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

If you live in Lexington or Fayette County and can’t afford a private lawyer, there are nonprofit and volunteer-lawyer organizations that provide free or low-cost civil-legal help. This guide shows where to turn, what kinds of cases they handle, and how to prepare when you call or show up.

Major Legal Aid Organizations Serving Lexington / Fayette County

(LABG – Lexington Office)

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, immigrants — residents of central and northern Kentucky including Fayette County.
• What cases they take: Civil-law matters: housing (eviction defense, tenant/landlord issues, unsafe housing), public benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, unemployment, etc.), consumer/debt problems, family law (divorce, custody, child support, protection orders), immigration and immigrant-justice services (including U-Visa / VAWA-related), expungement/record-sealing, elder law, life-planning documents (wills, power of attorney), veterans’ issues, and more.
• How to contact: Lexington office: 300 E. Main Street, Suite 210, Lexington, KY 40507. Intake phone: 859-431-8200. Call intake Monday–Thursday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Friday 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Self-Help Resources in Lexington

• — Offers free legal information and self-help services (forms, basic guidance) for issues like divorce, child support, expungement, and other civil legal matters.
• Online & Statewide Legal-Aid Portal: — Provides access to legal-help resources statewide, self-help guides, and links to legal-aid providers like LABG when you can’t afford a lawyer.

What Legal Aid in Lexington Usually Doesn’t Handle

• Most criminal defense cases: LABG focuses on civil-law issues — housing, family law, benefits, consumer law, immigration — not criminal defense.
• Large-scale commercial or complex business litigation: Legal-aid services are designed for individuals, households, and vulnerable populations — not corporations or high-value business disputes.
• No guarantee of full representation in every case: Because demand is high and resources limited, even eligible clients may receive advice, limited-scope assistance, or referrals instead of full representation.

Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Lexington

If you face urgent civil-legal issues — eviction, risk of homelessness, domestic violence, denial of benefits, unsafe housing, immigration emergencies, or other crises — it’s important to act quickly. Some resources may respond faster or offer priority help:

• Call Legal Aid of the Bluegrass ASAP at 859-431-8200 — for housing emergencies, protective orders, benefit crises, immigration concerns, debt/consumer emergencies, and other urgent civil-law matters.
• Use Fayette County Legal Help Center for quick guidance or self-help assistance — especially if you must act fast but can’t get full representation.
• Use KYJustice.org’s statewide resources — to find self-help guides, forms, or referrals while you wait for intake.

How to Prepare Before You Call or Seek Legal Aid

• Have proof of income or benefit status ready (pay stubs, benefit letters, unemployment, disability, etc.), since eligibility is often based on financial need.
• Gather any documents connected to your issue — lease or rental agreement (if housing), eviction or landlord notices, notices of benefit denial, debt or collection letters, court paperwork if any, immigration or naturalization documents (if relevant), identification, and any correspondence.
• Know household and personal info — number of people in household, ages, dependents, disabilities or special needs, income sources, veteran or disability status, address, and contact info. This helps with eligibility screening.
• If there’s an upcoming deadline (eviction date, court hearing, benefit cut-off, utility shut-off), write it down. Urgency often influences whether legal-aid accepted or prioritized your case.
• Prepare a clear summary of your situation — when the problem started, who’s involved, what changed, what outcome you’re seeking (housing stability, protection, benefits, debt relief, immigration help, etc.). Clear and honest info helps legal-aid staff decide quickly whether they can help.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Self-help via Fayette County Legal Help Center or KYJustice.org resources — If you must represent yourself (pro se), you can use free forms, guides, and resources listed through those platforms.
• Volunteer or modest-fee private attorneys (referrals) — Legal-aid staff may refer eligible clients to private or modest-fee attorneys if they don’t qualify for full aid, or when demand is high.
• Community support and advocacy groups (immigrant-rights, domestic-violence support, etc.) — For certain issues (immigration, family-violence, housing, consumer, etc.), supportive community or advocacy organizations may offer guidance or referrals via legal-aid networks listed on KYJustice.org.

Key Takeaways

• Lexington is served by a strong civil-legal aid provider — Legal Aid of the Bluegrass — that helps low-income, vulnerable, and marginalized residents with housing, benefits, family law, consumer/debt problems, immigration, and more.
• If you face urgent civil-law problems — eviction, unsafe housing, benefit or medical-aid issues, domestic violence, immigration problems, debt, or other crises — call early. You may qualify for free or low-cost legal aid, or at least get helpful advice and referrals.
• Even if full representation isn’t available — self-help resources, legal-help hotlines, or referrals to private attorneys remain useful alternatives to help you move forward.
• Before calling — gather income or benefit documentation, relevant papers, household info, deadlines, and a clear explanation of your situation; being prepared makes it easier for legal-aid staff to assess and help you quickly.