Washington Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
Pro se means representing yourself. In Washington, free help for pro se parents comes from two places: the court's own self-help programs and nonprofit legal aid. Find your county below to see exactly who to call, or type your city in the search box.
Statewide: Self-Help Washington, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. Washington's courts run this hub of guides, forms and referrals for people handling court cases without a lawyer.
Adams County: court help from Self-Help Washington, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Hatton, Lind, Othello, Ritzville, and Washtucna.
Asotin County: court help from Asotin & Columbia County Court Facilitator, phone (509) 382-2527. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Asotin and Clarkston.
Benton County: court help from Benton County Court Facilitator, phone (509) 735-8388. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Benton City, Kennewick, Prosser, Richland, and West Richland.
Chelan County: court help from Chelan County Pro Se Self-Help Center, phone (509) 667-6380. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Cashmere, Chelan, Entiat, Leavenworth, and Wenatchee.
Clallam County: court help from Clallam County Family Court Facilitator, phone (360) 417-2588. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Forks, Port Angeles, and Sequim.
Clark County: court help from Clark County Court Facilitator, phone (564) 397-2292. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Washougal, Woodland, and Yacolt.
Columbia County: court help from Asotin & Columbia County Court Facilitator, phone (509) 382-2527. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Dayton and Starbuck.
Cowlitz County: court help from Cowlitz County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (360) 577-3016. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, and Woodland.
Douglas County: court help from Douglas County Court Facilitator, phone (509) 745-8529. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Bridgeport, Coulee Dam, East Wenatchee, Mansfield, Rock Island, and Waterville.
Ferry County: court help from Ferry County Family Court Facilitator, phone (509) 775-5225 ext. 2505. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Republic.
Franklin County: court help from Franklin County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (509) 545-3525. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Connell, Kahlotus, Mesa, and Pasco.
Garfield County: court help from Self-Help Washington, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Pomeroy.
Grant County: court help from Grant County Family Law Facilitator, phone (509) 754-2011 ext. 2810. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Coulee City, Coulee Dam, Electric City, Ephrata, George, Grand Coulee, Hartline, Krupp (Marlin), Mattawa, Moses Lake, Quincy, and Royal City.
Grays Harbor County: court help from Grays Harbor County Family Law Facilitator, phone (360) 249-8174. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Aberdeen, Cosmopolis, Elma, Hoquiam, McCleary, Montesano, Oakville, Ocean Shores, and Westport.
Island County: court help from Island County Court Facilitator, phone (360) 678-5111. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Coupeville, Langley, and Oak Harbor.
Jefferson County: court help from Jefferson County Family Law Facilitator, phone (360) 385-9125. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Port Townsend.
King County: court help from King County Family Law Facilitators, phone (206) 263-3542. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Algona, Auburn, Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, and Duvall.
Kitsap County: court help from Kitsap County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (360) 337-7260. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Poulsbo.
Kittitas County: court help from Self-Help Washington, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Kittitas, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum.
Klickitat County: court help from Klickitat County Family Law Facilitator, phone (509) 773-5755. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Bingen, Goldendale, and White Salmon.
Lewis County: court help from Lewis County Family Court Facilitator, phone (360) 740-1333 ext. 2. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Centralia, Chehalis, Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Pe Ell, Toledo, Vader, and Winlock.
Lincoln County: court help from Lincoln County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (509) 725-1401. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Almira, Creston, Davenport, Harrington, Odessa, Reardan, Sprague, and Wilbur.
Mason County: court help from Mason County Family Law Facilitator, phone (360) 427-7775. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Shelton.
Okanogan County: court help from Okanogan County Family Law Facilitator, phone (509) 422-7132. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Brewster, Conconully, Coulee Dam, Elmer City, Nespelem, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, Pateros, Riverside, Tonasket, and Twisp.
Pacific County: court help from Pacific & Wahkiakum County Court Facilitator, phone (360) 875-9328 ext. 3. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Ilwaco, Long Beach, Raymond, and South Bend.
Pend Oreille County: court help from Pend Oreille County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (509) 447-2435. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Cusick, Ione, Metaline, Metaline Falls, and Newport.
Pierce County: court help from Pierce County Family Law Facilitator, phone (253) 798-3627. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Carbonado, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Enumclaw, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, and Lakewood.
San Juan County: court help from San Juan County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (360) 370-7446. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Friday Harbor.
Skagit County: court help from Skagit County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (360) 416-1200. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Anacortes, Burlington, Concrete, Hamilton, La Conner, Lyman, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley.
Skamania County: court help from Skamania County Court Facilitator, phone (509) 427-3765. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers North Bonneville and Stevenson.
Snohomish County: court help from Snohomish County Family Law Facilitator, phone (425) 388-3795. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Arlington, Bothell, Brier, Darrington, Edmonds, Everett, Gold Bar, Granite Falls, Index, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, and Marysville.
Spokane County: court help from Spokane County Court Facilitator, phone (509) 477-7612. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Airway Heights, Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Latah, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, Rockford, Spangle, Spokane, and Spokane Valley.
Stevens County: court help from Stevens County Family Law Facilitator, phone (509) 684-7575. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Chewelah, Colville, Kettle Falls, Marcus, Northport, and Springdale.
Thurston County: court help from Thurston County Family Court Facilitator, phone (360) 709-3269. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Bucoda, Lacey, Olympia, Rainier, Tenino, Tumwater, and Yelm.
Wahkiakum County: court help from Pacific & Wahkiakum County Court Facilitator, phone (360) 875-9328 ext. 3. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Cathlamet.
Walla Walla County: court help from Walla Walla Court Facilitator, phone (509) 529-4980 ext. 122. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers College Place, Prescott, Waitsburg, and Walla Walla.
Whatcom County: court help from Whatcom County Family Law Facilitator, phone (360) 778-5563. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas.
Whitman County: court help from Whitman County Courthouse Facilitator, phone (509) 397-6240. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Albion, Colfax, Colton, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, LaCrosse, Lamont, Malden, Oakesdale, Palouse, and Pullman.
Yakima County: court help from Yakima County Family Court Facilitator, phone (509) 574-2695. Free legal aid from Northwest Justice Project, phone (888) 201-1014. Covers Grandview, Granger, Harrah, Mabton, Moxee, Naches, Selah, Sunnyside, Tieton, Toppenish, Union Gap, and Wapato.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in Washington without a lawyer? Start with Self-Help Washington, run by Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. 36 of 39 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact Northwest Justice Project if you qualify by income.
Does every Washington county have its own self-help center? No. 36 of 39 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Self-Help Washington, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in Washington.
Who gives free legal aid in Washington? Washington is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Northwest Justice 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 Washington without a lawyer?
Start with Self-Help Washington, run by Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts, phone (360) 753-3365, email selfhelp@courts.wa.gov. 36 of 39 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact Northwest Justice Project if you qualify by income.
Does every Washington county have its own self-help center?
No. 36 of 39 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Self-Help Washington, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in Washington.
Who gives free legal aid in Washington?
Washington is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Northwest Justice 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.