Apply for Help Online

You can apply for help with a legal matter in any of Legal Aid's practice areas at any time by using our online form.

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What happens if I apply online?

Step 1: Fill out an intake application online here. 

  • Upload documents related to your legal problem if you have any.  If you don’t have documents to upload, you can still submit the online application.

Step 2: Legal Aid will review your application. 

  • You do not need to call if you have applied online.
  • If we might be able to help you, someone will contact you by phone or email to follow up with you.
  • If we are not able to help you, we will send you an email to let you know.

Apply for Help By Phone

Call our intake line at 202-628-1161

Phone Intake Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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What happens when I call Legal Aid's intake line?

Step 1: 

  • An intake specialist will gather basic information about you and your legal problem.
  • If no one answers when you call, please leave a message with your name, phone number, and a brief description of your legal problem.  An intake specialist will call you back if it is a problem we can help you resolve.

Step 2: 

  • If you have a problem that Legal Aid might be able to help you with, a Legal Aid staff member will call you back to complete a full intake interview at that time or at a later time when you are available.

Visit a Legal Aid Office

Legal Aid welcomes clients in person at our two office locations: 

Downtown

1331 H Street NW
Suite 350
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. 

Anacostia

Anacostia Professional Building (the Big Chair)
2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE
Suite 201
Hours: Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Phone Hotlines

You can also phone a legal hotline (staffed by Legal Aid DC and other DC legal services organizations) or courthouse office for legal help:

  • For a debt collection matters, you can call the Debt Collection Defense hotline at 202-851-3387
  • For a rental housing matter, you can call the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network at 202-780-2575
  • For a family law matter, you can call:
    • The Family Law Assistance Network at 202-844-5428
    • The Child Support Resource Center at 202-791-3996
  • For a domestic violence matter, you can go to D.C. Superior Court or call:
    • The Domestic Violence Intake Center (NW) at 202-879-0152
    • The Domestic Violence Intake Center (SE) at 202-879-1500

At the Courthouse

Legal Aid staff and attorneys are available to help at the courthouse on rental housing and family law matters.

 

Courthouse Help for Problems with Rental Housing

Landlord-Tenant Court

510 4th Street NW
Room 221
Legal Aid Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Courthouse Help for Family Law and Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Intake Center

500 Indiana Avenue NW
Suite 455
Legal Aid Hours: Monday 8 a.m.-4p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Family Law Assistance Network

500 Indiana Avenue NW
Room 105
Legal Aid Hours: Tuesday and Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Child Support Resource Center

500 Indiana Avenue NW
Room JM-13B
Legal Aid Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Who Does Legal Aid DC Help?

Legal Aid DC helps people with low household income. We generally help people with income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and in some cases will help clients with income up to 300%.

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Check Your Income Level

See if you might qualify for our services based on your monthly income and household/family size (the number of adults and children in the household).

Household SizeMonthly Income (200%)Monthly Income (300%)
1$2,510$3,765
2$3,407$5,110
3 $4,303$6,455
4$5,200$7,800  
5$6,097$9,145

What Types of Cases Does Legal Aid Take?

Legal Aid helps with legal problems or cases in the District of Columbia.  

If you do not live in DC, but your legal problem or case is in DC, we may be able to help you. If your legal problem or case is in another city or state, go to LawHelp.org to find help in that city or state.

 

Legal Aid only helps with some types of legal problems.  

Click here to find out more about what types of legal problems we handle. For information about other places to look for legal help in the DC, go to Legal Aid’s Referral List or LawHelp.org.

 

Legal Aid cannot help everyone who might be eligible for our services. If we cannot help you, we may be able to give you referral information for other legal organizations.

We’re here to help you