Legal Support Resources

A listing of general legal support services—as well as those that are divorce-specific—available in Southeastern Michigan

General Legal Support

Michigan Legal Help

A tool for finding legal resources (including do-it-yourself and low-cost legal help) for Michigan residents.

Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM)

Free legal advice & representation for lower-income persons and seniors. (In Washtenaw County only, family law services are limited to custody & child support. No divorce-facilitation services.)
(734) 665-6181

Lakeshore Legal Aid

A law firm in 14 Michigan locations providing a range of free civil legal services for lower-income individuals and seniors. They cover family law, abuse protection, housing, public benefits, income tax, estate planning, legal expungement, and education. Note that they do offer help with divorce (see next listing below).
(888) 783-8190

Legal Aid and Defender Association 

For Wayne, Clinton, Macomb, & Oakland Counties.
1 (877) 964-4700

Dispute Resolution Center

Mediation and facilitation for civil issues such as divorce, child custody and parenting time, landlord-tenant disputes, parent-school conflicts, guardianship, and others.
(734) 794-2125

Washtenaw County/EMU Legal Resource Center

Courthouse-based self-help center for legal forms and information—but not advice—for people without an attorney.
(734) 994-0160

Michigan Poverty Law Program

A collaboration between University of Michigan and Legal Services of South Central Michigan.

(734) 998-6100 ext. 33, for clarification of rights regarding Department of Human Services benefits and problems; social security; and state emergency relief.

Michigan Legal Services

Detroit-based advocacy for affordable health care, housing, and public benefits.
Check website for email contact information.

Legal Advocacy Services

University of Michigan and Legal Services of South Central Michigan offer limited representation for low-income women involved in domestic violence situations.
Contact SafeHouse at (734) 973-0242 ext. 204

Child Advocacy Law Clinic

University of Michigan: supervised law-student representation for parents & kids in child abuse & neglect cases and in the foster care system.
(734) 763-5000

Project Outreach

Justice Project Outreach Team (JPORT) serves individuals who have mental health issues and need help with the legal system.
(734) 222-3750

Common Ground

Legal advocacy and support.
1.800.231.1127

Legal Resources for Women in Michigan

Neighborhood Legal Services/Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services 

(313) 964-1975

Community Outreach 

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, legal advocacy for a variety of issues.
(313) 596-0262

Legal Hotline for MI Seniors

Wills/estate planning; Medicaid & Medicare; consumer law; housing/real estate; pensions; public benefits.
1 (866) 400-9164

Divorce-Specific Legal Support

Divorce Q+A

Answers to common divorce questions.

Financial + Family Law Education

Women-only workshops on the legal and financial aspects of divorce.

Going Solo Support Group

Women-only Divorce Support Group for those considering or in the process of divorce.

Modest Means

Requires $30 upfront and a $375 retainer, and an hourly rate of not more than $75 sponsored by the Washtenaw County Bar Association.

Legal Resources for Women in Michigan

Schoolcraft Divorce Support

Additionally, legal and financial consultations (on alternating weeks) for both women and men, students and non-students.
(734) 462-4443

Lakeshore Legal Aid

A law firm in 14 Michigan locations providing a range of free civil legal services for lower-income individuals and seniors. They do cover Washtenaw County for divorce-related issues such custody, parenting time, paternity, and child support.
(888) 783-8190

Washtenaw County Friend of the Court (FOC)

Free divorce information seminars

Sponsored by The Law Firm of Victoria (a for-profit law firm) in Birmingham, MI.

Our Divorce Education & Support Services

  • A women-only group that offers a friendly and supportive atmosphere and the tools to deal with separation or divorce. Learn more here.

  • A 2-part presentation on the legal and financial aspects of ending long-term relationships. Learn more here.

  • Typical questions about the end of a long-term relationship. Go to the Divorce Q&A section.

  • Therapy provides the opportunity to discuss relationships of all kinds, including not-so-happy endings.

    Learn more about your options.

  • A list of general and divorce-specific legal support available in the area, here.

  • A list of ways to pay for your divorce process, at varying levels of combined income. Read more here.

We move in and out of relationships. Some relationships are definitely worth keeping. Others are not. A relationship may feel like the real deal, until, suddenly, it doesn’t. A connection that you thought was mutual can end abruptly, without a good goodbye. Or it can drag on well past its expiration date.

Take a deep breath. You can do this. You’ll come out on the other side of this experience with skills and strengths you never knew you had.