Support For Free Education

Community Insights

• Houston users frequently recommend Lone Star Legal Aid and Houston’s law school clinics.
• The Harris County District Clerk’s website also contains forms for family law filings.

Self–Help Resources And Legal Guides

1. Texas Law Help and Texas Court Help
   • TexasLawHelp.org offers free legal information and downloadable court forms. They even guide you through filling out forms via guided interviews.
   • TexasCourtHelp.org provides videos and step–by–step content on navigating the court system, finding forms and representing yourself.
2. Texas State Law Library: Self–Help & Practice Aids
   • Their guides and “Ask a Librarian” service can steer you toward family law materials, including e–books like the Texas Annotated Family Code and the Texas Family Law Practice and Procedure. Texans can access many of these electronically for free.
3. State Bar of Texas Free Pamphlets
   • A range of downloadable resources such as:
     • Pro Se Divorce Handbook
     • What to Expect in Texas Family Law Court
     • Guides on protective orders, child abuse proceedings, guardianship and more.

Community Legal Clinics And Law School Programs

Law school clinics (Houston area):

• Several Houston schools – including the University of Houston, the Texas Southern University and the South Texas College of Law Houston – run clinics offering free or low–cost family law assistance.
• The South Texas College of Law also runs direct representation clinics specifically for low–income residents in Harris County, covering family law issues.

Legal Aid Organizations And Hotlines

1. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)
   • TRLA is the largest legal aid provider in Texas, offering services in family law – like divorce, custody and protective orders – for those at or below approximately 200% of the federal poverty level.
2. Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)
   
   • Offers a legal hotline for Texans, which includes free legal advice on divorce, guardianship and related family law matters (especially for those over 60 years old or on Medicare)
3. Texas Access and Visitation Hotline (parenting time)
   • Operated by the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Call 866-292-4636 (Mon to Fri, 1 to 5 p.m. CST). Assistance is available in both English and Spanish, including live chat with family law attorneys via POLL LiveChat.txaccess.org
4. Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) – family resources
   • Provides a family helpline for free help with child protective services issues at 844-888–6565.
   • Offers downloadable parent resource guides in English and Spanish.

Specialized Support For Domestic Violence And Survivor Needs

• AVDA (Harris and Fort Bend counties): Protective orders, divorce, support and custody
• AVOICE, LASSA, SAFE Alliance and Texas Advocacy Project: Services including representation, legal education and self–represented litigant assistance.