If you live in San Antonio and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Bexar 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 San Antonio
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), San Antonio Office
What they do: TRLA is the primary free civil legal aid provider for Bexar County and 68 southwest Texas counties. They handle eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, family law, foreclosure, bankruptcy, consumer fraud, public benefits, wills and estates, farmworker rights, and civil rights matters.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Bexar County and surrounding counties who meet income and eligibility requirements. Services provided in English and Spanish.
Contact: Phone: (210) 212-3700 or toll-free (833) 329-8752. Website: trla.org.
San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA)
What they do: Provides free pro bono legal assistance in civil law areas for income-qualified San Antonio residents. Runs regular legal clinics at Haven for Hope and the Bexar County Courthouse focused on housing, tenant rights, evictions, small estate affidavits, and deed issues.
Contact: Website: sa-lsa.org. Check their public calendar for upcoming clinic dates and locations.
Bexar County Family Justice Center
What they do: Provides comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence and family violence, including legal advocacy, protective order assistance, safety planning, and court support.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and family violence in Bexar County.
Contact: Phone: (210) 631-0100. Website: bcfjc.org.
Alamo Area Agency on Aging
What they do: Provides free legal assistance and civil rights advocacy for Bexar County residents age 55 and older, including help with guardianship, wills, property deeds, financial wellness, and elder rights issues.
Contact: Phone: (210) 362-5200. Website: aacog.com.
San Antonio Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
What they do: Connects Bexar County residents with private attorneys for low-cost consultations across bankruptcy, consumer, employment, estate planning, and other civil matters. Useful for residents who do not qualify for free legal aid.
Contact: Phone: (210) 227-8822. Website: sanantoniobar.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in San Antonio
- 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
- Small estate and deed transfer issues
What San Antonio 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 San Antonio Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly, eviction cases move fast in Bexar County courts.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Contact the Bexar County Family Justice Center at (210) 631-0100 right away for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
- You receive garnishment or debt-collection paperwork: Deadlines are strict, save all documents and contact TRLA immediately.
- Your landlord refuses urgent repairs: Document conditions with photos and written communication before taking further steps.
- Your public benefits were denied or reduced: Appeals windows are short, contact TRLA as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face foreclosure: Legal aid may help negotiate or delay the process, reach out 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 immigration documents if relevant.
- Create a timeline: note key dates, notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and any upcoming hearings or deadlines.
- Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and current benefits, eligibility screening requires this information.
- 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
- San Antonio 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 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 San Antonio Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in San Antonio and cannot afford a private attorney, your first call should be to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid at (833) 329-8752. For domestic violence emergencies, contact the Bexar County Family Justice Center at (210) 631-0100. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the San Antonio Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service or visit TexasLawHelp.org for self-help tools. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation, informational only, not legal advice.