Meta: A 2026 plain-language guide to free and low-cost civil legal aid in Paterson, NJ — including verified legal-aid providers, who they help, what cases they handle, and how to prepare before applying. Not legal advice.
Legal Aid in Paterson, NJ: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
If you live in Paterson and need civil legal help but cannot afford a private attorney, several local and statewide nonprofit organizations offer free or low-cost assistance. These providers help with eviction defense, unsafe housing, domestic violence, family law issues, debt and consumer disputes, elder law, immigration-related civil matters, and public-benefits denials. Even when full representation is unavailable, many offer advice lines, clinics, and self-help guidance. (You may also upload documents to the LegalClarity tool for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Paterson
Passaic County Legal Aid Society (PCLAS)
What they do: PCLAS provides free civil-legal services to eligible low-income residents of Paterson and greater Passaic County. They assist with eviction defense, landlord–tenant disputes, housing conditions, domestic violence, family law matters (limited representation), debt collection, consumer issues, public-benefits appeals, and elder-law cases.
Contact: Phone: (973) 523-2900. Address: 152 Market St., Paterson, NJ 07505.
Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) — Statewide
What they do: LSNJ provides statewide civil-legal support and referrals. They help with housing cases, domestic violence, custody and child support, immigration-related civil issues, debt and consumer protection, expungements, and public-benefits problems. They also run the state’s main legal-aid hotline.
Contact: 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529). Website: lsnj.org.
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV)
What they do: Provides statewide support for survivors of domestic or sexual violence, including help with restraining orders, crisis intervention, and referrals to legal services.
Contact: 24/7 hotline: (800) 572-7233. Website: njcedv.org.
New Jersey Courts Self-Help Resources
What they do: Offer free guides, forms, and instructions for people who are representing themselves in civil court. Covers landlord–tenant cases, small claims, family law, child support, and protective orders. No legal advice.
Website: njcourts.gov/selfhelp
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Paterson
- Evictions and landlord–tenant disputes
- Unsafe or uninhabitable housing conditions
- Domestic violence, harassment, and restraining orders
- Family law: custody, visitation, child support, divorce (limited)
- Debt collection, wage garnishment, and consumer-fraud cases
- Public-benefits denials (SNAP, Medicaid, disability, TANF)
- Elder-law issues, including exploitation
- Immigration-related civil matters (not removal defense)
- Expungement of old criminal records
What Paterson Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense (felonies, misdemeanors, DUI)
- Personal injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or commercial litigation
- Immigration removal/detention cases
- High-asset or complex family-law disputes
When Paterson Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- If you receive an eviction notice: New Jersey eviction timelines move quickly — contact legal aid immediately.
- If your landlord threatens lockout or refuses repairs: Document everything and seek assistance promptly.
- If you experience domestic violence: Call the statewide DV hotline and request emergency court protection.
- If you receive debt-collection or garnishment papers: Keep all documents — deadlines may be short.
- If your benefits are denied or reduced: Appeals often have strict timelines.
- If seniors face eviction or financial exploitation: Contact legal aid quickly for protective support.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Collect relevant documents: leases, eviction notices, repair requests, debt letters, benefit denials, pay stubs, ID, court papers, and communication logs.
- Create a clear timeline: list notices received, payments made, repair attempts, incidents, and deadlines.
- Prepare household & income information: used for eligibility screening.
- Write a short summary of your issue: 2–3 sentences describing what happened and what help you need.
- Highlight urgent factors: domestic violence, disability, senior status, eviction risk, homelessness risk, or upcoming hearings.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Legal Aid
- New Jersey Bar Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost attorney consultations.
- NJ Courts self-help tools: free forms and guides for self-represented litigants.
- Pro bono programs: volunteer attorneys through LSNJ and local clinics.
- LegalClarity upload tool: provides plain-English explanations of your documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Paterson Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Paterson and cannot afford an attorney, start by contacting Passaic County Legal Aid Society at (973) 523-2900 or the statewide hotline 1-888-LSNJ-LAW. If you do not qualify, use NJ Courts self-help resources or the Lawyer Referral Service. You may also upload documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.