Meta: A 2026 plain-language guide to free and low-cost civil legal aid in Winston-Salem, NC — including verified legal-aid providers, who they help, common case types, and how to prepare before applying. Not legal advice.
Legal Aid in Winston-Salem, NC: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
Winston-Salem residents who cannot afford a private attorney have access to several nonprofit and statewide organizations providing free or low-cost civil legal help. These providers handle eviction defense, unsafe housing, domestic violence issues, family law matters, debt and consumer cases, elder law, disability benefits, and public-benefits appeals. Even when full representation is unavailable, many organizations offer clinics, workshops, and self-help resources. (You can also upload your legal documents to the LegalClarity tool for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Winston-Salem
Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) — Winston-Salem Office
What they do: LANC provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in Forsyth County. They assist with eviction defense, landlord–tenant disputes, unsafe housing, domestic violence protective orders, family law (custody, visitation, child support), consumer rights, debt defense, public-benefits disputes, disability benefits, unemployment appeals, and immigration-related civil matters.
Contact: Phone: (866) 219-5262. Website: legalaidnc.org.
Forsyth County Family Justice Center
What they do: Provides comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse. Offers legal advocacy, protective-order assistance, safety planning, and court accompaniment.
Contact: Phone: (336) 776-3255. Website: forsyth.cc/fjc.
Wake Forest University School of Law Clinics
What they do: Offers supervised law-student clinics with free or low-cost help in areas such as housing disputes, innocence and justice work (not civil), elder law, and community civil-clinic projects. Civil offerings may vary each semester.
Contact: Phone: (336) 758-5430. Website: law.wfu.edu/clinics.
NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV)
What they do: Offers legal advocacy, safety planning, and statewide resources for survivors of domestic violence.
Contact: Phone: (919) 956-9124. Website: nccadv.org.
North Carolina Courts — Self-Help Center
What they do: Provides free civil forms and procedural guidance for tenants, family law matters, protective orders, and small-claims cases. No legal advice.
Website: nccourts.gov/help.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Winston-Salem
- Eviction defense and landlord–tenant disputes
- Unsafe or uninhabitable housing conditions
- Domestic violence protective orders and safety planning
- Family law: custody, visitation, child support
- Debt collection, garnishment, and consumer fraud
- Public-benefits denials (Food & Nutrition, Medicaid, disability benefits)
- Unemployment insurance appeals
- Immigration-related civil matters (non-deportation)
- Elder-law issues including exploitation or eviction
- Record expunction assistance (varies by provider)
What Winston-Salem Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense matters
- Medical malpractice or personal injury cases
- Business or commercial litigation
- Immigration deportation/removal defense
- Complex or high-asset family-law litigation
When Winston-Salem Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice or lawsuit: Eviction timelines in Forsyth County move quickly — contact LANC right away.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call the Family Justice Center for immediate support.
- You receive garnishment or debt-collection paperwork: Save everything — deadlines are strict.
- Your public benefits are denied or terminated: Appeals often require fast filing.
- Your home is unsafe or the landlord won’t make repairs: Document issues and seek help.
- Seniors facing eviction or financial abuse: Special elder-law assistance may be available.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather key documents: leases, eviction notices, repair logs, photos, debt letters, benefit denials, ID, pay stubs, and any court papers.
- Create a timeline: note dates of notices, communications, payments, repairs, and incidents.
- Prepare financial information: household size, income, benefits, and expenses.
- Write a short summary: 2–3 sentences describing your legal issue.
- Highlight urgent factors: homelessness risk, domestic violence, disability, children involved, or court deadlines.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Forsyth County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost consultations with private attorneys.
- NC Courts Self-Help Center: free procedural guides and downloadable forms.
- Community legal clinics: offered periodically by Wake Forest Law and LANC.
- LegalClarity document upload tool: get a plain-English explanation (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Winston-Salem Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Winston-Salem and cannot afford a lawyer, start by contacting Legal Aid of North Carolina at (866) 219-5262. For domestic violence emergencies, call the Forsyth County Family Justice Center. If you don’t qualify for free legal aid, use the Forsyth County Bar referral service or upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.