Meta: A 2025 plain-language guide to free and low-cost civil legal aid in Hillsboro, Oregon — including verified providers, eligibility details, common case types, and how residents can prepare before requesting help. Not legal advice.
Legal Aid in Hillsboro, OR: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
If you live in Hillsboro and can’t afford a private attorney, several local and statewide organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal services. These providers assist with housing issues, evictions, family law, domestic violence, debt, and public-benefits disputes. (You may also upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Hillsboro
Oregon Law Center (OLC) — Hillsboro Regional Office
What they do: OLC’s Hillsboro office provides free civil-legal help to low-income residents of Washington County, including Hillsboro, Beaverton, and nearby communities. They handle housing issues (evictions, unsafe conditions, discrimination), family law for survivors of domestic violence, wage and employment problems, consumer-debt collection, and public-benefits cases (Oregon Health Plan, SNAP, SSI/SSDI, unemployment benefits).
Who they help: Low-income residents, seniors, and survivors of abuse or discrimination who qualify for free civil-legal aid.
Contact: 230 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite F, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Phone: (503) 640-4115. Website: oregonlawcenter.org.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) — Hillsboro / Washington County Office
What they do: LASO serves low-income residents in Hillsboro and surrounding areas, focusing on housing, eviction prevention, landlord-tenant disputes, family law, public-benefits appeals, senior legal issues, and disability rights.
Who they help: Individuals and families with limited income, typically at or below 125% of the federal poverty line, as well as seniors and veterans.
Contact: 230 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite F, Hillsboro, OR 97124 (same office as OLC). Phone: (503) 640-4115. Website: lasoregon.org.
St. Andrew Legal Clinic (SALC) — Washington County Office
What they do: SALC provides affordable family-law services for people who don’t qualify for free legal aid but can’t afford full attorney fees. They help with custody, parenting plans, child support, divorce, and domestic-violence protective orders.
Who they help: Low- to moderate-income individuals needing family-law assistance. Sliding-scale fees are available.
Contact: 232 NE Lincoln Street, Suite H, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Phone: (503) 281-1500. Website: salcgroup.org.
Centro Cultural of Washington County — Legal Navigation Assistance
What they do: Centro Cultural offers legal-navigation services connecting Spanish-speaking and immigrant residents to trusted legal-aid partners for housing, domestic-violence, and family-law issues. Staff can assist with referrals, translation, and document review.
Who they help: Low-income, Latino/a, and immigrant communities in Hillsboro and Washington County.
Contact: 1110 N Adair Street, Cornelius, OR 97113. Phone: (503) 359-0446. Website: centrocultural.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Hillsboro
- Eviction defense and tenant-rights cases
- Unsafe housing or discrimination by landlords
- Domestic violence, custody, parenting plans, and family-law support
- Debt collection and garnishment
- Employment law: wage theft, discrimination, and workplace retaliation
- Public-benefits denials and appeals (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, unemployment)
- Senior and disability legal issues
What Hillsboro Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal or traffic cases
- Personal-injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or corporate disputes
- High-asset divorce or complex property division
When Hillsboro Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice or court summons: Contact LASO or OLC immediately — deadlines are strict.
- You experience domestic violence or need a restraining order: Call SALC or OLC right away for guidance.
- You’re facing benefit denial or termination: Appeals often must be filed within a few days — contact legal aid quickly.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Seek advice before responding or missing a court deadline.
- You face discrimination in housing or employment: OLC and Centro Cultural can help you file complaints and protect your rights.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather documents: leases, notices, pay stubs, benefit-denial letters, court papers, and ID.
- Prepare a summary: 2–3 sentences describing what happened and what you need help with.
- List important dates: deadlines, hearing dates, or eviction notices.
- Bring proof of income: pay stubs, unemployment statements, or benefit letters.
- Highlight urgent risks: eviction, domestic violence, loss of benefits, or disability needs.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Low-cost attorneys: The Oregon State Bar’s Modest Means Program connects residents with reduced-fee lawyers. (osbar.org)
- Family-law clinics: St. Andrew Legal Clinic provides sliding-scale family-law help. (salcgroup.org)
- Community resources: Centro Cultural offers bilingual navigation and referrals to legal-aid partners. (centrocultural.org)
- Self-help resources: Visit Oregon Law Help for forms and guides. (oregonlawhelp.org)
- LegalClarity tools: Upload documents for plain-language explanations — informational only.
Conclusion: Where Hillsboro Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Hillsboro, start by calling Oregon Law Center at (503) 640-4115 or Legal Aid Services of Oregon at the same number. For family-law help, contact St. Andrew Legal Clinic. If you need bilingual assistance or referrals, reach out to Centro Cultural of Washington County. For general understanding of your documents, use LegalClarity’s plain-language tools — informational only, not legal advice.