What Is Indiana Legal Help?

Updated

Indiana Legal Help (indianalegalhelp.org) is a statewide online resource that helps Indiana residents — referred to on the site as Hoosiers — find legal services and information. It is aimed primarily at low-income residents and people representing themselves in court (self-represented litigants). The site is available in both English and Spanish and organizes its content around two main actions: finding local help and reading up on a legal topic.

What the site offers

The homepage is built around a small set of entry points, each pointing to a different kind of help:

  • Get Legal Help — the main starting point. You enter your zip code or select your county, and the site directs you to services available in that area. According to the site, there are services in every Indiana county.
  • Legal Topics — a browsable menu of subject areas, each linking to information and forms.
  • Free Legal Answers — an option to email an attorney for free legal advice if you have a legal question.
  • Calendar of Events — a schedule of upcoming clinics where you can speak with an attorney in person.
  • Quick Links — commonly used resources, including forms and answers to procedural questions.
  • Volunteer Opportunities for Legal Professionals — a separate path for attorneys and legal professionals who want to volunteer.

Legal topics covered

The Legal Topics section groups issues into broad categories, with more specific pages underneath each. The categories listed on the site are:

Category Examples of subtopics listed
Housing Foreclosure, Rent and Eviction
Family and Safety Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Domestic Violence/Protection Order, Guardianship (adult and minor child), Name Change, Parenting Time, Relocation, Contempt
Money and Estate Debt, Estate
Military, Immigration, and Employment Discrimination at Work, Immigration, Military and Veteran Assistance
Driving and Expungement Driving, Expungement
Other Legal Issues Consumer Issues

The Family and Safety category is the most granular, with additional subtopics beyond those shown in the table.

Quick Links and self-help materials

The Quick Links area is aimed at people who already have a case or are preparing to file one. It includes:

  • Commonly Used Forms — including Contempt, Continuance, Fee Waiver, Virtual Hearing, and Appearance forms.
  • After a Case Is Filed — information you may need once a case is with the court.
  • Filing Fee FAQ and Service FAQ — answers to common questions about filing fees and how to serve court forms.
  • Indiana County Court Local Rules — local rules for your specific Indiana county.
  • Glossary of Legal Terms — definitions to help you understand terminology used across the site.

Who it is for

The site describes its audience as low-income Hoosiers who cannot afford an attorney, along with self-represented litigants who need accessible resources to navigate the courts. A managing attorney quoted on the site frames it as a place for self-represented litigants to find easy-to-use resources that help them gain access to courts.

If you are a legal professional rather than someone seeking help, the site routes you to a separate Pro Bono Opportunity Guide, where you can find volunteer opportunities by location and area of interest.

How to start

  1. Go to indianalegalhelp.org.
  2. Enter your zip code or select your county under Get Legal Help to see services near you.
  3. If you already know your issue, browse Legal Topics instead and pick the category that fits.
  4. If you have a specific question, use Free Legal Answers to email an attorney, or check the Calendar of Events for a clinic near you.
  5. Switch to Spanish at any point using the language toggle if that is easier for you.

One practical note: the site is a directory and information hub, not a law firm. It connects you to services, forms, and answers, but the legal help itself comes from the providers and attorneys it points you toward.