Probate and Family Court Department
Looking for Legal Assistance - Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth County Bar Association Referrals to private attorneys in Plymouth County. Call (508) 584-6600 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 Brockton only. 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 Plymouth Law Library County Commissioners Building 11 South Russell Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Brockton Law Library Superior Courthouse 72 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 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)747-4796 (Plymouth) or (508) 586-7110 (Brockton) 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	Southeastern Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation 231 Main Street, Suite 201 Brockton, MA 02301-4342 For intake, call (800) 244-9023 Handles guardianships and family law cases for primary caretaker. Priority given to cases involving domestic abuse. Serves Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Mansfield, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rockland, West Bridgewater and Whitman. 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.  Free 90 minute divorce clinics in the courthouse in Brockton. Call for dates and times. Serves Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Hanover, Mansfield, Mattapoisett, Rockland, West Bridgewater and Whitman. Legal Services for Cape Cod and the Islands 460 West Main Street Hyannis, MA 02601 (508) 746-2777 or (800) 585-4933 Handles divorces for primary caretakers with abuse and contested custody. Serves Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Middleborough, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester and Wareham. 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 Hingham, Hull, Norwell and Scituate. 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 Hingham, Scituate and Norwell 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 in Brockton and Plymouth. Attorney does not continue to advise the individual after the initial meeting or accompany individual into the courtroom. Attorney is not available every day in both locations. For availability, call (508) 747-6204 (Plymouth) or (508) 897-5400 (Brockton) or ask at the Registry of Probate.