If you live in Dallas and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Dallas 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 Dallas
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT), Dallas Office
What they do: LANWT is the primary free civil legal aid provider for Dallas County, serving 114 counties across North and West Texas. The Dallas office is the firm's largest branch and handles family law, housing and landlord-tenant disputes, public benefits, wills and estates, consumer issues, bankruptcy, employment, federal tax matters, expunctions, and driver's license restoration.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Dallas County who meet income eligibility requirements.
Contact: Phone (Legal Aid Line): (888) 529-5277. Website: legalaidtx.org.
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP)
What they do: Offers free legal assistance to low-income Dallas County residents through both virtual and in-person legal clinics held on a regular schedule. Handles a broad range of civil matters and partners with community organizations to reach clients across Dallas neighborhoods.
Contact: Phone: (214) 243-2236. Website: dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org.
Genesis Women's Shelter, Legal Advocacy
What they do: Provides legal advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence in Dallas County, including protective order assistance, safety planning, and referrals to civil legal aid for related family law matters.
24/7 Hotline: (214) 946-4357. Website: genesisshelter.org.
Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (DEAC)
What they do: Provides free legal advice and assistance specifically to Dallas County residents facing eviction. Helps tenants understand their rights, respond to eviction notices, and prepare for hearings in Justice of the Peace courts.
Contact: Website: dallaseviction.org for intake information and clinic schedules.
Dallas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
What they do: Connects Dallas County residents with private attorneys for low-cost consultations across all civil practice areas. Useful for residents who do not qualify for free legal aid.
Contact: Phone: (214) 220-7476. Website: dallasbar.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Dallas
- 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
- Driver's license restoration
What Dallas 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 Dallas Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Contact LANWT or DEAC right away, eviction cases in Dallas County Justice of the Peace courts move quickly.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call Genesis Women's Shelter at (214) 946-4357 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety support.
- You receive garnishment or debt-collection paperwork: Deadlines are strict, save all documents and contact legal aid immediately.
- 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, contact LANWT as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face foreclosure: Legal aid may be able to help before a court date is set.
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 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 help you need.
- Note urgent factors: upcoming court dates, eviction deadlines, risk of homelessness, violence, disability status, or pending benefit cutoffs.
Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Dallas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost consultations with private attorneys across civil practice areas.
- TexasLawHelp.org (statewide): free legal forms, plain-English guides, and a live chat feature for civil issues.
- Texas Tenants' Union (Dallas): free weekly tenants' rights workshops, counseling, and referrals for housing issues.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Dallas Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Dallas and cannot afford a private attorney, call Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas at (888) 529-5277. For eviction-specific help, also contact the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center. For domestic violence emergencies, call Genesis Women's Shelter at (214) 946-4357. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Dallas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service or visit TexasLawHelp.org. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation, informational only, not legal advice.