Legal Aid in Fort Lauderdale, FL: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer

If you live in Fort Lauderdale and need civil-legal help but don’t have the money for a private attorney, there are several nonprofit and public-interest providers that serve Broward County and the city — offering help with housing problems, evictions, tenant-landlord disputes, domestic violence, consumer/debt issues, public-benefits, family law, immigration, and more. If full representation isn’t available, you may still find self-help clinics, limited-scope representation, or referral services. (As always: users may also upload legal documents to LegalClarity’s tool for plain-language guidance — informational only, not legal advice.)

Major Legal Aid & Support Providers Serving Fort Lauderdale / Broward County

Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS)

What they do: LAS is the main civil-legal aid provider for low-income and other eligible residents in Broward County (which includes Fort Lauderdale). They handle a broad array of civil-law issues — housing/eviction defense, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe housing, foreclosure prevention, debt and consumer law, public-benefits and tax-related issues, family law (when eligible), HIV/AIDS, veteran services, elder law, and immigration-related assistance.

How to contact: Phone: (954) 765-8950. LAS office address: 491 N. State Road 7/441, Plantation FL 33317.

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA)

What they do: CCLA provides free civil legal services to eligible residents of Broward County (and Collier), including family-law support, elder-law services, consumer and debt issues, immigration-related civil matters, and other civil-legal help for needy populations.

How to contact: Phone: (954) 736-2400. Online intake available via their website.

Pro Bono & Hotline Services via LAS / Broward Lawyers Care

What they do: For those who qualify (or in emergencies), LAS runs a pro-bono and hotline program — offering free consultations or brief advice. Services include representation for landlord/tenant disputes, family-law matters (divorce, child custody/support), debt and consumer issues, eviction defense, public-benefits appeals, elder law, HIV/AIDS- related legal help, and more.

How to access: Call the hotline number (often 954-355-6256 when available) for same-day or soonest-available pro bono attorney consultation.

Common Civil Legal Issues Covered for Fort Lauderdale Residents

• Eviction defense, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe housing, foreclosure prevention or defense
• Debt collection, credit problems, consumer-law disputes, repossessions or garnishments
• Domestic violence — protective orders, injunctions, family-law help for survivors
• Family law (for eligible low-income clients): divorce, custody/support, paternity, child support enforcement, guardianship
• Public benefits issues: Medicaid, SNAP, disability benefits, tax issues, benefits denials or appeals
• Elder law and senior-citizen legal issues (housing, benefits, consumer protection, wills/estate planning when eligible)
• Immigration-related civil assistance (when eligible): paperwork, status changes, immigrant-rights help, legal aid for immigrants and families.
• HIV/AIDS-related legal support (including benefits, housing, discrimination) via LAS’s specialized units.

What Legal Aid Usually Doesn’t Handle (or Has Limits)

• Criminal defense (felonies, misdemeanors, traffic infractions) — these are outside the scope of civil-legal aid organizations like LAS and CCLA.
• Large-scale business or commercial litigation, complex corporate law, or highly specialized civil-litigation cases
• High-asset or highly contested divorces, complex estate litigation, or high-value civil suits — many legal-aid providers focus on low- and moderate-income individuals and simple to mid-level civil matters
• Availability may be limited: in periods of high demand, some cases may be wait-listed or declined; eligibility and capacity constraints may apply.

When Fort Lauderdale Residents Should Seek Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice or unlawful-detainer filing: Evictions in Florida often move quickly — contact LAS or CCLA immediately.
• You experience domestic violence or unsafe living conditions: Seek help right away for protective orders, housing support, or family-law representation.
• You face debt-collection, garnishment, or foreclosure threats: Save all papers and reach out quickly — deadlines or court-dates may be looming.
• You lose public benefits or face denial of benefits: Benefits appeals are time-sensitive — early contact helps.
• You’re a senior, veteran, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable: Legal-aid providers often prioritize seniors, veterans, and vulnerable populations — calling early may secure help.

How to Prepare Before Calling or Applying

1. Gather documents: lease agreements, eviction notices, rent records, debt or creditor letters, benefit denial letters, pay stubs/income proof, ID and residency documentation, disability or veteran paperwork (if relevant), court notices or filings, medical or domestic-violence records, and any evidence (photos, correspondence) related to housing or legal issues.
2. Make a timeline: note when events occurred — notices received, benefit terminations, debt letters, eviction or foreclosure filings, communications with landlords/creditors, etc.
3. Prepare household and income information: many legal-aid offices screen by income, household size, benefits status — having documentation ready helps intake go faster.
4. Write a short summary: 2–3 sentences describing who is involved, what happened, when it happened, and what outcome you seek (e.g. eviction defense, benefits appeal, protective order, debt relief).
5. Note any urgent deadlines or upcoming hearings: eviction hearing dates, court dates, benefits-appeal deadlines, debt-collection deadlines, foreclosure sale dates — early outreach improves chances of help.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid or Capacity Is Limited

• Pro bono consultations or hotline through LAS / Broward Lawyers Care: For brief advice or limited-scope help — often faster and more accessible.
• Low-cost or sliding-scale private attorneys: Many attorneys in Fort Lauderdale offer unbundled or reduced-fee legal services for landlord/tenant, family law, debt, or consumer issues.
• Use statewide resources like Florida Legal Services — for information and referrals when local providers are at capacity.
• Share LegalClarity upload tool with users: If formal representation isn’t possible — clients can upload legal documents for a plain-language summary and next-step guidance. (Informational only — not legal advice.)

Conclusion: Where Fort Lauderdale Residents Should Start

If you need free or low-cost civil-legal help in Fort Lauderdale but can’t afford a private lawyer — begin by contacting Legal Aid Service of Broward County at (954) 765-8950 to request intake. If they can’t take your case, reach out to Coast to Coast Legal Aid at (954) 736-2400. For quick advice or shorter-term needs, try the Broward Lawyers Care pro-bono hotline. If no representation is available — encourage users to upload documents using the LegalClarity tool to get a plain-language breakdown of their legal papers (always as informational only, not legal advice).