## National Directories
- **Legal Services Corporation (LSC)**: Its `Our Grantees` page provides a clickable map leading to 129 non-profit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.
- **LawHelp.org**: Offers a state-by-state directory of free and low-cost legal aid providers.
- **USAGov**: Find a lawyer for affordable legal aid.
- **NLADA Directory**: Provides a state-by-state listing of civil legal service and defender offices.
## State-by-State Legal Aid & Resources
### Alabama
- Legal Services Alabama: 334-264-1353
- Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service: 800-392-5660
### Alaska
- Alaska Legal Services Corporation: 907-272-9431
- Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 907-272-7469
- Child Support Services Division: 800-478-3300
### Arizona
- Community Legal Services: 800-852-9075
- State Bar of Arizona Lawyer Referral: 866-637-4252
- Maricopa County Superior Court Law Library Resource Center: 602-372-5375
### Arkansas
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: 800-952-9243
- Arkansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-968-2218
- Arkansas Department of Finance & Admin (DFA) - OCSE: 501-682-6175
### California
- California Child Support Services (Statewide): childsupport.ca.gov
- State Bar of California Lawyer Referral: 866-442-2529
### Colorado
- Colorado Legal Services: 303-837-1313
- Colorado Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 303-860-1108
### Connecticut
- Statewide Legal Services: 800-453-3320
- Connecticut Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 860-223-4400
- Support Enforcement Services (SES) Call Center: 1-800-228-KIDS (5437)
### Delaware
- Legal Services Corporation of Delaware: 302-575-0660
- Delaware State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 302-651-9090
- Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSS): 302-577-4800
### Florida
- Florida Legal Services: 800-405-1417
- The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral: 800-342-8011
- Pinellas County Child Support Legal Clinic (Free Public Event)
### Georgia
- Georgia Legal Services Program: 404-206-5175
- State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral: 800-334-6865
- Georgia Department of Child Support Services: 844-694-2347
### Hawaii
- Legal Aid Society of Hawaii: 808-536-4302
- Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 808-537-1868
- Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA): 808-586-8500
### Idaho
- Idaho Legal Aid Services: 208-336-8980
- Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral: 208-334-4500
- Court Assistance Office (Free online workshop for child support modification)
### Illinois
- Legal Aid Chicago: 312-341-1070
- Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-922-8757
- Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) - DCSS: 800-447-4278
### Indiana
- Indiana Legal Services: 317-631-9410
- Indiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-266-2581
- Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office - Child Support Division: 574-296-1888
### Iowa
- Iowa Legal Aid: 800-532-1275
- Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 515-243-3179
- Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU): 888-229-9223
### Kansas
- Kansas Legal Services: 800-723-6953
- Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 785-234-5696
- District Court Trustee's Office (Handles child support enforcement & modification)
### Kentucky
- Legal Aid of the Bluegrass: 859-431-7700
- Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 502-564-3795
- Fayette County Legal Help Center (Guided interviews for modification of child support)
### Louisiana
- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services: 504-529-1000
- Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-421-5722
- Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) - Child Support Enforcement (CSE): 225-342-4077
### Maine
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance: 207-774-8211
- Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 207-622-7523
- DHHS Case Review Unit: 1-800-371-7179
### Maryland
- Maryland Legal Aid: 410-951-7777
- Maryland State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-492-1964
- Montgomery County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (Family Law)
- Maryland Department of Human Services (Child Support Administration): 800-332-6347
### Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation: 617-367-8548
- Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 617-338-0530
- Department of Revenue (DOR) - Child Support Enforcement Division: 617-660-1234
### Michigan
- Michigan Legal Help: michiganlegalhelp.org (Do-It-Yourself Motion to Change Child Support)
- State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral: 800-968-0738
- Friend of the Court (Support review every 36 months or change in circumstances)
### Minnesota
- Legal Aid Service of Minnesota: 612-334-5970
- Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 612-333-2395
- Minnesota Department of Child and Youth Services (DCYF): 651-431-3800
### Mississippi
- Mississippi Center for Legal Services: 601-948-6752
- Mississippi Bar Lawyer Referral: 601-948-6831
- Department of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) - 3-year review cycle
### Missouri
- Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: 314-534-4200
- The Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral: 573-635-4128
- Family Support Division (FSD) - 3-year review available
### Montana
- Montana Legal Services Association: 406-442-9830
- State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral: 406-447-4530
- Child Support Services Division (CSSD): 406-444-3850
### Nebraska
- Legal Aid of Nebraska: 877-250-2016 (AccessLine)
- Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-742-5326
- Nebraska Child Support Customer Call Center: 877-631-9973
### Nevada
- Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada: 702-386-1070
- State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral: 702-382-2204
- Clark County District Attorney - Family Support Division: 702-671-3000
### New Hampshire
- NH Legal Assistance (603 Legal Aid): 603-224-3333
- New Hampshire Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 603-715-3230
- Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Division of Child Support Services (DCSS): 603-271-4426
### New Jersey
- Legal Services of New Jersey: 888-576-5529
- New Jersey State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 732-249-5000
- NJ Courts - Child Support and Custody (Filing fees $25, fee waivers available)
### New Mexico
- New Mexico Legal Aid: 505-768-6122
- State Bar of New Mexico Lawyer Referral: 505-797-6066
