At times, a referral to an attorney is not the best course of action.  In your search for assistance, you may find that one or more of these agencies can help you.  This guide lists agencies and community service organizations with offices located in the greater Houston metropolitan areas.  It also includes the toll-free numbers for many State of Texas and federal agencies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legal Services

 

 

Advocacy Inc. Disability related services

1-800-252-9108

 

Aid to Victims of Domestic Violence - AVDA                                                                  Bilingual
Counseling & paralegal assistance to victims of domestic abuse.  Legal representation for individuals that meet requirements.

713-224-9911

 

American Civil Liberties Union - ACLU Houston, Texas
Disputes regarding race, gender, creed or preference.  Advocates for constitutional rights.

713-942-8146

 

Consejos Legales                                                                                                               Bilingual
Free legal advice over the phone, sponsored by the Mexican-American Bar Association on the 1st Thursday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

713-759-1133

 

Lone Star Legal Aid                                                                                                          Bilingual
Federally funded agency that provides free legal assistance for certain types of civil matters.  Individuals must meet specific guidelines.  1415 Fannin

713-652-0077 main
713-652-5911 intake

 

Dispute Resolution Center / Neighborhood Justice Center     49 San Jacinto                        Bilingual
A free service sponsored by the Houston Bar Association that handles disputes between neighbors, consumers, landlords/tenants, employers/employees, families, and friends.

713-755-8274

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston Intake Office                                Bilingual
Employment issues involving discriminations
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Main Office

713-209-3320

1-800-669-4000

 

Family Law Information Booth in basement of the Family Law Center, 1115 Congress, 9:30 a.m. - Noon, no phone number, must go in person

in person only

 

Family Violence Legal Hotline                                                                                           Bilingual
Provides legal counseling and information about legal rights and options for victims of family violence

1-800-374-HOPE
(4673)

 

Fathers for Equal Rights, Inc.
Offers educations, legal advice and support for parents, grandparents, and others trying to navigate the maze of the judicial system.  $160.00 yearly membership fee which includes access to attorneys for advice and document preparation service for a reduced fee.

713-226-8485

 

Harris County Domestic Relations Office                                                                           Bilingual
Local governmental agency that assists with the enforcement of child support, visitation and paternity problems and provides family mediation and parenting conferences.

713-755-6757

 

Harris County District Attorney's Office                                                                              Bilingual
Consumer Fraud Division
To report possible fraud for consumer matters in Harris County.
Family Violence Unit - Criminal Law Division
Issues related to parental kidnapping, family violence, interference with child custody, protective orders, bigamy, and criminal non-support.
General Intake and Information
To verify if charges have been filed.
Check Fraud Division
For merchants, landlords and contractors, etc. to report theft of services or goods.
Community Services Complaint Desk
For questions regarding the rejection of criminal charges.


713-755-5836

713-755-5888


713-755-5800

713-755-7883

713-755-7114

 

Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association                                                                     Bilingual
Volunteer professional association that offers a referral service for individuals needing a criminal attorney.
*This group is not set up to handle pro bono cases.  Most people charged with a crime are appointed an attorney by the judge if they cannot afford one.

713-227-2404
713-224-4864(spanish)

 

Houston Lawyer Referral Service                                                                                       Bilingual
Program sponsored by Houston Bar and 9 other associations that provides a free referral to an attorney according to legal need and geographic preference.  All attorneys provide the first 30-minute consultation for $20.00; then it's the attorney's regular fee.  Reduced-fee referrals available for eligible individuals.

713-237-9429
1-800-289-4577

 

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program                                                                                 Bilingual
Free service sponsored by the Houston Bar Association that provides volunteer attorneys for certain types of civil matters.  Individuals must meet specific income and criteria guidelines.

713-228-0732

 

Houston Young Lawyers Association - HYLA

713-224-4952

 

The Houston Lawyer

281-955-2449

 

Innocence Network
Assists clients who have already been tried, convicted, and are serving a prison sentence but still believe they are innocent.  Mail to: Professor David Dow, University of Houston Law Center, 100 Law Center, Houston, Texas 77204-6060.

Mail only

 

Lambda Legal - GLBT issues

214-219-8585

 

Legal Hotline for Older Texans
Funded by AARP & Texas Equal Access to Justice, for Texans 60 years & older.  Attorneys answer legal questions for free and give referrals to reduced-rate attorneys.

