lake, Edmore, Hampden, Lawton, and Starkweather.
Ransom County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Elliott, Enderlin, Fort Ransom, Lisbon, and Sheldon.
Renville County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Glenburn, Grano, Loraine, Mohall, Sherwood, and Tolley.
Richland County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Abercrombie, Barney, Christine, Colfax, Dwight, Fairmount, Great Bend, Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Mantador, Mooreton, and Wahpeton.
Rolette County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Dunseith, Mylo, Rolette, Rolla, and St. John.
Sargent County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Cayuga, Cogswell, Forman, Gwinner, Havana, Milnor, and Rutland.
Sheridan County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Goodrich, Martin, and McClusky.
Sioux County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Fort Yates, Selfridge, and Solen.
Slope County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Amidon and Marmarth.
Stark County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Belfield, Dickinson, Gladstone, Richardton, South Heart, and Taylor.
Steele County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Finley, Hope, Luverne, and Sharon.
Stutsman County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Buchanan, Cleveland, Courtenay, Jamestown, Kensal, Medina, Montpelier, Pingree, Spiritwood Lake, Streeter, and Woodworth.
Towner County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bisbee, Cando, Egeland, Hansboro, Perth, Rocklake, and Sarles.
Traill County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Buxton, Clifford, Galesburg, Grandin, Hatton, Hillsboro, Mayville, Portland, and Reynolds.
Walsh County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Adams, Ardoch, Conway, Edinburg, Fairdale, Fordville, Forest River, Grafton, Hoople, Lankin, Minto, and Park River.
Ward County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Berthold, Burlington, Carpio, Des Lacs, Donnybrook, Douglas, Kenmare, Makoti, Minot, Ryder, Sawyer, and Surrey.
Wells County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Bowdon, Cathay, Fessenden, Hamberg, Harvey, Hurdsfield, and Sykeston.
Williams County: court help from North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. Free legal aid from Legal Services of North Dakota, phone (800) 634-5263. Covers Alamo, Epping, Grenora, Ray, Springbrook, Tioga, Wildrose, and Williston.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in North Dakota without a lawyer? Start with North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, run by North Dakota Court System, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. It serves every county in North Dakota. For free legal advice, contact Legal Services of North Dakota if you qualify by income.
Who gives free legal aid in North Dakota? North Dakota is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Legal Services of North Dakota. 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 North Dakota without a lawyer?
Start with North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, run by North Dakota Court System, phone (701) 328-1852, email ndselfhelp@ndcourts.gov. It serves every county in North Dakota. For free legal advice, contact Legal Services of North Dakota if you qualify by income.
Who gives free legal aid in North Dakota?
North Dakota is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Legal Services of North Dakota. 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.