Probate and Family Court Department
Looking for Legal Assistance - Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 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 Bar Association of Norfolk County Referrals to private attorneys in Norfolk County. Also offers referrals to free attorneys through Pro Bono attorney program. Call (617) 471-9693 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.   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 Norfolk Law Library 57 Providence Highway Norwood, MA 02062 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 (781) 769-7483 or visit the Law Libraries web site www.lawlib.state.ma.us
Free resources offered by the Massachusetts and Norfolk Bar Associations	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 Norfolk Legal Clinic Bar Association of Norfolk County Attorneys are available approximately once a month in Dedham or Quincy to offer free basic advice on various matters including family law. For more information, Call (617) 471-9693.
Legal Service Agencies These resources are available only to very low income and elderly individuals	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 (617) 603-1700 Greater Boston Legal Services 197 Friend Street Boston, MA 02114 (800) 323-3205 or (617) 371-1234 Represents custodial parents in divorce, paternity, visitation, parental kidnapping, contested guardianships and contempts (with certain restrictions). Represents prospective guardians if parents do not object. Limited representation in DSS involved cases (with certain restrictions). Serves Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Quincy, Randolph and Weymouth. South Middlesex Legal Services 354 Waverly Street Framingham, MA 01702 (508) 620-1830 or (800) 696-1501 Handles divorces for custodial parent or disabled parent. Domestic violence cases (209A restraining orders). Also has pro bono divorce panel of private attorneys. Serves Bellingham, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Sherborn, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood and Wrentham. Community Legal Services and Counseling Center One West Street Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 661-1010 Will handle cases for victims of domestic violence or for primary caretakers in contested custody and visitation cases involving child abuse or neglect. Also cases for custodial parent seeking child support. Serves Brookline only. New Center for Legal Advocacy 257 Union Street New Bedford, MA 02740 (800) 244-9023 Handles guardianships and family law cases with priority given to cases with domestic abuse. Serves Avon and Stoughton only. Jewish Family Services - Bet Tzedek of Boston 1340 Centre Street Newton, MA 02459 (617) 558-1278 Provides referrals to pro bono or low-cost attorneys in family law cases including divorce, alimony, custody, visitation, domestic violence, guardianship and conservatorship. Will handle Russian speaking clients. Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association 29 Temple Place, Suite 300 Boston, MA 02111 (617) 423-0648 or (617) 338-6790 (TTY) Assigns private volunteer attorneys to represent indigent individuals in divorces, child custody cases, wills and uncontested guardianships of minors and adults. Serves Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Quincy, Randolph and Weymouth. Family Law Project for Battered Women Women's Bar Association and Women's Bar Foundation Provides free legal services to battered women involved in contested domestic relations cases. Applicants must have been denied eligibility by legal service organizations to qualify. Call Women's Bar Foundation at (617) 589-9420
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 (781) 830-1200 or ask at the Registry of Probate.