1-800-622-2520

 

LegalLine
Program sponsored by the Houston Bar Association that gives free legal advice by telephone on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

713-759-1133

 

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - NAACP
Legal Redress Program
Handles civil matters including family, adult name changes, probate, landlord/tenant, and social security,  Clients must meet specific requirements.  Intake is Saturdays - not including those prior to a holiday - from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

713-526-3389

 

South Texas College of Law Legal Clinic
Handles civil matters including Social Security and Disability claims, probate, and some family matters.  Income based program

713-652-0009

 

Southeast Texas Legal Clinic
Income based program for HIV clients only.

713-523-7852

 

State Bar of Texas                                                                                                             Bilingual
Regulatory and licensing agency for Texas attorneys that is located in Austin.
Advertising Line - Lawyers and the public can receive information about the rules for attorney advertising.  Advertising complaints are accepted as well.
Statewide Lawyer Referral Service - to receive referrals to Texas attorneys in cities or counties without a local referral service.
Grievance Committee - to file a complaint against an attorney; to report possible unlawful solicitation by an attorney.  600 Jefferson, Suite 1000
Client Attorney Assistance Program

1-800-204-2222

1-800-566-4616

1-800-252-9690

713-758-8200
1-800-633-6630
1-800-932-1900

 

State Counsel for Offenders - Legal Services
Provides assistance to current inmates in administrative proceedings and defense of civil actions, including family law, actions to correct mistakes contained in judgmenbts of conviction, pending charges and detainers, and may assist offenders in filing Petition for Discretionary Review of Court of Appeals decisions.  P.O. Box 4005, Hunstville, Texas 77342-4005. 

Mail only

 

State Board of Labor - salary complaints and disputes

1-800-832-9243

 

Texas Attorney General                                                                                                    Bilingual
Child Support Issues in the Houston/Harris County Area

713-974-4876
main number

 

Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy
family, civil, housing, consumer & immigration cases

713-313-1139

 

University of Houston Legal Aid Clinic                                                                              Bilingual
Income based program that handles general civil matters including family, juvenile defense, Social Security and Disability claims, and Immigration

713-743-2094

 

YMCA International Services
Income based program that schedules interviews and provides pro bono help for individuals wishing to obtain asylum or for women who are victims of violence.

713-339-9015

 

 

 

 

Government Agencies & Services

 

 

City of Houston                                                                                               Most Offices Bilingual
Houston City Hall - main switchboard
Houston Department of Health and Human Services
Houston Housing Authority


713-247-1000
713-794-9320
713-260-0500

 

Harris County                                                                                                  Most Offices Bilingual
Appraisal District
Automobile Registration - Harris County
County Clerk's Office
Child Support Information Center - Information on payment records.
Friend of the Court Program - Harris County Domestic Relations Office program that monitors child support
Department of Education
District Clerk's Office
Harris County Offices Main Switchboard
Marriage License (Harris County Clerk)
Probate Clerk's Office
Social Services Department - Harris County
                                                                                                                              hearing impaired
Tax Assessor and Collector - Harris County
Veteran's Service - assists with matters for the department of Veteran's Affairs.

713-755-5000
713-957-7800
713-224-1919
713-755-6405
713-755-6077
713-755-6757
713-694-6300
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
713-755-5711
713-755-5000
713-755-6405
713-755-6425
713-696-7900
713-695-2395
713-224-1919
713-755-5243

 

State of Texas                                                                                                Most Office Bilingual
Attorney General of Texas
Greg Abbott

Comptroller of Public Accounts
Tax information and forms.
Comptroller of Public Accounts, Property Tax Division
Department of Licensing and Regulation
Department of Human Services (Houston Offices) - main number
Resource assistance for food stamps, AFDC, Medicare/Medicaid
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation -MHMRA of Harris County - Administration
Intake and Referral
Texas Department of Insurance
Texas Workforce Commission -Houston Office

Texas Governor's Hotline
Texas Rehabilitation Commission-Disability Determination Services
Texas Veteran's Commission
Texas Workers Compensation Commission - Houston East Office
Benefits, verification of coverage, and information for job-related injuries.
Texas Workers Compensation Health & Safety Hotline
Texas Workforce Commission - Appeals Divisions, Telephone Hearing Line
Texas Workforce Commissions - Labor Commissioner
Texas Workforce Commission - Houston Telecenter
Unemployment insurance


1-800-252-8011
512-463-2100

1-800-252-5555

1-800-252-9121
1-800-803-9202
713-767-2000

713-970-7000

1-800-252-3439
281-983-1100
1-800-939-6631
1-800-252-9600
1-800-252-7009
713-794-7785
713-924-2200

1-800-452-9595
1-800-252-3749
1-800-832-2829
281-983-1100

 

