Site Help

Site Help

Read More About

• Type of help
• Zip code and county
• Income guidelines
• Can I get help if my income is larger than the guidelines?
• Special Groups

Type of help

There are several different ways in which an organization can provide help:

• Full Representation - by a lawyer or a legal advocate in court or at a hearing at a government agency.
• Brief Advice - in person or over the telephone.
• Legal Clinic - where you can briefly talk to an attorney about your legal problem.
• Pro Se Clinics - where you are shown how you can "help yourself" with a particular legal problem
• Self-Help - educational materials such as factsheets and brochures
• Other - workshops, referrals to private attorneys, and other services.

Note: Not all organizations provide all the services listed. 

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Zip code and county

Enter the zip code, city, or county of the person who needs help. It is better to enter the zip code because many groups do not serve all of a certain county. If you search by county, check the full description of each organization for the specific zip codes it serves.

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Income guidelines

Some legal aid organizations cannot serve people with incomes higher than their guidelines.  Income guidelines use a percentage of the federal poverty income amount. VaLegalAid.org does not guarantee assistance from a legal aid organization in Virginia even if you meet its income guidelines.  Below is the federal poverty income amount and comes from the Department of Health and Human Services. (Updated March 2017)

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Can I get help if my income is larger than the guidelines?

Some organizations may make exceptions for seniors, people who are HIV positive, or people experiencing domestic violence.

Some organizations also take into account expenses such as childcare, medical bills and debts. 

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Special Groups

Some organizations or programs of certain organizations only serve special groups such as:

• Children
• Seniors
• People who are HIV positive or related to those with HIV.
• People experiencing domestic violence.

Be sure to look at these other requirements carefully before contacting an organization.

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