If you live in Houston and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Harris 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 Houston
Lone Star Legal Aid
What they do: Lone Star Legal Aid is the primary free civil legal aid provider for Harris County and the greater Houston area, serving 72 counties across east and southeast Texas. They handle eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, family law, consumer protection, public benefits appeals, foreclosure prevention, elder law, and environmental law matters.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Harris County and surrounding areas who meet income eligibility requirements.
Contact: Phone: (713) 652-0077 or toll-free (800) 733-8394. Website: lonestarlegal.org.
Houston Volunteer Lawyers
What they do: The pro bono arm of the Houston Bar Association and the largest provider of free pro bono legal services in Harris County. They match income-eligible residents with volunteer attorneys across family law, housing, probate, consumer cases, estate planning, federal taxes, guardianship, and veterans matters. Also runs a free LegalLine hotline on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Who they help: Low-income Harris County residents, including those who may not qualify for other programs, non-U.S. citizens, and veterans.
Contact: Phone: (713) 228-0735. Website: makejusticehappen.org.
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA)
What they do: Provides free legal services, safety planning, protective order assistance, and court support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and family violence in Harris County.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and family violence in the Houston area.
24/7 Hotline: (713) 224-9911. Website: avda-tx.org.
Advocate Legal Senior Center
What they do: Provides free legal help for Houston-area seniors on elder law matters including estate planning, real estate issues, deed transfers, and protection from financial exploitation.
Contact: Phone: (832) 393-4074. Website: houstontx.gov/health/Aging.
Houston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
What they do: Connects Houston 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: (713) 237-9429. Website: hba.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Houston
- 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
- Veterans benefits and disability appeals
What Houston 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 Houston Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly, eviction cases move fast in Harris County Justice of the Peace courts.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Contact AVDA at (713) 224-9911 right away for emergency legal 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 action.
- Your public benefits were denied or cut: Appeals windows are short, contact Lone Star Legal Aid as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face foreclosure or utility shutoff: Legal aid can help stabilize housing situations before they reach court.
- A senior is facing financial exploitation: Contact the Advocate Legal Senior Center immediately.
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 medical or disability documentation.
- Create a timeline: write down key dates, when notices were received, repair requests made, payments missed, and any court or hearing dates.
- Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and any public benefits you receive, eligibility screening requires this.
- Write a brief issue summary: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome 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
- Houston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost consultations with private attorneys across all practice areas.
- TexasLawHelp.org (statewide): free legal forms, plain-English guides, and a live chat feature for civil legal issues.
- Texas Free Legal Answers (online clinic): submit a civil legal question at texas.freelegalanswers.org and receive a response from a volunteer attorney.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Houston Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Houston and cannot afford a private attorney, your first call should be to Lone Star Legal Aid at (800) 733-8394. For domestic violence emergencies, call AVDA's 24/7 hotline at (713) 224-9911 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Houston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service or visit TexasLawHelp.org for self-help tools and forms. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation, informational only, not legal advice.