Legal Aid in Ontario, CA: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer

If you live in Ontario and need civil-legal help but can’t afford a private attorney, there are nonprofit and public-service providers serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties that offer free or low-cost legal assistance. These resources cover housing and tenant issues, evictions, domestic violence, family law, consumer/debt issues, public benefits, elder law, and other common civil-law matters.

Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Ontario & Inland Empire

Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) — Ontario Office

What they do: ICLS provides free civil-legal services to low-income and vulnerable residents of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Their areas include housing (tenant/landlord, evictions, unsafe housing), consumer/debt issues, public benefits, elder law, family law (including domestic violence and restraining orders), and other civil-rights matters.

Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, seniors, people with disabilities, undocumented or immigrant households, and other underserved populations within their service area.

How to contact: Office address: 3500 Porsche Way, Suite 200, Ontario, CA 91764. For intake and eligibility screening, call (888) 245-4257.

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB)

What they do: LASSB provides free or low-cost legal aid focused on family law, tenant/landlord matters (including eviction defense), domestic violence, and civil-legal support for low-income residents throughout San Bernardino County.

Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in San Bernardino County, including Ontario residents who meet income and eligibility criteria.

How to contact: General intake number: (909) 889-7328. Address: 588 W. Sixth Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410.

What Legal Aid in Ontario Typically Covers

• Evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, unsafe or substandard housing, unlawful detainer defense.
• Debt-collection and consumer issues (unfair debt practices, collections, consumer rights).
• Family law: divorce, child/spousal support, custody/visitation, domestic violence protective/restraining orders.
• Public benefits appeals, elder law, disability-related issues, seniors’ concerns.
• Civil-rights issues and protections for vulnerable or underserved populations.

What They Usually Don’t Handle

• Criminal defense (felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, traffic) — most local legal-aid services focus on civil-law matters.
• Complex commercial litigation, high-asset business disputes, or major corporate lawsuits beyond nonprofit capacity.
• Large-scale personal-injury lawsuits or complex multi-party litigation without pro bono or private counsel.
• Criminal law (except possibly certain limited-scope cases) — for criminal charges, individuals typically rely on public defender systems or private attorneys.

When Ontario Residents Should Seek Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice or unlawful-detainer complaint: Contact ICLS or LASSB immediately — housing cases move quickly and delays can be dangerous.
• Your home is unsafe or substandard, or landlord refuses necessary repairs: Reach out to tenant-rights services early.
• You face domestic violence, threats, or need a protective/restraining order: Contact LASSB or ICLS as soon as possible.
• You receive debt-collection notices, wage garnishment threats, or significant consumer-debt issues: Seek legal aid before responding or signing any documents.
• You need assistance with family law, custody/support disputes, benefits appeals, elder-law issues, or civil-rights concerns: Contact a legal-aid provider promptly, as deadlines may apply.

How to Prepare Before Calling or Applying for Legal Aid

1. Gather relevant documents: leases or rental agreements, eviction or rent-increase notices, benefit letters or denials, debt or creditor letters, pay stubs or income proof, IDs, utility bills, any notices from landlords/creditors/agencies, court papers (if any), medical/disability documents if applicable.
2. Write a short summary of your situation: 2–3 sentences stating what happened, when, who is involved, and what outcome you hope to achieve (e.g. eviction defense, restraining order, debt resolution, benefits appeal).
3. Have household & income info ready: number of people in household, monthly income, any dependents or disabilities — many legal-aid providers require income screening for eligibility.
4. Note important dates/deadlines: eviction or rent-increase deadlines, court hearing dates, due dates for debts or benefits responses, etc. Helps intake staff assess urgency and prioritize your case.
5. Collect any correspondence or evidence: written communication with landlords, creditors, employers, agencies; photos (if housing or safety issue); medical or police reports (if domestic violence or injury); benefit or eligibility letters; wage statements; etc.

Alternatives if You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Court Self-Help Services & Statewide Directories: Use the statewide self-help portal (via the court or through LawHelpCA) to find other providers or get procedural guidance.
• Sliding-Scale or Limited-Scope Clinics or Private Attorneys: Some nonprofits or local bar-association referral services may offer limited-scope or lower-fee help even if you don’t qualify for full aid.
• Document Upload & Self-Help Tools via LegalClarity: If you don’t qualify for free legal aid, you can upload your legal documents and questions using the LegalClarity document explainer tool. This gives you a plain-language explanation of your options — note: it is informational only and not legal advice.

Conclusion: Where Ontario Residents Should Start

If you need civil-legal help in Ontario and cannot afford a lawyer, start by contacting Inland Counties Legal Services at (888) 245-4257 — they offer broad civil-legal aid covering housing, debt, family law, elder law, and more. If you need help with eviction defense, domestic violence, or family law and ICLS is overloaded or ineligible, consider contacting Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino. Before calling, gather relevant documents, income and household info, and a short summary of your issue to help intake staff assist you more effectively. If you don’t qualify for full aid, you can still explore self-help options or use LegalClarity’s document-explainer tool for guidance.