Free and Low-Cost Legal Help in Phoenix: Eviction, Records, Benefits, and DV

By Common Ladder · June 28, 2026 · 6 min read

A legal problem can pull a stable life apart fast — an eviction notice, a benefits cutoff, an old record that blocks every apartment application. The good news: in Maricopa County there is a real network of free civil legal aid, and you do not need money or an address to use it. If you're not sure where to start, call 211 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone, free, 24/7) for a current referral. This guide covers the four problems we're asked about most.

Community Legal Services — the main front door

Community Legal Services (CLS) is the primary free civil legal aid provider for Maricopa County. They handle housing, public benefits, family law, consumer issues, and more — at no cost to people who qualify (generally at or below 125% of the federal poverty level).

• Phone: (602) 258-3434 or toll-free (800) 852-9075
• Address: 305 S. 2nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003
• Intake hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Apply online: clsaz.org/apply-for-services (then call to finish the application)

Facing eviction

Eviction cases in Arizona move quickly — often a hearing within a week or two of the filing — so get help the moment you receive court papers. Two free options serve Phoenix tenants.

CLS eviction representation (Maricopa County)

The county funds free legal representation for eligible tenants facing eviction, including nonpayment cases, through Community Legal Services. CLS can negotiate with your landlord and represent you in the Justice Courts or Superior Court.

• Phone: (602) 385-8880

City of Phoenix Eviction Legal Services Program

Open to households at or below 80% of area median income for Maricopa County. It connects you with legal help and, in some cases, rental assistance.

• Phone: (602) 262-7210
• Email: HSD.EvictionHelp@phoenix.gov
• In person: Travis L. Williams Family Services Center, 4732 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85040
• Learn more: azevictionhelp.org — statewide guidance before, during, and after an eviction

Domestic violence and orders of protection

Filing an order of protection is free, and you do not need a lawyer to do it — but free legal help and a safety plan are available, and they matter. Start with the helpline below if you are in an abusive situation.

• Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence helpline: (602) 279-2900 or (800) 782-6400, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. — support, referrals, and help navigating the courts
• AZPOINT: azpoint.azcourts.gov — fill out your protective-order forms online before going to court
• Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project: free attorneys for survivors, delivered through CLS and partner shelters — azbf.org

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) is also available 24/7.

Clearing or sealing your record

An old conviction can block housing and jobs long after the sentence is over. Under Arizona's record-sealing law (A.R.S. § 13-911), many cases can now be sealed from public view once you complete your sentence and a waiting period passes — two years for lower-level misdemeanors, longer for felonies. Most violent and sexual offenses, and Class 1 felonies, are not eligible.

You can file the petition yourself using free forms and staff guidance at the Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center, which also has Set-Aside, Restore Civil Rights, and Seal Records packets.

• Phone: (602) 506-7353
• Main location: 101 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003 (plus Mesa, Surprise, and north Phoenix sites)
• Self-help forms: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc

Benefits denied or cut off

If your SNAP (food), cash, AHCCCS (Medicaid), or other benefits were denied, reduced, or terminated, you have the right to appeal — and you usually have only a short window to request a hearing, so act the day you get the notice.

• SNAP, cash, and medical assistance (DES): request a fair hearing at des.az.gov before the deadline on your notice
• AHCCCS (Medicaid): follow the appeal instructions printed on your denial notice
• Free representation: Community Legal Services takes public-benefits appeals — (602) 258-3434

Free clinics and self-help

If your issue doesn't fit the categories above, or you just need a question answered, these resources are open to everyone.

• Arizona Legal Center: free legal clinics by appointment, 111 E. Taylor St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 — (480) 727-0127, arizonalegalcenter.org
• AzCourtHelp: live virtual help desks and a statewide directory of legal aid — azcourthelp.org
• AZLawHelp: free legal information and online intake — azlawhelp.org
• State Bar of Arizona Lawyer Referral & Modest Means: reduced-fee attorneys when you don't qualify for free aid — azbar.org

What to have ready when you call

Free legal aid programs screen for income and the type of case. Having these on hand speeds things up:

• A photo ID if you have one (you can still get help without one)
• Any court papers, notices, or letters you received — bring all of them, including the envelope
• Proof of income (pay stubs, SSI/SSDI letter, SNAP or TANF statement)
• Deadlines: write down any hearing or response date — it determines how fast you need to act

If you don't have an ID, several Phoenix organizations can help you get one — see our ID recovery guide. And if the legal problem is a housing one, our homeless prevention guide covers rent and utility help that can stop a crisis before it reaches court.

Start with 2-1-1 or Community Legal Services. Then work down this list by problem type.

Verify before you go / call ahead. Phone numbers, intake hours, and eligibility rules change. Call before traveling to any office. If a number is out of service, dial 211 for a current referral.

Have a correction or an update? Contact us — we verify and update this information when changes are reported.