Apply for Legal Help from CJLS

If you need immediate assistance, or you have a court date that is within 10 days, please call the office in your county directly. Otherwise, call us, or fill out an intake online:

• Mercer County: (609) 695-6249
• Middlesex County: (732) 249-7600
• Union County: (908) 354-4340

CJLS provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people. We are here to help. As you apply, please remember:

• To qualify for our free service you must meet our income guidelines. Please be prepared to answer questions about your income and the income of other adults who live with you, as well as other questions about your household size, expenses, and assets.
• CJLS serves residents of Mercer, Middlesex, and Union Counties. If you live in a different NJ county, click here to find your local legal services program.
• We only handle civil cases. We do not handle criminal matters, municipal court matters such as traffic tickets or DUIs, small claims court cases, or personal injury matters.
• We do handle civil matters such as eviction and other tenant issues, debt collection, child support and custody, domestic violence restraining orders, issues with benefits like SNAP, TANF, EA, GA, SSI/SSD, and Medicaid, criminal record expungements, and others.
• The services you receive are based on the facts of your case. We may provide you with legal information and advice to help you resolve your problem on your own, or we may agree to represent you in court. An attorney or paralegal will make this determination when they interview you about your legal problem.
• If you have any documents related to your legal problem, such as letters, notices, or court summonses, please have them with you when you apply.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the CJLS office in your county or apply online.

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Help CJLS provide equal access to justice for low-income families.