Legal Resources

Free and Low-Cost Legal Assistance
Michigan Legal Help
Guides
Self-Represented Litigants
Courts and Fees
Other Resources

Free and Low-Cost Legal Assistance

For individuals with low or moderate incomes, several resources offer free or reduced-fee assistance:

• Legal Aid of Western Michigan
• Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (C.A.L.L.)
• State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service ($25 for 25)
• State Bar of Michigan Modest Means Program
• Michigan Indian Legal Services
• ABA Free Legal Answers — for immigration and federal veterans’ questions

Bankruptcy

• Upsolve — a non-profit organization that helps with simple Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy cases

Housing

• Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan — investigates housing discrimination and advocates for clients

Mediation

• Citizens Mediation Service — a non-profit organization offering low-cost or no-cost mediation services
• MI-Resolve — a free, confidential online service where the parties have a text-based conversation with a trained mediator

Michigan Legal Help

Michigan Legal Help is a free legal website that has tools and information to help you understand and manage your legal problems.

The following forms are filled out by Michigan Legal Help with assistance from you that takes 45-60 minutes to complete (time may vary!)

• Do-It-Yourself Divorce
• Do-It-Yourself Custody (unmarried parents)
• Do-It-Yourself Expungement (Adult Conviction)
• Do-It-Yourself Wills
• More…

Guides

Legal Issues
These PDF guides are provided by the Michigan Legislature and the State of Michigan:

• Consumer Protection Resource Guide
• Firearms Laws of Michigan
• Friend of the Court: A Guide to Custody, Parenting Time, and Support
• Planning for your Peace of Mind: A Guide to Medical and Legal Decisions (will, patient advocate law, and organ donation information)
• A Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords
• Services for Seniors: Laws and Programs for Senior Adults
• Veterans Benefits and Services
• Your Rights When Receiving Mental Health Services in Michigan | Spanish Version

Government
These PDF guides are provided by the Michigan Legislature and the State of Michigan:

• Citizen’s Guide to State Government
• For the People, By the People: How State and Local Governments Operate
• Michigan Constitution
• United States Constitution

Identity Theft

• Identity Theft: A Recovery Plan from the FTC

Immigration

• Preparing Your Family for Immigration Enforcement — published by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Arabic.
• Immigrants’ Rights — published by the ACLU. Details what to do under various scenarios such as being stopped by police or ICE.

Social Security

The Social Security Administration has many publications about retirement benefits, applying online for Medicare, how your retirement benefit is determined, and more.

Pro Se (Self Represented) Litigants

• Filing Without an Attorney (US District Court)
• Self-Represented Litigants (Michigan Courts)
• MiCOURT Case Search
• SCAO Approved Court Forms
• Handbook of Legal Terms

Courts and Fees

• 8th District Court
  330 Eleanor Street
  Kalamazoo, MI 49007
  Phone: (269) 384-8171
  District Court Civil Filing Fees
• 9th Circuit Court
  Gull Road Justice Complex
  1536 Gull Road
  Kalamazoo, MI 49048-1621
  Phone: (269) 385-6000
• Probate Court
  Gull Road Justice Complex
  1536 Gull Road
  Kalamazoo, MI 49048-1621
  Phone: (269) 383-8666
  Probate Court Filing and Inventory Fees
• Friend of the Court
  Gull Road Justice Complex – 1st Floor
  1536 Gull Road
  Kalamazoo, MI 49048-1621
  Phone : 877-543-2660
• Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds
  201 West Kalamazoo Avenue
  Kalamazoo, MI 49007
  Phone: 269-383-8840

Other Resources

• The Fatherhood Network
• Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC)
• Farmworker Legal Services
• YWCA Kalamazoo
• Michigan Child Support Formula and Child Support Calculator