Legal Hotlines

Legal hotlines offer a chance to speak to a lawyer who may be able to offer useful advice or recommend a course of action. Hotlines are usually held a few times a month and may be limited to residents of specific areas or focus on particular legal issues.

Note Most hotlines require you to sign up for a time slot in advance in order to have a lawyer call you directly during the hotline's hours. Be sure to check the hotline's website to sign up and find more information about the process.

For All Texas Residents

Texas Free Legal Answers
Similar to a legal hotline, this site allows you to ask a lawyer a non-criminal legal question in writing. You will receive an e-mail when an attorney has answered your question. Only those who meet certain criteria qualify for this service. The American Bar Association runs this service.
LegalLine (provided by the Dallas Bar Association)
The Dallas Bar Association offers LegalLine each Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. You will need to register online beforehand, and registration closes each Tuesday at 12 p.m. If you have questions, please call the Legal Aid Line at 888-529-5277. Spanish-speaking attorneys may be available / Es posible que también se hable español ciertos días.
LegalLine (provided by the Houston Bar Association)
The Houston Bar Association offers its LegalLine on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month between 5 and 8 p.m. Please sign up to select a date and time slot to receive a phone call from an attorney. If you have questions, please call the HBA office at (713) 759-1133. This service is also offered in Spanish on the 1st Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the same phone number.
LegalLine (provided by the Tarrant County Bar Association)
The Tarrant County Bar Association offers its LegalLine on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please register online for a time slot in advance to receive a call from an attorney. These times are subject to change, so check the website to confirm the times of upcoming time slots.
Consejos Legales en Español
El Colegio de Abogados de Houston ofrece una línea directa a través de la cual se puede hablar con un abogado gratuito para obtener asesoramiento legal. Puede confirmar la fecha y hora de las siguientes Consejos Legales consultando el calendario del sitio web. Con pocas excepciones, Consejos Legales tiene lugar el primer jueves de cada mes. Si tiene preguntas, llame a la oficina de HBA al (713) 759-1133.

Available in Certain Texas Counties

LegalLine (provided by the Austin Lawyer Referral Service)
The Austin LRS offers its LegalLine to Bastrop, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County residents on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The phone number to call is (512) 472-8303. Attorneys who are bilingual (English/Spanish) are available / También se habla español.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas provides civil legal services to low-income Texas residents within their service area. You can call their Legal Aid Line to apply for legal services at (888) 529-5277 or apply for assistance through their website.
Texas Access to Justice (TAJ)
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid offers this legal hotline for those who qualify and live within their service area. The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding some holidays. The phone number to call is 1-888-988-9996. You can also contact them by calling 210-212-3700. Spanish language assistance is also available / También se habla español.

Disaster Relief

State Bar of Texas — Disaster Relief
The State Bar of Texas offers this hotline to help disaster victims find legal assistance in their area. The phone number to call is (800) 504-7030. Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid — Disaster Assistance
For those who need legal assistance after a disaster, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid offers this hotline for those who qualify and live within their service area. The phone number to call is (866)-757-1570. Spanish language assistance is also available / También se habla español.

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA)
LASSA advocates provide sexual assault survivors with information and advice about legal issues that may arise following a sexual assault. The phone number to call is 844-303-7233, Option 1. Spanish language assistance is also available / También se habla español.
Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) SAFEline
SAFEline may provide direct legal representation and legal advice for survivors of domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. The phone number to call is 1-512-267-7233. You can also text them directly at 1-737-888-7233, or you can chat with SAFE online. Spanish language assistance is also available / También se habla español.
Texas Advocacy Project
The Texas Advocacy Project offers two free legal hotlines: the Hope Line, which addresses a variety of legal concerns related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and the Pro-Bono Attorney Line, which is reserved for attorneys seeking legal assistance for pro bono domestic violence cases. These hotlines are staffed by attorneys Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Hope Line is available at (800) 374-4673. The Pro-Bono Attorney Line is available at (800) 374-4674.
WomensLaw Email Hotline
This email-based hotline is a project from the National Network to End Domestic Violence. It provides legal information about domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

Family Law

Parenting Order LiveChat (TLSC)
Chat online with a family law attorney about your child custody, visitation, and modification questions. This project is from Texas Legal Services Center and is hosted on https://txaccess.org/ during operating hours.
Access and Visitation Hotline
This toll-free hotline, operated by the Texas Attorney General, can connect non-custodial parents with information and resources to help answer their questions about custody and support issues. The attorneys on this hotline cannot provide legal representation but can provide referrals and brief information.
CPS Family Helpline
The Family Helpline is staffed by lawyers who can provide legal information and education regarding CPS (Child Protective Services) investigations, service plans, legal terms, kinship care, what to expect in court, and other related topics. The phone number to call is (844) 888-6565. Spanish language assistance is also available / También se habla español.

Landlord/Tenant Law

Austin Tenants Council Telephone Counseling
The Austin Tenants Council and TRLA offer a telephone hotline for landlord/tenant issues Trained housing counselors can discuss tenant/landlord issues and can offer options as well as referrals, but they cannot provide any legal advice. The phone number to call is (512) 474-1961. .
Texas Workforce Commission Housing Discrimination Complaints
The Civil Rights Division of the Texas Workforce Commission provides information about housing discrimination and takes complaints online. You can submit a complaint online, or you can call their office at (512) 463-2642 or toll-free (Texas only) at (888) 452-4778.
Fair Housing Program of San Antonio
The City of San Antonio's Fair Housing/Housing Counseling Program provides mediation, counseling, and referrals to renters, landlords, and homeowners in San Antonio. HUD-certified housing counselors are trained to resolve disputes between residential tenants and landlords, but they are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. For more information and to request assistance, the phone number to call is (210) 207-5910.
Houston Apartment Association
The Houston Apartment Association offers a free renter's line for questions about renter rights, leases, and rental applications. The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number to call is (713) 595-0300. Spanish assistance is also available.

Veterans or Seniors

Legal Hotline for Texans Over Age 60 or Medicare Recipients
The Texas Legal Services Center offers a free legal hotline for Texans over the age of 60 or Texans who receive Medicare. The phone number to call is 1-800-622-2520, Option 3, or you can fill out an intake form on their website.
Veterans Legal Assistance Project
The Texas Legal Services Center offers a free legal hotline for low-income Texas veterans and their families (with a focus on outreach to the disabled veterans who live in rural areas of the state). They provide assistance with civil legal questions. The phone number to call is 1-800-622-2520, Option 2, or you can fill out an intake form on their website.

Workers' Rights

Division of Workers' Compensation
The Division of Workers' Compensation offers several hotlines for concerns regarding workers' compensation claims, workplace safety, suspected workers' compensation fraud, and other issues. Please view the organization's website for the numbers to call.
Equal Justice Center — Workers' Rights and DACA Applications
The Equal Justice Center provides free legal advice regarding employment matters (e.g., unpaid or low wages) to low-income workers. They also provide assistance preparing and submitting applications for the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). For assistance regarding your rights at work, call (800) 853-4028; for DACA application help, call (888) 670-6854. See the organization's website for the number of the EJC location nearest you. Spanish language assistance is also available / También se habla español.
South Central Pension Rights Project
The Texas Legal Services Center offers a free hotline for assistance with employer-sponsored retirement benefits. Their services are offered regardless of income status. The phone number to call is 1-800-443-2528.

Homeowners' Associations

Homeowners Association Hotline
The Greater Houston Chapter of the Community Associations Institute provides a free hotline staffed by non-attorney experts in property owners' association law. Homeowners can call or email the hotline for information about the operation of their property owners association.

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