Meta: A clear 2025 guide to free and low-cost civil legal aid for Hollywood, FL residents — including real organizations, what they handle, how to contact them, and how to prepare before reaching out.
Legal Aid in Hollywood, FL: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
If you live in Hollywood and can’t afford a private attorney, several nonprofit providers in Broward County can help with civil-legal issues such as evictions, unsafe housing, debt collection, domestic violence, family law, elder law, and public benefits. Even if full representation isn’t available, you can still access pro bono clinics, advice hotlines, self-help resources, or low-cost procedural assistance. (You may also direct users to upload their legal documents to your LegalClarity tool for a plain-language explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Hollywood & Broward County
Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS)
What they do: LAS is the largest civil-legal aid provider in Broward County. They assist with eviction defense, landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosure prevention, debt and consumer issues, domestic violence, family law (for eligible clients), veterans' legal needs, elder law, public benefits, and immigration-related civil matters.
How to contact: Phone: (954) 765-8950. Address: 491 N State Road 7/441, Plantation, FL 33317. Website: browardlegalaid.org.
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA)
What they do: CCLA serves low-income individuals in Broward County with family law, elder law, domestic violence representation, immigration-related civil matters, consumer problems, and public-benefits issues.
How to contact: Phone: (954) 736-2400. Website: coasttocoastlegalaid.org.
Broward Lawyers Care — Pro Bono Program
What they do: Broward Lawyers Care is the official pro bono project of LAS, providing brief advice, legal clinics, and in some cases limited-scope representation. They can assist with housing issues, family law, guardianship, consumer disputes, and small civil matters.
How to contact: Pro bono hotline (when active): (954) 355-6256. Website: browardlegalaid.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Hollywood
- Evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe or uninhabitable housing
- Debt collection, lawsuits, garnishment, consumer fraud
- Foreclosure defense and mortgage-related issues
- Domestic violence injunctions and emergency family-law help
- Family law: custody, child support, divorce, paternity
- Public benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI) and unemployment appeals
- Immigration paperwork and civil matters (limited capacity)
- Elder-law issues, exploitation, and housing problems affecting seniors
What Legal Aid Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Criminal cases (felony, misdemeanor, DUI, traffic)
- Business or commercial litigation
- High-asset or heavily contested family-law cases
- Most immigration court representation
When Hollywood Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Florida eviction timelines are short — call LAS or CCLA right away.
- You experience domestic violence: Seek immediate help filing for an injunction or protective order.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment papers: Save everything — deadlines matter.
- Your benefits are denied or stopped: Appeals have strict filing timelines.
- You have an upcoming court date: Contact legal aid as early as possible.
How to Prepare Before Calling or Applying
- Gather key documents: leases, eviction notices, pay stubs, family-law filings, debt letters, benefit denial notices, police reports, photos of unsafe conditions, and any communication with landlords or agencies.
- Create a timeline: write down important dates, including notices received, payments made, and conversations with landlords or creditors.
- Prepare income and household information: legal-aid programs screen applicants based on financial eligibility.
- Write a brief summary: 2–3 sentences explaining what happened and what help you need.
- Highlight urgency: threat of homelessness, violence, medical issues, disability, children involved, or upcoming hearings.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Broward Self-Help Services: Affordable help with forms and filing procedures for family law, small claims, and landlord/tenant issues.
- Sliding-scale attorneys: Many Broward County lawyers offer limited-scope representation at reduced rates.
- Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service: Offers low-cost consultations. (lrs.floridabar.org)
- LegalClarity document-explainer tool: Residents can upload legal documents for a plain-language explanation — informational only.
Conclusion: Where Hollywood Residents Should Start
If you need civil-legal help in Hollywood and can’t afford a lawyer, start by calling Legal Aid Service of Broward County at (954) 765-8950. If they are at capacity, try Coast to Coast Legal Aid at (954) 736-2400. For shorter advice or limited help, the Broward Lawyers Care pro bono network can be a useful option. And when representation isn’t available, your LegalClarity upload tool gives residents a simple, plain-language explanation of their documents (informational only).