Site Help

What Is LawHelpCalifornia and what's available?

LawHelpCalifornia.org is a free website that helps the public find legal help and self-help information. It's a great starting point for locating legal services organizations dedicated to working with low-income clients, seniors, or persons with disabilities. The site also provides links to hundreds of self-help legal resources for legal aid clients, self-represented litigants, and anyone looking for information. We cannot provide one-on-one assistance for your case. Please contact one of the referrals on this site for individual help.

Read more about
	Zip code, county, and city information
	Type of help
	Federal Poverty Guidelines
	Descriptions of Civil Legal Aids, Court Programs, and Lawyers Referral Services

Zip code, county and city information

Enter the zip code, county, or city of the person who needs help. It is better to enter the zip code because many groups do not serve an entire county. Always check with an organization to make sure they can help you.

Type of help

There are several different ways in which an organization can provide help:

Full Representation - by a lawyer or a legal advocate in court or at a hearing at a government agency.
Brief Advice - in person or over the telephone.
Legal Clinic - where you can briefly talk to an attorney about your legal problem.
Pro Se Clinics - where you are shown how you can help yourself with a particular legal problem.
Self-Help Materials - educational information such as fact sheets and brochures.
Other - workshops, referrals to private attorneys, and other services.

Note: Not all organizations provide all the services listed.

Federal Poverty Guidelines

Some organizations cannot serve people with annual incomes higher than their eligibility guidelines. Eligibility guidelines are usually a percentage of the federal poverty income amount. The chart below shows what different percentages of the federal poverty level are for different family sizes. Many legal services organizations use the chart below to determine who is eligible for help.

Match your family size with the percentage of the poverty level (eligibility level) in an organization's profile.

Example 1: If an organization's profile says "Your family's income should be at or below 125% of the poverty level," here's what you would do:

Step 1: Figure out what your family size is. Family size is the total number of people in the household.

Step 2: Go to that row on the chart.

Step 3: Move across the chart to the column that says "125%." Your annual income must be at, or lower than, the amount in that box. If your family size is 3, your family's annual income must be $24,738 or less. If your family size is 7, your family's annual income must be $45,038 or less.

Example 2: If an organization requires that your family's income must be at or below 200% of the poverty level and your family size is 3, your family's income must be $39,580 or less.

LawHelpCalifornia.org does not guarantee assistance from an organization even if you meet its income guidelines.

Percentages of the 2014 Federal Poverty Level

Family Size	125%	150%	187.5%	200%
1	$14,588	$17,505	$21,881	$23,340
2	$19,663	$23,595	$29,494	$31,460
3	$24,738	$29,685	$37,106	$39,580
4	$29,813	$35,775	$44,719	$47,700
5	$34,888	$41,865	$52,331	$55,820
6	$39,963	$47,955	$59,944	$63,940
7	$45,038	$54,045	$67,556	$72,060
8	$50,113	$60,135	$75,169	$80,180
For each additional family member add:	$5,075	$6,090	$7,613	$8,120

Can I get help if my annual income is larger than the guidelines?

Some organizations may make exceptions for minority groups such as seniors, persons with HIV/AIDS, or persons experiencing domestic violence. Also, some organizations take into account extraordinary expenses such as childcare, medical bills, and debts.

Please see the organization's full profile for more information.

Descriptions of Civil Legal Aids, Court Programs, and Lawyers Referral Services

Civil Legal Aid (free or low-cost, based on income requirements)
Court Programs (provide general advice to help you navigate the court system)
Lawyer Referral Services (for those who do not qualify for legal aid, a LRS may be able to help you find a private attorney)