If you live in Eau Claire and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Eau Claire County. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, 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 Eau Claire
Legal Action of Wisconsin
What they do: Legal Action of Wisconsin is the statewide free civil legal aid program for low-income Wisconsinites, formed by the January 2026 merger of Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid. Eau Claire County residents are served by Legal Action of Wisconsin's statewide intake following the January 2026 Judicare merger, which brought the former Judicare northern service area into Legal Action's coverage. They handle eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, family law, consumer debt, public benefits, elder abuse, health care, Medicare, Social Security, employment, guardianship, and migrant worker rights. Services are available in English, Spanish, and Hmong; interpretation services are available for other languages.
Who they help: Low-income Wisconsin residents who meet income eligibility requirements.
Contact: Phone (statewide intake): (855) 947-2529 (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-4:30 PM). Apply online at legalaction.org. Website: legalaction.org.
Bolton Refuge House
What they do: Provides emergency shelter, legal advocacy, restraining order assistance, safety planning, crisis intervention, and referrals for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Eau Claire County and the surrounding area.
24/7 Hotline: (715) 834-9578. Website: www.boltonrefugehouse.com.
State Bar of Wisconsin Modest Means Program
What they do: Connects Wisconsin residents whose income is too high for free legal aid but too low for standard attorney rates with private attorneys who offer reduced fees. The program covers bankruptcy, family law, housing, consumer, and other civil matters.
Contact: Phone: (888) 529-7599. Website: wisbar.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Eau Claire
- 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 Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - Wisconsin eviction cases can move to a court hearing within days in Eau Claire County.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call Bolton Refuge House at (715) 834-9578 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact Legal Action of Wisconsin right away.
- 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 - call Legal Action of Wisconsin at (855) 947-2529 as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face eviction: Call Legal Action of Wisconsin at (855) 947-2529 - Eau Claire County is now part of their expanded statewide service area as of January 2026.
- You experience domestic violence: Bolton Refuge House at (715) 834-9578 provides 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, and legal advocacy in Eau Claire County.
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 or immigration 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 outcome you need.
- Note urgent factors: upcoming court dates, eviction deadlines, risk of homelessness, violence, disability, or pending benefit cutoffs.
Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- State Bar of Wisconsin Modest Means Program: reduced-fee attorneys for those with modest incomes at (888) 529-7599.
- Wisconsin Free Legal Answers (online clinic): submit a civil legal question at wisconsinfreelegalanswers.org and receive a response from a volunteer attorney.
- 211 Wisconsin: dial 211 for free, confidential referrals to local legal and social services, available 24 hours a day.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Eau Claire Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Eau Claire and cannot afford a private attorney, call Legal Action of Wisconsin at (855) 947-2529 or apply online at legalaction.org. For domestic violence emergencies, call Bolton Refuge House at (715) 834-9578 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the State Bar of Wisconsin Modest Means Program at (888) 529-7599 or submit a question through Wisconsin Free Legal Answers. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.