Meta: A 2026 plain-language guide to free and low-cost civil legal aid in Dearborn, MI — including verified providers, who they help, what cases they take, and how to prepare before applying.
Legal Aid in Dearborn, MI: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
If you live in Dearborn and need civil-legal help but cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations serving Wayne County offer free or low-cost legal assistance. These groups help with housing issues, eviction defense, unsafe living conditions, family law, domestic violence, debt and consumer problems, immigration-related civil needs, elder law, and public benefits. Even if full representation isn’t available, many provide brief advice, clinics, hotlines, or self-help tools. (Residents may also upload legal paperwork to the LegalClarity tool for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Dearborn
Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD)
What they do: LAD provides free civil-legal help to low-income residents of Wayne County. They handle eviction defense, landlord/tenant problems, housing repairs, domestic violence matters, custody and parenting-time issues (limited), consumer protection, debt collection, bankruptcy guidance, and public-benefits cases.
Contact: Phone: (313) 967-5555. Website: ladadetroit.org.
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) — Legal Services
What they do: Provides legal consultations and immigration-related civil assistance for families in Dearborn and surrounding communities. Services include naturalization help, DACA renewals, documentation support, family-based petitions, and referrals for housing or benefits issues.
Contact: Phone: (313) 842-7010. Website: accesscommunity.org.
Lakeshore Legal Aid
What they do: Offers statewide and regional assistance with eviction defense, domestic violence protection, elder law, consumer rights, foreclosure prevention, and public benefits. Although based outside Dearborn, they regularly serve Wayne County residents through hotlines and virtual intake.
Contact: (888) 783-8190. Website: lakeshorelegalaid.org.
Michigan Legal Help — Statewide Self-Help Tools
What they do: Provides free DIY forms and guides for evictions, divorce, custody, child support, debt collection, small claims, and Personal Protection Orders (PPOs). This is Michigan’s primary self-help option.
Website: michiganlegalhelp.org.
First Step — Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Support
What they do: Provides emergency shelter, crisis intervention, safety planning, forensic exams, and help filing PPOs. They assist survivors through the early stages of the court process.
24/7 Crisis Line: (734) 722-6800. Website: firststep-mi.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Dearborn
- Evictions and landlord/tenant disputes
- Unsafe or uninhabitable housing conditions
- Debt collection, garnishment, repossession, and consumer fraud
- Foreclosure and mortgage trouble
- Domestic violence, stalking, and Personal Protection Orders
- Family law: custody, parenting time, child support, divorce (limited eligibility)
- Public benefits: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, unemployment
- Elder law: exploitation, guardianship, long-term care
- Immigration-related civil matters (ACCESS)
What Legal Aid Usually Does Not Handle
- Criminal defense (felonies, misdemeanors, DUI)
- Personal injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or commercial litigation
- Immigration detention or removal defense
When Dearborn Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Michigan eviction timelines move quickly — contact LAD or Lakeshore right away.
- You experience domestic violence: First Step’s 24/7 hotline provides immediate help and assistance with PPOs.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment papers: deadlines are strict — save all documents.
- Your benefits are denied or stopped: appeals must be filed before the deadline listed on the notice.
- You have a court hearing soon: early contact increases the chance of legal-aid help.
How to Prepare Before Calling or Applying
- Gather documents: leases, court papers, eviction notices, debt letters, benefit denials, ID, pay stubs, police reports, communication with landlords or creditors, and photos of unsafe housing.
- Create a simple timeline: include important dates (notices, incidents, payments, conversations).
- Prepare income & household details: legal-aid intake requires this information.
- Write a short summary of your issue: 2–3 sentences describing what happened and what type of help you need.
- Highlight urgent issues: homelessness risk, domestic violence, elderly or disabled family members, or upcoming hearings.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Michigan Legal Help: a free self-help library with forms and instructions.
- State Bar Lawyer Referral: low-cost initial consultations with private attorneys.
- Limited-scope attorneys: many Dearborn lawyers provide reduced-fee services for specific tasks.
- LegalClarity document-explainer tool: upload your legal paperwork for a plain-English explanation — informational only.
Conclusion: Where Dearborn Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Dearborn and cannot afford a lawyer, begin by contacting Legal Aid and Defender Association at (313) 967-5555. For immigration-related civil matters, ACCESS is a trusted regional resource, and for domestic violence emergencies, contact First Step’s 24/7 hotline. When legal aid cannot take your case, statewide tools and your LegalClarity upload feature can help you understand your documents — informational only, not legal advice.