Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Legal Assistance
Included in this list are organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to victims of abuse and others who qualify. Even if the organization does not have a lawyer available to represent you in court, you may want to ask if there is a lawyer who you can consult with to get advice. Please note that we list the organizations by the town/city or county where the office is located – however, many offices may likely serve multiple counties. We indicate the “counties served” whenever possible. You can click “View All” to look through the complete list of organizations. You can also contact law schools in your area to ask if they have a legal clinic.
Asheville
Pisgah Legal Services - Asheville Office
Avery
Pisgah Legal Services - Newland Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Buncombe
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Senior Law Project Asheville
The Senior Law Project provides free civil legal help to North Carolineans who are age 60 or older. The project helps with: wills, power of attorney, abuse and neglect, housing issues, public benefits, and more. The Senior Law Project serves all counties.
Pisgah Legal Services - Asheville HEOP Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Burke
Pisgah Legal Services - Morganton Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Cabarrus
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Concord Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Concord office serves Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union counties.
Cherokee
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Smoky Mountain-Murphy Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Smoky Mountain Murphy office serves Cherokee, Clay, and Graham counties, and the territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Cumberland
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Fayetteville Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Fayetteville office serves Cumberland, Harnett, and Sampson counties.
Durham
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Durham East Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Durham East office serves Caswell, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties.
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Durham Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Durham office serves Caswell, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties.
Forsyth
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Winston-Salem Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Winston-Salem office serves Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties.
Gaston
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Gastonia Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Gastonia office serves Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln counties.
Guilford
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Greensboro Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Greensboro office serves Davidson, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, and Rowan counties.
Haywood
Pisgah Legal Services - Waynesville Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Henderson
Pisgah Legal Services - Hendersonville Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties. In the PLS Hendersonville office, an immigration attorney and bilingual support staff offer services to recent immigrants in the 18 westernmost counties of the state.
Pisgah Legal Services - Hendersonville Second Location
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Hertford
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Ahoskie office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Ahoskie office serves Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties.
Macon
Pisgah Legal Services - Franklin Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Pisgah Legal Services - Highlands/Cashiers Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Madison
Pisgah Legal Services - Marshall Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Mecklenburg
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Helps people in the Charlotte area who cannot afford legal services for a wide range of civil matters. They offer legal services to immigrants regardless of status, and protect low-income, non-English-Speaking, Latinx residents and immigrants of other national origins from exploitation. Immigrant services include: aid for victims of family abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and gender-based violence; representation in immigration court; legal orientation for custodians of unaccompanied migrant children, and more.
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Charlotte Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Charlotte office serves Mecklenburg County.
Mitchell
Pisgah Legal Services - Spruce Pine Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Morganton
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Foothills Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Foothills office serves Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and McDowell counties.
Orange
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Central Carolina Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Central Carolina Office serves Alamance, Anson, Chatham, Lee, Moore, Orange, and Richmond counties.
Pitt
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Greenville office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Greenville office serves Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Pamlico, Pitt, Tyrell, and Washington counties.
Robeson
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Pembroke Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Pembroke office serves Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland counties.
Rutherford
Pisgah Legal Services - Rutherfordton Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Sylva
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Smoky Mountain-Sylva Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Smoky Mountain Sylva office serves Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, and the Territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Transylvania
Pisgah Legal Services - Brevard Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.
Wake
Immigration Pathways for Victims (IMMPAV) Helpline
Immigration Pathways for Victims (IMMPAV) is a program of Legal Aid of North Carolina. It provides free immigration assistance to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. IMMPAV represents qualifying applicants across the state in immigration matters including: VAWA self-petitions, U visas, T visas, applications to adjust status, and removal defense.
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Raleigh Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Raleigh office serves Johnston and Wake counties.
Mil Mujeres
Mil Mujeres offers legal services to low-income individuals in the immigrant community. They specialize in serving survivors of violent crimes, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Their services include help with U visas, T visas, asylum, VAWA petitions, naturalization, DACA immigration processes, and more. There are costs associated with the services.
The North Carolina Justice Center
The Justice Center can provide legal assistance for immigrants in certain immigration matters such as VAWA self-petitions, T visas, and U visas. The Justice Center cannot accept every case due to limited staff and resources. Call the intake line for service; all intake staff speak English and Spanish.
Wilmington
Legal Aid of North Carolina – Wilmington Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Wilmington Office serves Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties.
Wilson
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Wilson Office
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. They can help with protective orders, child custody, and other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are no income restrictions for these services. Other areas of service include housing, consumer, employment, and public benefits. Apply for services by calling their Helpline or by completing the online form. The Wilson office serves Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Nash, Wayne, and Wilson counties.
Yancey
Pisgah Legal Services - Burnsville Office
Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides free legal help in non-criminal matters to low-income people in Western North Carolina. Their domestic and sexual violence prevention program helps with protection orders, child custody and support, divorce and separation, and housing/deb/consumer issues. Other service areas include children’s law, elder law, consumer law, immigrant assistance, and more. In order to receive services, clients must meet low-income guidelines. To apply for services, call the intake line or complete the online application. PLS primarily helps people in Buncombe, Avery, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, with limited immigration services in other Western North Carolina counties.