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Legal Help

The best thing you can do if you have a legal question is to talk with a lawyer.

If you need help with your civil legal problem (a problem that does not have to do with a crime), you can find information on this site.

REMEMBER - The information here will not be legal advice like you get from a lawyer. The information you find on this website may not be information that will help you with your case. The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts cannot promise you that the information you find on this website will be right for your particular legal problem or that information on other websites is correct.

Legal Resources

HELP4TN

Help4TN is a toll-free phone legal help line that gives free legal information and referrals to Tennesseans. The service helps Tennesseans deal with civil legal issues. People with civil legal questions can call the help line at 844-Help4TN (1-844-435-7486) and be connected with a licensed Tennessee lawyer. Callers can leave a voice mail if the attorney is on another call.

Help4TN can assist callers desiring to clear a criminal record but it cannot help with criminal problems, including traffic tickets.

The lawyer is able to give free legal advice to the caller. The lawyer can provide referrals to legal service providers, pro bono programs, free legal clinics and other social service providers.

TN Free Legal Answers

Tennessee has a virtual legal advice clinic where you can ask a lawyer for help with a legal question. It is fast and easy. All you need is a computer. You sign up. Then, you sign in to type a lawyer your question. The lawyer will reply to you on the website. There is no cost. This is a FREE service for people who cannot afford a lawyer. If you do not have a computer, you can go to a public library and use one for free. This website is called Tennessee Free Legal Answers.

You must qualify to use this service. The website will ask you questions about your income and your checking and savings account to see if you qualify. You can't be in jail or prison to use this service. Your legal question can't relate to a criminal charge.

Click here or on the picture below to visit the Tennessee Free Legal Answers website.

 

Legal Aid

What is Legal Aid?

In Tennessee, there are four legal aid agencies that give free legal help for certain kinds of cases to people who cannot afford a lawyer.West Tennessee Legal Services

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands

Legal Aid of East Tennessee

Memphis Area Legal Services

Who Qualifies for Legal Aid?

You may qualify for free legal help if you are a low-income household, and your legal problem is about:

  • Problems with your landlord
  • Food stamps (SNAP)
  • Families First (Welfare or TANF)
  • TennCare (Medicare)
  • Family problems related to domestic violence
  • Some other kinds of cases

Call a legal aid office near you to see if you qualify. We will ask you questions about your income and the income of other people who live in your home. To qualify, your income must be under the current poverty guidelines. Your case must also be the kind of case we can help with.

Is Legal Aid Free?

We do not charge for our legal help. But you may have to pay court costs and for other things, such as, copies of records and court reporters.
Note: Legal Aid does not have enough money to help everyone with every legal problem.

How to Find a Legal Aid Office

To find a legal aid office near you, click on your county on the MAP of Tennessee counties.

Legal Clinics

Legal aid agencies also have legal clinics with lawyers who may be able to answer your questions and help you. Find information on legal clinics by contacting your local legal aid office.

Representing Yourself in Court

Pro Se Resources

If you are handing your legal case without a lawyer, you are representing yourself. The court system calls this "pro se". You do not have a lawyer to handle your legal problem.

Resources

  • The Access to Justice Commission developed videos about general sessions court and other legal topics.
  • Each court has its own set of Local Rules that you and the lawyers must follow.
  • Some courts have websites with information about their courts. To find out if your court has a website, click on your county on this map of counties in Tennessee.
  • Self-Help Center of the AOC, the state’s courts website.
  • Representing Yourself in General Sessions Court, by Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS)

Alternatives to Court

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a way of solving problems without going to court. The people who have a disagreement meet with a trained mediator to try to make an agreement.

The mediator works with the people who have a disagreement to:

  • Identify important issues,
  • Clarify misunderstandings,
  • Explore solutions, and
  • Come up with a settlement that all sides can accept.

The mediator explains the rules of the mediation. The mediator helps all sides in the dispute explain their point of view, but will not take sides.

The mediator will ask each side to summarize his or her point of view. S/he will guide the people who have a disagreement to find a solution themselves. They will work with each person until there is an agreement that is acceptable to everyone.

Resources

The Tennessee Court System

How is Tennessee's Court System Made Up?

The Tennessee court system is made up of the Supreme Court, appellate courts, trial courts, and courts with limited jurisdiction. Limited jurisdiction means these courts can only hear certain legal issues. These are the general sessions courts, juvenile courts, and municipal courts.

There is a court clerk for each type of court. The court clerks schedule hearings, accept filings, and do other support work for their court. The Administrative Office of the Courts supports the Supreme Court and the entire court system.

Please click here for more information about the Tennessee Court System.

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*Important! This website gives you information about the law and resources - not legal advice. Because each case is different, it's best to talk to a lawyer about your problem.