Probate and Family Court Department
Looking for Legal Assistance - Bristol County

Welcome to the Probate and Family Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Many Probate and Family Law matters involve complex and valuable legal rights. You should always speak with an attorney before filing any papers.      This booklet contains a list of Lawyer Referral Services, Free Legal Resources and Legal Aid Agencies in Bristol County

Lawyer Referral Services	Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service Referrals to private attorneys, including reduced fee panel. Call (617) 654-0400 or (800) 392-6164 email: lrs@massbar.org To register online, visit http://www.massbar.org/lawhelp/ Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service Referrals to private attorneys, including reduced fee panel. Serves mainly Greater Boston, inside Route 495, but will provide referrals throughout Massachusetts. Call (617) 742-0625 or email: lrs@bostonbar.org For more information, visit www.bostonbar.org/lrs/index.htm Lawyer Referral Service of Bristol County Bar Association Referrals to private attorneys in Bristol County. Call (508) 990-1303 or (800) 647-5151
Legal Resources The Massachusetts Trial Court provides free legal resources	Massachusetts Judicial Branch Web Site The official web site of the Judicial Branch includes judicial profiles, addresses, phone numbers and directions for courthouses as well as other useful information about the Trial Court. Click on www.state.ma.us/courts Bristol Law Library Superior Courthouse 9 Court Street Taunton, MA 02780 Fall River Law Library Superior Courthouse 441 North Main Street Fall River, MA 02720   New Bedford Law Library Superior Courthouse 441 County Street New Bedford, MA 02740   The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries are open to the public, providing legal reference services and legal research assistance. The library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Ask at the Registry of Probate for the Law Libraries pamphlet which provides more details.  Call (508) 824-7632 (Taunton) or (508) 676-8971 (Fall River) or (508) 992-8077 (New Bedford) or visit the Law Libraries web site www.lawlib.state.ma.us
Free resources offered by the Massachusetts Bar Association	Tel-Law Tel-Law is a collection of recorded messages designed to answer basic questions about the law. Tel-Law is fully automated and you can access it 24 hours / day by calling (617) 338-0669 (Toll charges may apply). Web Site The MBA's web site offers answers to basic legal questions. Point your browser to www.massbar.org Dial-A-Lawyer The first Wednesday of every month you can get free legal help, by telephone, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Lawyer volunteers staff phones to answer your questions. Call (617) 338-0610
Legal Service Agencies These resources are available only to very low income and elderly individuals	New Center for Legal Advocacy 257 Union Street New Bedford, MA 02740 (800) 244-9023  Website:  www.ncla.net Serves Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton and Westport. Handles guardianships and family law cases with priority given to cases with domestic abuse. Southeastern Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Handles guardianships and family law cases for primary caretaker. Priority given to cases involving domestic abuse. Call (800) 244 - 9023 Fall River Office 30 Third Street, 3rd Floor Fall River, MA 02720-3041 Serves Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Raynham, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton and Westport. New Bedford Office 21 South Sixth Street New Bedford, MA 02740-5997 Serves Acushnet, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and New Bedford. Legal Advocacy & Resource Center Provides telephone information, pro se assistance and referrals to legal service agencies. Intake hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call (800) 342-5297
Lawyer of the Day	Lawyer of the Day Private, volunteer attorney offers brief consultation at the courthouse providing basic legal advice to qualifying individuals on a walk-in basis. Attorney does not continue to advise the individual after the initial meeting or accompany individual into the courtroom. Attorney may not be available every day. For availability, call (508) 824-4004 x275 or ask at the Registry of Probate.