- Child Support Enforcement (IV-D agency): 800-288-7207
### New York
- The Legal Aid Society of New York: 212-577-3300
- New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-342-3661
- NYS Child Support Helpline: 1-888-208-4485
- DCSE: dcse.cseweb@dfa.state.ny.us, 212-343-1122
### North Carolina
- Legal Aid of North Carolina: 919-856-2564
- North Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-662-7660
- Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy: 704-376-1600
### North Dakota
- Legal Services of North Dakota: 800-634-5263
- State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral: 701-255-1404
- Child Support Unit (Review every 18 months even without life change)
### Ohio
- Legal Aid Society of Cleveland: 216-861-5005
- Ohio State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-282-6556
- Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services (CSEA): 216-443-8800
- Ohio Legal Help (Request to Review Child Support Form Assistant)
### Oklahoma
- Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma: 405-624-1743
- Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 405-416-7000
- Child Support Services (CSS) - IV-D agency: 405-522-4200
### Oregon
- Legal Aid Services of Oregon: 503-224-4086
- Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral (Free referral): 1-800-452-7636
- Oregon Department of Justice - Child Support Program: 503-378-5700
### Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network: 717-236-9486
- Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 800-692-7378
- PA Child Support E-Services (Online petition for modification)
### Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Legal Services: 401-274-2652
- Rhode Island Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 401-421-7799
- Office of Child Support Services (OCSS): 401-458-4400
### South Carolina
- South Carolina Legal Aid: 888-346-5592
- South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service: 800-868-2284
- SC Department of Social Services (DSS) - Child Support Services: 803-898-7600
### South Dakota
- East River Legal Services (Sioux Falls): 605-336-9230
- State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral: 605-224-7554
- Department of Social Services (DSS) - Child Support: 605-773-3165
### Tennessee
- Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands: 615-244-6610
- Tennessee Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 615-383-7421
- Department of Human Services (DHS) - Child Support Review: ChildSupportReview.DHS@tn.gov
### Texas
- Texas Legal Services Center: 512-477-6000
- State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral: 877-953-4297
- Texas Attorney General's Office - Child Support Division: 800-252-8014
### Utah
- Utah Legal Services: 801-328-8891
- Utah State Bar Lawyer Referral: 801-531-9077
- Office of Recovery Services (ORS) - Child Support Services: 801-536-8500
### Vermont
- Vermont Legal Aid: 800-889-2047
- Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 802-223-2626
- Office of Child Support (OCS) - DCF: 802-871-3266
### Virginia
- Legal Aid Justice Center: 804-343-4499
- Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral: 800-552-7977
- Department of Social Services (DSS) - Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE): 804-726-7000
### Washington
- Northwest Justice Project: 888-201-1014
- Washington State Bar Association Lawyer Referral: 206-443-9722
- Division of Child Support (DCS): 800-442-5437
### West Virginia
- Legal Aid of West Virginia: 866-255-4370
- West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral: 304-558-2456
- Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE): 800-638-5092
### Wisconsin
- Legal Action of Wisconsin: 414-278-7722
- State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral: 800-362-9082
- Department of Children and Families (DCF) - Child Support: 608-422-7200
### Wyoming
- Legal Aid of Wyoming: 307-432-0808
- Wyoming State Bar Lawyer Referral: 307-632-9061
- Department of Family Services (DFS) - Child Support: 307-777-5705
## Using Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services
Many state and county bar associations operate lawyer referral services that can connect you with attorneys specializing in family law and child support. These services often provide low-cost initial consultations (e.g., $45 for a 30-minute consultation with a participating attorney). The Oregon State Bar's referral service is free, with participating lawyers providing an initial low-cost consultation.
## Using Child Support Enforcement Agencies
State Child Support Enforcement (IV-D) agencies can provide free assistance with establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders. Some agencies, such as the Lake County State's Attorney's Office in Illinois, provide free legal aid specifically for child support enforcement and modification. These agencies can also petition the court for modification based on changes in income or incarceration status. However, if the case is complex or the other parent contests the modification, hiring a private attorney may still be advisable.
## Pro Bono and Low-Cost Options
- **Law school pro bono programs**: Many law schools have clinics that provide free legal services to low-income individuals in family law matters. The American Bar Association maintains a directory of these programs.
- **Legal aid organizations**: Federally funded legal aid programs provide free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income individuals. These organizations often have income limits and may prioritize cases involving basic necessities like housing, family safety, and income maintenance. However, many also handle child support modification cases, especially when unemployment or incarceration is involved.
- **American Bar Association Free Legal Answers**: An online pro bono platform where low-income individuals can submit legal questions to volunteer attorneys in their state.
## Practical Advice
- **Contact the legal aid organization in the state where the child support order was issued**, as they will be most familiar with local court procedures and judges.
- **Be prepared to provide documentation of income, expenses, and any changes in circumstances** (e.g., proof of unemployment, job search efforts, or incarceration).
- **Act quickly** - the longer your boyfriend remains incarcerated, the more his arrears may accrue and the harder it may be to resolve the situation.
- **If you cannot afford an attorney, ask the court to appoint one** - many states provide court-appointed counsel in child support contempt cases for indigent defendants.
I hope these resources help you and your boyfriend get the legal assistance you need.
