Central New York Legal HelpLine

By calling the Central New York Legal HelpLine, you can get free legal advice about civil (non-criminal) legal problems.

Please note that we can only help you if you qualify for our services. An intake worker will talk to you first to see if you qualify. Because our staff is limited, our services may be limited to advice only in some cases.

 

Now Serving:

Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego and Otsego Counties.

If you live in one of these counties (or if you have a legal problem in one of these counties), please call:

Toll Free: 1-877-777-6152

When Are Services Available?

The HelpLine is open
Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please Note: Hours may change for holidays,
staff training, or other reasons.

There may be a wait time before you can talk to an intake worker or a lawyer. If you can’t stay on hold, you can leave a message, and we will call you back as soon as possible.

If you have an emergency that can’t wait, such as a hearing date or a deadline to answer legal papers, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE HEARING DATE OR DEADLINE HAS PASSED TO CALL US. Otherwise, you may lose important legal rights. If you don’t hear back from us in time, stop by one of our offices right away.

What Legal Problems Can I Call About?

Right now, we are taking calls about any civil (non-criminal) legal problem, including:

• Consumer, including frozen bank accounts, debt problems, student loans, ID theft, car problems, utility shutoffs and other consumer problems

• Housing, including evictions, lockouts, security deposits, repair problems, subsidized housing, foreclosures and other housing problems

• Special Education & Other School Issues

• Access to Healthcare

• Public Benefits

• Divorce & Other Family Matters, including child support, custody, child protective matters, and guardianship

• Domestic Violence

• Elder Law

• Employment

• Disability Discrimination & Other Disability Issues

• Unemployment Benefits

• Welfare, Medicaid and Food Stamps

The Central New York Legal HelpLine Project was made possible by the generous donations of agencies, foundations and individuals on the national, state and local levels. We wish to thank: The Legal Services Corporation (Technology Initiative Grants) The New York Bar Foundation NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties The Northern New York Community Foundation The Utica National Group Foundation The Central New York Community Foundation The Community Foundation for South Central New York Partner's Trust Bank Senator John DeFrancisco All Private Attorney Pledge Drive Donors