If you live in Miami and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Miami-Dade County. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, immigration-related civil matters, disability benefits, senior legal needs, and more. (You may upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Miami
Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGM)
What they do: LSGM is the primary free civil legal aid provider for Miami and Miami-Dade County. They handle eviction defense, housing conditions, domestic violence, family law, public benefits, consumer debt, elder law, and immigration civil matters.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Miami-Dade County.
Contact: Phone: (305) 576-0080. Website: legalservicesmiami.org.
Dade Legal Aid (DLA / Put Something Back Pro Bono Project)
What they do: Provides free civil legal services and pro bono coordination to low-income Miami-Dade residents, handling family law, housing, consumer, and other civil matters.
Who they help: Low-income Miami-Dade County residents with civil legal needs.
Contact: Phone: (305) 579-5733. Website: dadelegalaid.org.
Miami-Dade DV Hotline
What they do: Provides 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, protective order assistance, and safety planning for survivors of domestic violence in Miami-Dade County.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence in Miami-Dade County.
24/7 Hotline: (305) 758-2546. Website: safespacefl.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Miami
- Eviction defense and unsafe housing conditions
- Landlord retaliation and habitability problems
- Domestic violence and protection orders
- Custody, visitation, and child support issues
- Debt collection, repossessions, and garnishment
- Public-benefits denials (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)
- Foreclosure prevention and homeowner assistance
- Immigration-related civil help
- Record sealing and expungement
- Elder law and financial exploitation prevention
- Consumer fraud and predatory lending
- Immigration civil legal help
What Miami Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense cases
- Traffic violations
- Personal injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or commercial disputes
- Immigration removal (deportation) defense
- High-asset or heavily contested divorce cases
When Miami Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - contact legal aid at (305) 576-0080 immediately upon receiving any court notice in Miami-Dade County.
- You experience domestic violence: Call Miami-Dade DV Hotline at (305) 758-2546 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact legal aid right away.
- Your landlord refuses urgent repairs: Document conditions with photos and written requests before taking further steps.
- Your public benefits were denied or cut: Appeals windows are short - call legal aid as soon as you receive a denial notice.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather documents: leases, eviction notices, court papers, photos of housing conditions, debt collection letters, benefit denial letters, ID, pay stubs, and any disability or immigration documentation.
- Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming court or hearing dates.
- Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and current benefits - eligibility screening requires this.
- Write a brief issue summary: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome you need.
- Note urgent factors: upcoming court dates, eviction deadlines, risk of homelessness, violence, disability, or pending benefit cutoffs.
Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Dade County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost attorney consultations at (305) 371-2828.
- Florida Law Help: free legal forms, plain-English guides, and self-help resources at www.floridalawhelp.org.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Miami Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Miami and cannot afford a private attorney, call Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGM) at (305) 576-0080. For domestic violence emergencies, call Miami-Dade DV Hotline at (305) 758-2546 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Dade County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (305) 371-2828. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.