No-fee help directory

Find independent help

Government and court resources, nonprofit legal aid, nonprofit counseling, private licensed attorneys, and other qualified professionals — each with its exact role clearly stated. No referral fees, ever.

How this works. We don't charge or receive referral fees. Listing is informational and doesn't guarantee service or outcomes. Contact the provider directly to confirm qualifications, availability, and costs. We don't automatically share your details or contact anyone on your behalf.

Government & court resources

Official agencies and court self-help. Free to use.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Federal consumer financial regulator — accepts complaints and publishes plain-language guidance

Service area: United States (federal)

Services: Complaints about banks, debt collectors, credit bureaus, and credit cards; plain-language guides on debt, credit, and collection rights.

Fees: Free

Eligibility: Open to consumers. Submitting a complaint is free and does not require an attorney.

License/credential: A federal agency, not a legal representative. A complaint is not a court filing.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Federal consumer protection agency — enforces the FDCPA and FCRA

Service area: United States (federal)

Services: Consumer education on credit, debt, and debt collection; complaint intake at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Fees: Free

Eligibility: Open to consumers.

License/credential: A federal agency. The FTC does not represent individual consumers in private cases.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

U.S. Courts — Self-Representation (Pro Se)

Federal judiciary — official self-help resources for people without an attorney

Service area: United States (federal courts)

Services: General information on representing yourself in federal court, forms, and procedures.

Fees: Free

Eligibility: Available to anyone. Resources are general guidance, not legal advice for a specific case.

License/credential: Court-published educational materials, not a law firm or legal representative.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

AnnualCreditReport.com

Only federally authorized source for free annual credit reports

Service area: United States

Services: Free copies of your credit report from the three nationwide bureaus (by federal law).

Fees: Free (by federal right)

Eligibility: Consumers entitled under federal law (FACTA).

License/credential: A federally authorized service, not a credit repair company.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

Nonprofit legal aid

Free civil legal help for people who meet income limits.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) — Find Legal Help

Federally funded grantmaker — locator for LSC-funded civil legal aid nonprofits

Service area: Every U.S. state, D.C., and territories (via 129 funded programs)

Services: Locator for nonprofit legal aid organizations that handle civil legal matters for low-income people.

Fees: Free or low-cost, set by each local program

Eligibility: Income-eligible; each program sets its own limits and case priorities.

License/credential: A locator. The local programs employ licensed attorneys; LSC itself is the funder.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

LawHelp.org

Nonprofit legal information portal — state-by-state guides and referral

Service area: United States (state-by-state)

Services: Plain-language legal information, free forms, and referrals to legal aid for civil issues by state.

Fees: Free information; referred providers may have their own eligibility/fee rules.

Eligibility: Varies by state and provider.

License/credential: An information and referral portal, not a law firm.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

Nonprofit counseling

Budget and debt counseling; may include a debt management plan.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) — Member Locator

National nonprofit association — locator for accredited nonprofit credit counseling agencies

Service area: United States

Services: Locates nonprofit credit counselors offering budget review and, where appropriate, debt management plans.

Fees: Often low-cost or sliding-scale; some fees may apply to a debt management plan.

Eligibility: Open to consumers; individual agencies set their own terms.

License/credential: A nonprofit accreditor/locator. Member agencies are not law firms and do not provide legal advice.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

Private licensed attorneys

Licensed to practice law. Find one through a bar association.

American Bar Association — Find Legal Help

National bar — referral resources to state and local lawyer referral services

Service area: United States (via state and local bars)

Services: Lawyer referral services to find licensed attorneys; some offer brief free consultations, set by each program.

Fees: Referral is free; attorney fees vary by attorney and matter.

Eligibility: Open; individual attorneys set their own terms and conflicts checks.

License/credential: A referral resource. Attorneys listed are licensed by their state bar.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

Other qualified professionals

Non-attorney professionals — their exact role is stated. They do not provide legal advice.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) — COVID EIDL Servicing

Federal small-business agency — direct lender/servicer for COVID-19 EIDL loans

Service area: United States

Services: Servicing and current assistance information for COVID-19 EIDL loans (deferments, hardship accommodations) via the SBA Loan Portal.

Fees: Direct loan servicing; no third-party fees to contact SBA.

Eligibility: COVID-19 EIDL borrowers; availability of any specific relief changes over time.

License/credential: A federal agency. SBA loan officers are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice.

Date reviewed: 2026-10-13

A document preparer or "paralegal" is not a licensed attorney and cannot give legal advice. We never label an unlicensed consultant as an attorney, and we never present a document preparer as authorized to provide legal advice. For legal advice, use a state-bar-licensed attorney.