Free Legal Help in United States

Where to get free, official help in the United States — the federal labor, fair-housing, consumer-finance, fraud, immigration, civil-rights, tax and health agencies, plus free legal aid. Employment, tenancy and family law are largely state-run, so each entry points to the state equivalent too.

In immediate danger? Dial 911.

Work & employment

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DOL — Wage and Hour Division

Government

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division

Recovers unpaid minimum wage and overtime under federal law; workplace safety is OSHA and union rights are the NLRB. Every state also has its own labor department.

Legal basis Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

How to reach File a free, confidential wage complaint with WHD (1-866-487-9243); your state labor department may offer more (higher state minimum wage, paid leave). Report unsafe work to OSHA.

Call: 1-866-487-9243
Online: www.dol.gov/agencies/whd
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Who it's for: Workers, regardless of immigration status.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

EEOC

Government

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Workplace discrimination and harassment — race, sex, age, disability, religion, pregnancy — and retaliation. State Fair Employment agencies enforce parallel state laws.

Legal basis Title VII, the ADA and the ADEA

How to reach File a charge with the EEOC — deadlines are short (often 180/300 days). You must file with the EEOC (or your state agency) before you can sue.

Online: www.eeoc.gov
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Housing & tenancy

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HUD — Fair Housing

Government

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FHEO

Housing discrimination complaints under the Fair Housing Act. Evictions, deposits and repairs are state/local law — each state and many cities have their own tenant protections.

Legal basis Fair Housing Act

How to reach File a fair-housing complaint with HUD (or a state/local fair-housing agency) within one year. For eviction or deposit issues, contact your state/city housing agency or a legal-aid office.

Online: www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Consumer & shopping

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CFPB

Government

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Complaints about banks, credit cards, loans, debt collectors and credit reports — most get a company response within 15 days.

Legal basis Consumer Financial Protection Act (Dodd-Frank)

How to reach Submit a complaint on the CFPB site; the company must respond, usually within 15 days. For credit-report errors, dispute with the bureau and the CFPB.

Online: www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

IRS — Taxpayer Advocate Service

Government

Internal Revenue Service

Federal tax filing, refunds, payment plans and audits; the free Taxpayer Advocate Service helps when you have a hardship or an unresolved problem.

Legal basis Internal Revenue Code

How to reach Manage tax online at irs.gov; if you can't resolve an issue or face hardship, contact the free Taxpayer Advocate Service. Low-income taxpayers can use a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

Online: www.irs.gov
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Scams, fraud & money recovery

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FTC — ReportFraud & IdentityTheft.gov

Government

Federal Trade Commission

Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov (with a recovery plan); internet crime goes to the FBI at IC3.gov.

Legal basis FTC Act, Section 5

How to reach Contact your bank first to stop payments, then report at reportfraud.ftc.gov (or identitytheft.gov) and file with the FBI's IC3.gov. Keep all records.

Online: reportfraud.ftc.gov
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Data privacy & digital

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FTC / State Privacy Agencies

Government

The US has no single federal privacy law; the FTC pursues deceptive data practices, and state laws (e.g., California's CCPA/CPRA, enforced by the CPPA) give access and deletion rights.

Legal basis FTC Act; state privacy laws (CCPA/CPRA and others)

How to reach Ask the company to access or delete your data under your state's law (if any); report deceptive data or security practices to the FTC, and to your state Attorney General.

Online: www.ftc.gov
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Police & criminal justice

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DOJ — Civil Rights Division

Government

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

Complaints about police misconduct and civil-rights violations; local complaints usually start with the department's internal affairs or a civilian oversight board.

Legal basis Federal civil-rights statutes (incl. 42 U.S.C. § 1983)

How to reach Report a pattern of misconduct to the DOJ Civil Rights Division; for an individual incident, file with the department's internal affairs, the local civilian review board, or a civil-rights attorney.

Online: www.justice.gov/crt
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Immigration & residency

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USCIS

Government

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Green cards, work authorization, naturalization and humanitarian applications; use an accredited representative or a nonprofit, never a 'notario'.

Legal basis Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

How to reach File and track applications on your USCIS online account; find free/low-cost help via a DOJ-recognized organization or an accredited representative. Beware notario fraud.

Online: www.uscis.gov
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Low fee

Who it's for: Immigrants and applicants.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Family

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National Domestic Violence Hotline

NGO

24/7 confidential support and safety planning for domestic abuse; divorce, custody and protective orders are handled by your state family court.

Legal basis Violence Against Women Act

How to reach Call or text 1-800-799-7233 (or 988 for a mental-health crisis) for confidential help. File for a protective order or custody at your state family court; legal-aid offices assist.

Call: 1-800-799-7233
Online: www.thehotline.org
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Who it's for: Anyone experiencing abuse.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Healthcare

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HHS — Office for Civil Rights

Government

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, OCR

Complaints about medical-privacy (HIPAA) violations and health-care discrimination; ER care is protected by EMTALA, and Medicare/Medicaid issues go to CMS.

Legal basis HIPAA and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

How to reach File a HIPAA or health-discrimination complaint with HHS OCR within 180 days; for Medicare/Medicaid problems contact CMS or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

Online: www.hhs.gov/ocr
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

General help & advocacy

Legal Services Corporation / LawHelp

Legal aid

Free civil legal aid for low-income people through local LSC-funded programs; LawHelp.org finds your local legal-aid office and self-help resources.

Legal basis Legal Services Corporation Act

How to reach Find your local legal-aid office via lsc.gov or lawhelp.org; free civil legal help covers eviction, benefits, family and consumer matters for those who qualify.

Online: www.lsc.gov
Languages: English, Spanish
Cost: Free

Who it's for: Low-income people who can't afford a lawyer.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

This is legal information, not legal advice — a directory of official, free channels, not an endorsement. Hotlines and links can change; each entry shows the date we last verified it. If a number or page no longer works, tell us on the contact form.