Everything you need, in one place.
Links to every state's court system, free legal aid near you, and a plain-language glossary that decodes courtroom jargon.
Find a real lawyer — for free.
Some cases are too important to handle alone. These organizations offer free or low-cost legal help to people who qualify, usually based on income. Don't be shy about calling — this is what they're there for.
Legal Services Corporation
Federally-funded national network. Their locator tool finds the legal aid office that serves your county.
NationalLawHelp.org
Plain-English legal information and a directory of free legal aid by state. Start here if you're not sure what you need.
NationalABA Free Legal Answers
Ask a question online and get a free answer from a volunteer lawyer licensed in your state. Civil matters only.
NationalNational Legal Aid & Defender Association
Directory of legal aid and public defender offices across the United States.
NationalPro Bono Net
Connects low-income people with volunteer lawyers. Interactive forms for common filings in many states.
NationalShriver Center on Poverty Law
Advocacy and resources for housing, public benefits, and economic justice issues.
Domestic violenceWomensLaw.org
State-by-state legal information for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Includes protection order guides.
HousingNational Housing Law Project
Tenant rights, eviction defense, and housing discrimination resources — including state-specific eviction prevention guides.
Debt & consumerNational Consumer Law Center
Debt collection defense, credit reporting, predatory lending, and bankruptcy self-help guides.
Every state's court system.
Each state runs its own courts with its own rules, forms, and deadlines. Start at your state's official judicial branch website — the link is always free and the forms there are always current.
Legal words, translated.
Courtrooms speak a different language. Here's what the common terms actually mean — in regular English.
- Plaintiff
- The person who filed the lawsuit. The one doing the suing.
- Defendant
- The person being sued. If you got served with papers, you're probably the defendant.
- Petitioner / Respondent
- Same roles, different name. Used in family court and some civil matters. Petitioner files; Respondent answers.
- Complaint
- The document that starts a lawsuit. Lists what the plaintiff claims happened and what they want.
- Summons
- The official notice telling you you've been sued and giving you a deadline to respond. Usually stapled to the complaint.
- Answer
- Your written response to a complaint. You admit, deny, or say you don't know about each claim, and you raise your defenses.
- Motion
- A written request asking the judge to do something — dismiss the case, extend a deadline, order the other side to produce documents, etc.
- Default judgment
- What happens if you don't respond on time. The plaintiff automatically wins. This is why deadlines matter.
- Service of process
- The legal act of delivering court papers to someone. "I was served" means you were officially handed or mailed the papers.
- Pro se / Pro per
- Representing yourself without a lawyer. Latin for "on behalf of oneself." Millions of Americans do it every year.
- Jurisdiction
- Whether a particular court has the legal power to hear your case. If you file in the wrong court, the case gets dismissed.
- Venue
- Which specific county or district within a state should hear the case. Usually where the event happened or where the defendant lives.
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline for filing a lawsuit. Each type of claim has its own deadline. If the plaintiff waited too long, you can get the case dismissed.
- Discovery
- The phase where both sides exchange evidence and question each other — written questions, document requests, depositions.
- Deposition
- A formal out-of-court interview where a witness answers questions under oath. A court reporter transcribes everything.
- Continuance
- A postponement. If you can't make a court date, you file a motion for a continuance and explain why.
- Affidavit / Declaration
- A written statement sworn to be true, signed under penalty of perjury. Used as evidence when a witness can't appear in person.
- Certificate of service
- A signed statement confirming you sent a copy of your document to the other side. Required on almost every court filing.
- Fee waiver / In forma pauperis
- A request to have court fees waived because you can't afford them. Every state grants this to low-income filers — just ask.
- Small claims
- A simpler court for money disputes under a certain dollar limit (varies by state). Usually no lawyers, faster process, lower fees.
- TRO / Restraining order
- Temporary Restraining Order. An emergency court order telling someone to stop doing something, usually for safety. Granted quickly, sometimes same-day.
- Ex parte
- When one side asks the judge for something without the other side present. Usually for emergencies.
- Dismissed with / without prejudice
- "Without prejudice" = can be refiled. "With prejudice" = the case is dead and can't come back.
- Appeal
- Asking a higher court to review a lower court's decision. Strict deadlines — usually 30 days.
If you need help right now.
These lines are free, confidential, and open 24/7. Trained people will listen and help you figure out next steps.
Emergency
Immediate danger, medical emergency, crime in progress.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Free. Confidential. Available in 200+ languages. Text "START" to 88788.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts, emotional distress. Call or text.
Community Resources
Housing, food, utilities, medical care, veterans' services. Connects you to local nonprofits.
RAINN — Sexual Assault Hotline
Free, confidential, 24/7. Support for survivors and their loved ones.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7. Text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733 (BEFREE).