Legal Aid in Savannah: Where to Get Free or Low-Cost Legal Help

If you live in Savannah or Chatham County and don’t have money for a private lawyer, you’re not alone. There are nonprofit and volunteer-lawyer programs in coastal Georgia ready to help with civil legal problems. This guide shows where to turn — what kinds of cases get help, how to contact providers, and what to expect when you call.

Major Legal Aid Organizations in Savannah

(GLSP — Savannah Regional Office)

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, seniors, people with limited resources, across many Georgia counties including Chatham County (Savannah). (glsp.org)
• What cases they take: Civil-law matters like housing and eviction defense, tenant/landlord disputes, public-benefits, family law (custody, domestic violence), consumer/debt problems, senior/elder law, and other basic-needs legal issues.
• How to contact: Savannah office at 6602 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31405. Phone: (912) 651-2180.
• Eligibility: Typically for people with limited income or resources; GLSP screens clients based on income or special circumstances (e.g. seniors, urgent needs).

Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Support Services

• (Virtual Advice Clinic) — Statewide online legal-advice service where qualifying users can submit civil-law questions (housing, benefits, consumer issues, family law, etc.) and receive answers from volunteer attorneys. Good for quick guidance when you can’t afford a full lawyer. (georgia.freelegalanswers.org)
• Local “Ask-A-Lawyer” / Pro Bono Clinics — GLSP sometimes partners with community groups (or through local bar association) to offer free or reduced-cost legal help via volunteer attorneys, especially for urgent housing, benefits, or domestic-law issues.
• Referrals via Local Bar / Legal Aid Networks — If a free-aid provider can’t take your case, they might refer you to a modest-means or private attorney via statewide legal aid networks. (The statewide list of legal-aid and pro bono/referral services is maintained at GeorgiaLegalAid.org.)

What Legal Aid in Savannah Usually Doesn’t Handle

• Criminal defense for serious criminal cases — GLSP and legal-aid providers focus on civil-law issues: housing, benefits, family law, debt, consumer, etc., not criminal representation.
• Large-scale corporate or commercial litigation — Aid is aimed at individuals, families, and low-income residents, not businesses or high-value commercial disputes.
• Guaranteed representation for every eligible client — Because demand is high and resources limited, even eligible clients may only receive advice, brief services, or referrals rather than full representation. GLSP handles many cases but cannot meet all legal needs of low-income residents.

Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Savannah

If you’re facing urgent problems — eviction, risk of homelessness, sudden benefit loss, unsafe housing, domestic-violence threats, or other civil-legal emergencies — act quickly. These services may be prioritized:

• Call GLSP Savannah office immediately — For eviction defense, housing emergencies, public-benefits crises, domestic-violence related civil issues, or other urgent civil problems. Phone: (912) 651-2180.
• Use Georgia Free Legal Answers for fast advice online — Good for initial guidance on rights and possible next steps while you wait for full legal-aid intake.
• Attend local pro bono or “Ask-A-Lawyer” clinics — When advertised via GLSP or community partners for urgent civil-legal matters, especially housing, consumer, or family-law issues.

How to Prepare Before You Call for Help in Savannah

• Have proof of income or benefits ready (pay stubs, benefit-award letters, unemployment, disability, etc.) — this helps GLSP determine eligibility.
• Gather documents related to your issue — such as lease or rental agreement if housing; eviction or landlord notices; utility or code-violation letters; benefit-denial notices; debt or collection letters; court notices; domestic-violence or protection letters; any relevant correspondences.
• Household info — number of people in household, dependents, ages, address, contact info, any disabilities or special circumstances — helps with eligibility screening and case prioritization.
• If there’s a deadline — eviction date, court hearing date, benefit-cut-off, utility shut-off — write it down and mention it when you call. Urgency can influence whether your case gets fast help.
• Be ready to explain clearly: what happened, when, who is involved, and what outcome you need (housing, benefits, safety, debt relief, etc.). A simple, honest summary helps legal-aid staff understand whether they can help.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Volunteer-attorney or modest-means representation via referral networks — If free aid is unavailable, referral services via statewide/pro bono programs may connect you to low-cost attorneys willing to take civil-law cases.
• Self-help & Court-form resources via GeorgiaLegalAid.org / LawHelp.org — Even without a lawyer, you can find plain-language guides, court forms, legal-information resources, and DIY tools to help you represent yourself. (GeorgiaLegalAid.org; LawHelp.org)
• Special-needs aid (senior, disability, domestic-violence referrals) — Some cases may qualify for extra priority (seniors, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, urgent housing/benefit issues) under GLSP or related statewide aid networks.

Key Takeaways

• Savannah is served by a strong statewide civil-legal aid organization — Georgia Legal Services Program’s Savannah Regional Office — that covers housing, family law, benefits, consumer, and other civil matters for low-income residents.
• If you face serious issues — eviction, unsafe housing, benefit denial, domestic violence, consumer or debt problems, or other civil-legal challenges — there’s a real chance you could get free or low-cost legal help.
• Emergency or urgent civil-legal issues often get prioritized — calling early and being prepared with documents and details improves your chances of getting help.
• Even if full representation isn’t available, there are fallback options: online legal-advice clinics, volunteer attorneys, self-help resources, and modest-means referrals can help you move forward.
• Before contacting legal aid: gather income info, relevant documents (housing, benefits, debts, correspondence), household info, any deadlines, and a clear summary of what’s happening — that helps intake staff act quickly and gives you the best shot at support.