If you’re a responsible parent, you’re legally entitled to half of your children’s time regardless of how much money you have. But if you can’t afford a lawyer, it’s like you’re being punished for your income. Lawyers can get quite expensive, but you don’t want to take any chances and you need all the help you can get. Although it may feel like you’re straight out of luck if you can’t afford a custody lawyer, there are a few legal aid options available.
Also Read: What To Do If You Can’t Afford A Divorce Lawyer
Legal Aid Options in Family Law
Each state is different, but most lawyers will give you a free 30-minute consultation. Be honest and brief with your lawyer. Ask them what they think your best course of action should be. There are several suggestions they may make such as:
- Going to your local courthouse to find more options
- Resources to free legal aid societies in your area
- Recommending your case to a local law school
- Contacting your local bar association
- Domestic abuse shelters
There are lots of options available to you if you can’t afford a custody lawyer. So even if you can’t go to a consultation, there are some options available.
Also Read: 10 Questions To Ask A Divorce Lawyer Before Hiring Them
Your Local Courthouse
At your nearest courthouse, see if you can find whoever is in charge of administration. Some courts may offer free assistance to people with extenuating circumstances. Even if you can’t find a free consultation, your local court will still have all the information you need for your custody battle.
Free Legal Aid Societies
There are lots of legal aid services out there. Another reason for you to go to your local courthouse is to see if they can recommend different legal aid societies. Some may have specific organizations that help people in your predicament. For instance, lots of lawyers will volunteer their time to help people from a community they came from.
Law Schools
Even top law schools like Harvard offer legal aid programs at free or discounted prices. You’ll be assigned to work with a group of students and a supervising professor. In turn, your case is used as a learning experience for the students, while still providing top care.
Your Local Bar Association
If you still can’t find free legal help, try going to your local bar association. Even if they cannot offer you free or discounted legal help, they can help in some other ways.
Your bar association will let you know if there’s a lawyer in your area who specializes in cases like yours and if they can give you a free consultation. If your situation is dire, someone at the bar association may sympathize and offer more legal aid such as pro bono services or limited scope retainers.
Pro Bono Services (Free Legal Aid)
Pro bono services are when a lawyer offers free representation to their clients. Any time a lawyer does offer pro bono services, it means that they’re forgoing their own fee, along with the fee of their entire team to help you.
Larger law firms often have programs offering pro bono services. More small-time lawyers often help specific communities or marginalized groups as a way to give back to the community.
Discounted Legal Services
If a lawyer cannot offer you free services, ask them to offer discounted services. This could include a:
- Reduced hourly fee
- Limited scope retainer
- Unbundled services
- Legal advice
- Mentorship
Lawyers who offer “unbundled services” or “limited scope retainer” will help you with only a specific part of your case. You would still represent yourself, but you would have access to some things like:
- Legal advice
- Document preparation
- Appearance in a court setting
- Coaching or mentorship with your case
This is helpful for those who make too much money to qualify for legal aid but require assistance in their custody battle case.
Legal Options For Domestic Violence Victims
If you’re a domestic violence victim, you need more than help with just your custody case. During this process, you should also file for a restraining order against your abuser. Domestic violence victims not only need to protect themselves but their children as well.
You can speak to a free counselor about the abuse with the National Domestic Hotline at 1(800) 799-7233.
I need a pro bono lawyer for custody of my daughter who does not want to be with her father anymore and wishes to stay with me, up to now he will not agree to it, even though my daughter does not want to be with him
Hey Pat,
If you call 1(844)947-2547 MyCaseHelper can connect you with a family lawyer in your area. Your daughter’s age may affect what you can do in this situation. At a certain age, she can choose the primary parent she wants to live with. However, even though your daughter may not want to see her father, he’s still entitled to see her if she’s underage. We understand this is a difficult time; hopefully, we can help connect you to someone familiar with your state’s family law.
My husband and I have been together for 21 years (11 married) and we have 2 young children. We have been fighting mainly over his mother. Long story short , we got into an argument. It got somewhat physical. He didn’t hit me but he was pulling on me and prying keys out of my hand which hurt me some. He said I smacked him and punched him…NO.. I threatened him and his parents that I was going to get a peace order. He went less than an hour later and got one on me. I haven’t seen my kids in person in a month. I just started FaceTiming and I have screen shots where my daughter is texting on Face Time saying I’m being recorded. I have videos and pictures of him abusing them and pictures of my bruises. The kids said to me “don’t get mad if we say you hit daddy because they bought me” an iphone, new this, new that, etc. They were told to say they saw the entire fight and my husband was holding my son and they were outside the entire time which his statement contradicts a lot. He begged me through others not to put mine in however, he wouldn’t squash his. Now he’s making me look like I’m an attic and telling people I have been on heavy street drugs for 2 years. Lies! I have blood tests that will prove what he says. My lawyer is getting so expensive and I’m still out of the house and he still has the kids. Final hearing is the 29th. I have everything that shows the abuse. I don’t understand any of this . I was thrown out, stuck in jail twice, and I was a stay at home mom for 10 years and than kicked to the curb when I finally stand up to his parents. I’m willing to do counseling but I want him out of the house, I want my kids back, and I want to win this protection order on the 29th. What do I do??
Hello Christina,
We’re glad to hear you’re still fighting and haven’t lost hope. If you’d like a second opinion from another lawyer, you can call us at any time and we’ll connect with one in your state. In the meantime, try contacting your county’s social services office. A social worker can give you information on resources for domestic violence victims in your area, and possible legal representation options. We hope this helps!