Central California Legal Services helps families avoid homelessness, and protects their right to safe and decent housing. We help tenants in disputes with their landlords, and we bring cases to ensure local governments follow the law to make sure there is enough decent housing for low-income residents. Low-income Fresno County tenants (and landlords too) can receive legal information and help with eviction documents at the Fresno Superior Court, B.F. Sisk Courthouse, every Tuesday and Thursday. Get more information by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find housing resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services helps victims escape domestic violence or abuse, and get back on their feet financially. We help survivors of human trafficking with legal services and referrals, and where appropriate, immigration relief through T-Visas. We meet with victims confidentially. We help them obtain and renew restraining orders, and we provide in-court representation in some cases. We also help families care for children whose parents cannot make daily decisions for them: in two free Guardianship Workshops a month, staff explains the court process, reviews forms, answers general questions, and can provide one-on-one assistance to qualified litigants. Get more information about any of these services by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find family resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services helps struggling families to keep their heat and electricity on. We negotiate affordable payment plans with utility companies, help people respond to “past due” and “shut-off” notices, and make sure that consumers are enrolled in all energy savings and benefits programs for which they are eligible. We also help non-English-speaking clients understand their telephone and cellphone service bills—including service “bundles” and “promotional pricing” schemes—and help them to dispute improper charges. Get more information by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find utility resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services helps workers with disputes about wages, overtime pay and unemployment insurance. At our monthly Workers’ Rights Clinic, our volunteer attorneys offer free one-on-one consultations to workers with wage claims, or who are experiencing job-related harassment, retaliation, or wrongful termination. The Clinic is held every third Tuesday at 6:00pm in our Fresno office. Individuals can also participate via video teleconference from our Visalia and Merced offices. Get more information by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find employment resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services provides many types of services for people age 60 and older. We protect them from physical and financial abuse, giving legal information and advice to seniors and caregivers, referring seniors to other service providers, and in some cases representing seniors in court proceedings. We prepare important documents for older clients, to make sure their wishes are known and followed, such as Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney, and Advance Healthcare Directives. We also help seniors who are victims of unfair business and debt collection practices, including high-pressure energy efficiency or other home improvement contracts. We offer free legal advice to eligible individuals, and may provide free legal representation in some cases. Get more information by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find seniors resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services offers two free monthly legal clinics for eligible veterans. In one clinic we help veterans with simple estate planning, to make sure their wishes are known and followed. In the other clinic, we help veterans rejoin the workforce by expunging criminal records. Schedule an appointment by calling (559) 487-5660 or find veterans resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services helps crime victims apply for certain types of immigration relief, including U-Visas and T-Visas. We also help qualified Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) apply for United States citizenship. Get more information by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find immigration resources at LawHelpCA.org.

Central California Legal Services helps families get, and keep, public benefits such as Social Security and SSI, Disability, CalWorks, Calfresh, General Assistance, Unemployment, and In-Home Supportive Services. We give legal advice about benefits issues, and we represent people who have applied for benefits but were denied, and people facing “overpayment” issues. Get more information by calling our Legal Advice Line at 1-800-675-8001 or find benefits resources at LawHelpCA.org.