Legal Help

There are places you can get legal help on site at the DC Courts:

Self-Help Centers

The DC Superior Court has Self-Help Centers to assist you if you don’t have a lawyer.

• Family Court Self-Help Center
• Probate Self-Help Center

They can:

• Give you information about the law
• Explain how court works
• Help with court forms
• Provide computers for legal research or filing forms online
• Refer you to legal aid groups

They can’t give legal advice or represent you. Instead, they can help you handle your legal problem on your own.
 

Court Navigator Program

Court Navigators guide you through court processes but can’t provide legal advice. They can:

• Explain how court works
• Help with forms and filing
• Provide computers for legal research or filing forms online
• Refer you to legal aid groups

They help with cases about:

• Landlord/Tenant issues (like evictions)
• Wills and estates
• Small claims cases (such as debt collection matters, security deposit issues, and property damage disputes involving a claim for $10,000 or less)
   

Domestic Violence Intake Centers

If you’re facing domestic violence or worried about your safety, visit a Domestic Violence Intake Center. They can help you:

• File for a protection order (stay-way order)
• Talk to a lawyer
• Meet with crisis counselors
   

LEGAL ADVICE AT THE COURT

These outside legal aid groups are not part of the DC Courts, but they may offer free legal information or advice in person at the courthouse if you qualify for their services:

• Child Support Resource Center
• Consumer Law Resource Center
• DC Legal Aid (Landlord & Tenant Court)
• Family Law Assistance Network (FLAN)
• Landlord and Tenant Resource Center
• Probate Legal Assistance Network (PLAN)
• Rising for Justice Courthouse Office (Landlord & Tenant Court)

If you want to talk to a lawyer or hire a lawyer to represent you, there are places that offer free legal services if you qualify. There also are online referral services to help you find a lawyer who may help you at a reduced rate or charge you their regular fees.

Free Legal Help

There are legal aid groups that offer free legal help and may be able to represent you if you qualify:

• Click here for a list of groups that offer free legal help.
   

Some groups run clinics where you can walk in without an appointment and talk to a lawyer:

• D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Advice & Referral Clinic
• DC Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP)
   

There also are telephone hotlines for specific types of legal issues:

• Child Support Resource Center Hotline: (202) 791-3996
• D.C. Debt Collection Defense Hotline: (202) 851-3387
• D.C. Foreclosure Prevention Hotline: (202) 265-CALL (2255)
• Family Law Assistance Network (FLAN): (202) 844-5428
• Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network (LTLAN): (202) 780-2575
• Small Claims Resource Center Hotline: (202) 849-3608
   

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICES

• DC Refers is a free online tool that connects you to lawyers who specialize in your issue and will charge you reduced rates if you qualify.
• MyDCLawyer is a free online tool managed by the D.C. Bar that matches you with lawyers who specialize in your issue. These lawyers will charge you standard rates for their services.
   

You might be able to solve a dispute — like problems with landlords or neighbors — through community mediation without having to go to court.

• Learn about mediation services
• Find out if mediation is right for you

If you’re starting a case in DC Superior Court, figure out:

• What type of case it is
• What forms you need
• Where to file them

If someone filed a case against you in DC Superior Court, figure out:

• What forms you need to respond
• Where to file them
   

Case Types

Each type of case has its own rules and forms. Common case types include:
 

Civil Cases

• Civil Actions cases, such as contract disputes and personal injury matters involving a claim for more than $10,000, or cases where someone is asking the court to order someone else to stop or to perform a certain action
• Small claims, such as debt collection matters, security deposit issues, and property damage disputes involving a claim for $10,000 or less
   

Criminal Cases

• Criminal record sealing
• Felonies and misdemeanors
   

Domestic Violence/Safety Cases

• Protection orders
   

Family Cases

• Divorce, child custody and visitation
• Child abuse and neglect
• Child support and parentage
• Juvenile delinquency
• Marriage
• Mental health
   

Housing Cases

• Evictions
• Housing repairs
   

Wills, Probate, and Adult Guardianship Cases

• Wills
• Small estates
• Large estates
• Adult guardianship
   

If your legal issue isn’t listed above:
Learn more about different types of cases.
 

The DC Court of Appeals reviews cases when someone wants to challenge a final decision made by the trial court or a local agency.

• Learn how to appeal
• Tips for handling an appeal without a lawyer