Free Legal Aid and Assistance Benefit Residents of Texas – Seniors, Low-Income, Illegals, Women, and More
LEGAL AID OF NORTHWEST TEXAS (Serves low-income)
Low-income residents may also qualify for free legal representation from the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas. LANWT offers individual case service assistance for residents experiencing public assistance denials, divorce, child support issues, evictions, foreclosures, domestic violence, and consumer fraud. LANWT does not handle cases involving criminal or traffic offenses. Individuals receive legal representation from private attorneys and receive the same services as paying clients. LANWT also provides representation to communities and neighbors and sponsors education programming. LANWT has strict income guidelines and only assists individuals in the northern and northwestern part of Texas. For a complete list of counties served click here. To see if you qualify for assistance, contact your local LANWT office. A complete list of contact information is available here.
TEXASLAWHELP.ORG (Serves all Texans)
Online assistance for understanding Texas law is available at TexasLawHelp.org. On this site, individuals can search for information on civil matters, including FEMA benefits, renters’ rights, protective orders, immigration issues, and many more. TexasLawHelp.org also features an easy-to-use search feature that assists individuals in finding free or low-cost representation in their area.
WOMEN’S ADVOCACY PROJECT – TEXAS JUSTICE INITIATIVE (Serves women of domestic violence)
Women escaping a domestic violence situation can seek legal assistance through the Women’s Advocacy Project. The Project has a special interest in Texas with its Texas Justice Initiative. Residents throughout the state can receive legal aid with their case, including Project volunteers explaining domestic violence laws, acquiring protective orders, and other assistance. The Project also offers several hotlines, including the Family Violence Legal Line at (800) 374-HOPE, the Family Law Line at (800) 777-FAIR, and the Sexual Assault Law Line at (800) 296-SAFE. The hotlines are staffed by qualified volunteers and attorneys. For more information, call the appropriate hotline or check out the Women’s Advocacy Project’s website here.
THE LEGAL HOTLINE FOR OLDER TEXANS (Serves Texans aged 60-plus)
Texans ages 60 and older can receive free legal advice by calling (877) 526-9953, a toll-free hotline. Seniors of all income levels can gather information on wills, evictions, power of attorney, nursing home complaints, and grandparents’ rights. More information is available by calling the hotline or by checking out The Legal Hotline for Older Texans’ website here.
ADVOCACY, INC. (Serves Texans with disabilities)Advocacy, Inc. assists Texans with disabilities, including physical, mental, and developmental, in acquiring fair treatment. Advocacy, Inc. offers free information and education, free referrals, in some cases, legal representation, and assistance to attorneys representing persons with disabilities. Advocacy, Inc. serves the entire state and a complete list of contact information is available here.
TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL (Serves all Texans)
The office of Greg Abbott, the current Attorney General of Texas, assists residents in collecting court-ordered child support, enforcing consumer protection law, and overseeing the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. The Attorney General’s Office does occasionally answer questions from the public as time allows but encourages individuals needing legal assistance to contact the Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 252-9690. For a complete list of the services offered by the Attorney General’s Office click here.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES (Serves undocumented citizens)
Undocumented citizens can seek free and low-cost legal assistance from Catholic Charities across the state. In Dallas, call (214) 634-7182; in the El Paso area, call (806) 765-8475; in the San Antonio, call (210) 433-3256; and in Houston, call (713) 874-6570. Services vary from city to city, but in general the agency works to provide illegal immigrants with asylum status. More agencies serving undocumented citizens can be found here.
