Probate and Family Court Department
Looking for Legal Assistance - Essex 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 Essex 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 Essex County Bar Association Referrals to private attorneys in Essex County. Call (978) 741-7888 or (800) 228-2574 National Lawyers Guild 14 Beacon Street, Suite 407 Boston, MA 02108 Lawyer referral service geared to low and moderate income clients, women and minority rights issues but will take any case. Spanish speaking staff available. Serves Lowell and Lynn. Call (617) 227-7008, Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or leave a message.
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 Essex Law Library Superior Courthouse 34 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 Lawrence Law Library Fenton Judicial Center 2 Appleton Street Lawrence, MA 01840 The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries are open to the public, providing legal reference services and legal research assistance. The Salem library is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The Lawrence library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday; and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Ask at the Registry of Probate for the Law Libraries pamphlet which provides more details.  Call (978) 741-0674 (Salem) or (978) 687-7608 (Lawrence) 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	Merrimack Valley Legal Services 170 Common Street, Suite 303 Lawrence, MA 01840 Call (978) 687-1177 Handles divorce and custody cases for primary caretaker if recent abuse or child custody dispute. Serves Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Byfield, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rowley, Salisbury, West Newbury. Neighborhood Legal Services 37 Friend Street Lynn, MA 01902 (781) 599-7730 or (800) 747-5056 Pro Se Divorce Clinic (In English and Spanish) for uncontested divorces for custodial and non-custodial parent as long as there is no domestic abuse. Weekly help line to answer brief family law questions via telephone. Will also provide direct representation in limited number of domestic abuse cases in Southern Essex County (Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield and Wenham) only. 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 (978) 744-1020 or ask at the Registry of Probate.