Updated December 2020  

Introduction

The Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., are nonprofit organizations that provide free legal help to low-income Arkansans.

If you need help with a legal problem, have a question you think a lawyer should answer, or have been sued and do not know where to turn, call the helpline.

Apply for Legal Help Online 

If you are unsure about whether your case qualifies or you meet the eligibility requirements, here are a few good things to know:

How to Call

• If you are not sure whether your issue is a civil one, or are unsure if you fall within our income guidelines, please call and let HelpLine guide you.

• You must call on your own behalf, not someone else's.

• Please, gather documents and facts relevant to your call before calling, so we can help you as quickly as possible

• Click on this  Sheet  to find Contact Information and Hours of Operation. We serve all counties in Arkansas.

• Helpline: 1-800-9-LAW-AID (1-800-952-9243) or 501-376-3423

How to Qualify

HelpLine is here to help those in need of urgent legal help. To qualify, you must be an Arkansan [i] who falls within our income guidelines. You must also call about a civil matter; criminal issues (such as traffic tickets) and fee-generating cases (such as those involving personal injury) are not acceptable reasons to call HelpLine. 

Eligible Issues

• Consumer matters

• Contract disputes

• Debt relief

• Disability rights

• Domestic abuse

• Employment rights

• End-of-life instructions

• Evictions

• Garnishments

• Guardianships

• Landlord and tenant disputes

• Orders of protection

• Powers of attorney

• Public benefits (Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, Transitional Employment Assistance [TEA], Supplemental Security Income [SSI], child care, and subsidized housing)

• Wills

Types of Cases

We provide free civil legal services (non-criminal cases). There are many types of civil cases we handle.

Some examples by topic:

• family law: adoptions, custody, visitation, guardianships
• elder law: garnish of social security, housing issues
• consumer or debt: bankruptcies, debt collection defense
• public benefits: SSI appeals
• housing law: landlord-tenant, public housing cases, foreclosures
• other non-criminal issues

Income Limits

There are income limits. We provide free legal aid to low-incomes Arkansans. You can view our financial eligibility guidelines at arlegalservices.org/guidelines.

If you think your case might be eligible, please call the helpline using this information or apply online. 

This fact sheet is a collaboration of the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc. These nonprofit organizations provide free legal assistance to eligible Arkansans who meet income, asset, and other guidelines. Legal assistance may also include advice and counsel, brief services, or full representation depending on the situation. For more information about civil legal aid in Arkansas, please visit arlegalservices.org. For information specific to Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., visit arlegalaid.org. Apply for services online or by calling 1-800-9-LAW-AID (1-800-952-9243).

The information and statements of law in this fact sheet should not be considered legal advice. This fact sheet is provided as a broad guide to help you understand how certain legal matters are handled in general. Courts may interpret the law differently. Before you take action, talk to an attorney and follow his or her advice. Always do what the court tells you to do.

Content provided by: Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc.