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Our Services

At Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD), we proudly provide civil legal services in the following areas at no cost to individuals qualifying for our assistance:

To apply for legal assistance from Legal Aid and Defender Association, please complete our online intake form below. Our intake specialists will review your submission and reach out to determine your eligibility for services.

Online Intake Form:
Click Here to Begin Your Online Intake

For assistance with the online intake process, please call us at (313) 967-5800 or toll-free at (877) 964-4700 during regular business hours.

City of Detroit-Right to Counsel

In Detroit, the Right-to-Counsel (RTC) law ensures tenants facing eviction have the right to free legal representation, including any court proceedings. We are here to help. If you are being evicted, click here.

Homeless Prevention

Everyone needs safe and suitable housing, whether they own a home or rent one. When homelessness threatens, we at LAD help clients free of charge through eviction diversion programs and mortgage/tax foreclosure prevention.
  • Limited Rental Assistanc
  • Landlord-tenant Matters
  • Mortgage Foreclosures
  • Tax Foreclosures
  • Public Housing
  • Eviction Diversion
  • Section 8 Issues
  • Land Contract Forfeitures
Click here to apply.

Legal Aid and Defender provides legal services to Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We can provide legal help with legal matters such as:

  • Homelessness prevention (eviction, repairs, mortgage or tax foreclosure, etc.)
  • Consumer (debt collection, garnishments, bankruptcy, etc).
  • Family Law (divorce, child support, PPO, etc)
  • Public Benefits such as food assistance/food stamps
  • Employment/Unemployment law matters
  • Criminal Record Expungement and License Restoration
  • Estate planning (powers of attorney, patient advocate designations)

If your legal issue isn’t listed, please give us a call at 313-967-5635 or click here.

FAMILY LAW

  • WAYNE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES — (313) 964-1975
  • LAKESHORE LEGAL AID — (888) 783-8190
  • WILLIAM BOOTH — (313) 361-6340

 

HOUSING

  • UNITED COMMUNITY HOUSING COALITION (UCHC) — (313) 963-3310
  • WAYNE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES (Wayne County) — (313) 964-1975
  • (OAKLAND Co.) OAKLAND MEDIATION CENTER — 248-338-4280

 

EMPLOYMENT

  • LAKESHORE LEGAL AID — (888) 783-8190
  • SUGAR LAW CENTER — (313) 993-4505

 

IMMIGRATION

  • FREEDOM HOUSE DETROIT — (313) 964-4320
  • LAKESHORE LEGAL AID — (888) 783-8190
  • IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL LAW SECTION — (313) 496-7652
  • URBAN LAW CLINIC (U OF D MERCY) — (313) 596-0262

 

CONSUMER (GARNISHMENTS AND DEBTS)

  • LAKESHORE LEGAL AID — (888) 783-8190
  • WAYNE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES — (313) 961-4890
  • MICHIGAN DEBT RELIEF — (800) 708-2392

 

OTHER LEGAL SERVICES

  • COMMON GROUND (Oakland County) — (248) 456-8150 — WALK-IN ONLY
  • LAKESHORE LEGAL AID — (888) 783-8190
  • DETROIT LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC — (313) 833-0058
  • WWW.MICHIGANLEGALHELP.ORG

 

Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors & Michigan Pension Rights Projects: 800.347.5297

Detroit Bar Association Referral Line: 313.961.6120

Oakland County Bar Association Referral Line: 248.338.2100

Macomb County Bar Association Referral Line: 586.468.8300

Prisoner Legal Services: 517.780.6639 (Civil rights and all civil matters except for suits against prison officials)

 

ELDER LAW (SENIORS 60+)

  • ELDER LAW AND ADVOCACY CENTER — (313) 937-8291
  • HANNAN HOUSE — (313) 833-1300
  • OAKLAND COUNTY LEGAL — (248) 569-9658

 

MICHIGAN REFERRAL LINE

  • STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN LAWYER REFERRAL — (800) 968-0738
  • OAKLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION REFERRAL — (248) 338-2100

 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE RESOURCE CENTER

    (313) 256-9833

United Way – Dial 211


Department of Health & Human Services: 844-464-3446

 

Consumer

  • Rent, Mortgage & Utility Relief – Oakland County: 248.858.5402 (provides a subsidized housing resource list)
  • Neighborhood Service Organization: 313.961.4890 (provides primary and behavioral health housing or rapid rehousing; location also has a women’s shelter)
  • Michigan Debt Relief: 800.708.2392 (Work with non-profit debt relief provider; debt specialist will review client credit and share options that client has. Website also has resources available to clients: customer-care1@envoymediagroup.com)
  • THAW Heat and Warm Fund: 800.968.0738 (Utility assistance – visit website for more details: www.thawfund.org)
  • Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency: 248.209.2600 (supports Oakland and Livingston County residents – Livingston County Residents: 517-546-8500 #3; residents looking for support in utilities, Senior assistance) www.olhsa.org

 

Education

  • MDE (Michigan Department of Education): 833.633.5788 (Resources for school bus transportation, GED school data, home schooling, student loan/financial assistance, and early childhood education)
  • Head Start Enrollment – Oakland County (OLHSA): 248.209.2600 (OLHSA assists with Head Start enrollment in Oakland County only. Visit website to enroll or apply: www.olhsa.org/en-us/head-start)

 

Employment

  • Oakland County’s “Optum” Employee Assistance Program: 866-248-4096 (Offers counseling, work/life resources, coaching, medical advocacy, legal/financial resources and personal assistant services. Clients can call and access those benefits)
  • Detroit at Work: 313-963-9675 (Resources regarding upcoming job fairs, training manuals and assistance with filing an unemployment claim. Can also visit michigan.gov/uia)

 

Family

  • Black Family Development: 313.308.0255 (Assists with family counseling, substance abuse treatment and parent support/education) – visit blackfamilydevelopment.org
  • Children’s Protective Services – Oakland County: 855.444.3911 (Protective Services for youths and vulnerable adults living in Oakland County)
  • HAVEN of Oakland County: 248.334.1274 (to eradicate sexual assault and partner violence/heal those affected by its injustice; also provides group counseling/therapy)
  • First Step: 734.722.1772 (Domestic violence shelter and community education)

 

Housing

  • COTS: 313.831.3777 (Temporary, long term and transitional housing for the homeless)
  • Wayne Metro: 313-388-9799 (Providing assistance to clients in Wayne County with property tax, food support, low income household water assistance, head start/early learning and housing stability)
  • Southwest Solutions CAM: 313.305.0311 (Provides emergency shelter to residents of Wayne County, rent assistance, and home ownership information)
  • Common Ground: 248.547.2260 (Dedicated to assisting residents in Oakland County with substance abuse or mental health issues. Does provide resources to runaway and homeless residents in Oakland County as well as those in financial distress)
  • South Oakland Shelter/Lighthouse: 248.920.6000 (Homeless shelter; also helps with food assistance and evictions) www.lighthousedirect.org
  • Traveler’s Aid Society Metro Detroit: 313.962.6740 (Assists with housing assistance for homeless individuals in Wayne County and Oakland County)
  • YWCA Interim House: 313.259.9922 (Offers temporary emergency shelter, parenting classes, transportation assistance, employment referrals and healthcare referral to Wayne County residents)

 

Individual Rights

  • Michigan Adult Protective Services: 855.444.3911 (Assisting with elder abuse)
  • Team Wellness Center: 888.813.8326 (Addiction treatment that offers detox, drug rehab etc.)
  • SASHA Center: 888.856.7055 (provides group counseling, day programs, activities and other tools of healing to survivors of sexual assault. Based in Detroit. Takes primarily women but all races and genders are accepted)