United States Government - Federal Agencies                                               Most Offices Bilingual
Federal Citizen Information Center
Internal Revenue Service -IRS - Forms
Internal Revenue Service -IRS - Returns - Teletax Information Line
Social Security Administration
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -HUD Inspector General Hotline
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - HUD General Information


1-800-688-9889
1-800-829-3676
1-800-829-4477
1-800-772-1213
1-800-347-3735
713-718-3199

 

 

 

 

Courts/Jails

 

 

Harris County Main Switchboard                                                                  Most Offices Bilingual
Federal Courts -Clerk's Office
Municipal Courts
Small Claims Courts

713-755-5000
713-250-5500
713-247-5464
713-755-5137

 

Jails
City Jail
County Jails - Harris County Sherrif's Office


713-247-5400
713-755-5300

 

Jury Summons Information

713-755-6392

 

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

713-957-5700

 

Probation Information                                                                                                      Bilingual
Adults
Juveniles


713-755-2100
713-512-4100

 

Traffic Ticket Information - Municipal Courts

713-247-5100

 

 

 

 

Consumer Information

 

 

Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division                                                            Bilingual
Handles consumer complaints against individual or business; will send forms and assign moderator to work out problems

1-800-621-0508

 

Banking Department of Texas www.banking.state.tx.us

512-475-1300

 

Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas - Clerk's Office

713-250-5115

 

Better Business Bureau
Free service assisting consumers having complaints against businesses

713-868-9500

 

Consumer Credit Counseling Service & Money Management International                      Bilingual
Agency that provides financial counseling and debt management - charges a fee to the customer

713-923-2227

 

Credit Coalition
Non-profit agency that provides free financial literacy classes and homebuyer education, reverse mortgage counseling, guidance, resources and outreach services to community members in the greater Houston area.

713-224-8100

 

Credit Bureaus
Consumer assistance for individuals denied credit, employment or insurance; provides complimentary annual credit report
Equifax
Trans Union Credit




1-800-685-1111
1-800-916-8800

 

Harris County District Attorney's Office Consumer Fraud Division                                       Bilingual

713-755-5836

 

Insurance Consumer Line

1-800-252-3439

 

Motor Vehicle Information                                                                                                  Bilingual
Complaints about manufacturer's defects and Lemon Law

1-800-622-8682

 

National Association of the Remodling Industry - Houston Chapter

713-621-6274

 

National Fraud Information Center
Complaints about contracts or interest rate charges by loan companies and Pawn shops

1-800-876-7060

 

Public Utility Commission of Texas

512-936-7000

 

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission                                                                       Bilingual
Hotline to obtain product safety information, report unsafe products, and consumer information

1-800-638-2772
1-800-638-8270
TTY

 

 

 

 

Immigration Services

 

 

Associated Catholic Charities Immigration Assistance

713-874-6570

 

Gano Carecen

713-665-1284

 

Casa Juan Diego

713-869-7376

 

Central American Refugee Center - CARECEN

713-665-1284

 

Immigration Counseling Center Inc.
Private agency providing assistance with immigration forms

713-953-0047

 

Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement
Administration
Investigation
Assylum
Deportation


281-774-4611
281-774-4900
281-774-4830
281-774-4816

 

 

 

 

Family, Women and Youth Services

 

 

Al-Anon

713-683-7227

 

Alcoholics Anonymous

713-686-6300

 

Arc of Texas - programs and services for persons with mental retardation

1-800-252-9729

 

Association for the Advancement of Mexican-American, Inc.                                             Bilingual

713-926-9491

 

Avance' Family Support and Education Program                                                               Bilingual

713-812-0033

 

Attorney General Child Support Division

1-800-252-8014

 

Big Brothers & Sisters of Greater Houston

713-271-5683

 

Casa de Esperanza                                                                                                             Bilingual
Residential care for abused & HIV children under 6 years of age

713-529-0639

 

Chicano Family Center                                                                                                       Bilingual

713-923-2316

 

Child Advocates, Inc.
Volunteer advocates for the rights of abused and neglected children who are in the custody of Children's Protective Services

713-529-1396

 

Children Cope
Counseling & parent education

713-952-2673

 

Children's Assessment Center
Child victims of sexual abuse

713-986-3300

 

Children's Protective Services                                                                                           Bilingual
Places children in foster homes and investigates child abuse
Information on existing cases
To report a case (through Texas Department of Regulatory Services)



713-394-4000
1-800-252-5400

 

Covenant House
Shelter and counseling for youth under 21 years of age

713-523-2231
1-800-999-9999

 

DePelchin Children's Center                                                                                               Bilingual
Neighborhood support groups for parents and children

713-730-2335
main
713-802-3800
appt. desk