Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida: Free Legal Help for Low-Income Residents

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida has handled over 20,000 legal cases annually since 1966. If you earn less than 125% of the federal poverty line and live in one of twelve Central Florida counties, you qualify for their services. No application fees. No hourly rates. No intake forms that take two weeks to process.

This matters if you're facing eviction, drowning in debt you can't pay, or need help fighting a creditor lawsuit. CLS attorneys and advocates specialize in civil legal issues that trap low-income families in cycles of instability.

What Community Legal Services Does

CLS focuses on non-criminal legal problems that affect your housing, income, and safety. Their practice areas include:

• Housing and eviction defense. Landlords who ignore repair requests, illegal lockouts, and eviction notices for tenants behind on rent.
• Domestic violence protection. Restraining orders, custody battles, and safety planning for survivors and their children.
• Consumer debt and bankruptcy. Creditor harassment, lawsuit defense, and bankruptcy filings when you qualify.
• Veterans' benefits. VA disability claims, discharge upgrades, and benefits appeals for service members who got denied.
• Public benefits. Food stamps, Social Security, Medicaid, and disability applications that get wrongly rejected.

CLS does not handle criminal cases, personal injury claims, or fee-generating matters like divorce with significant assets. If your case falls outside their scope, they refer you to other Florida legal aid programs or the local bar association.

Who Qualifies for Free Legal Aid

You must meet two requirements:

• Income limit. Your household earns 125% or less of federal poverty guidelines. For 2024, that's $37,650 for a family of three or $18,075 for an individual.
• Geographic coverage. You live in one of these counties: Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Marion, Flagler, Volusia, or Putnam.

Priority goes to victims of domestic violence, seniors facing elder abuse, veterans, and families with children at risk of homelessness. If you're slightly over the income threshold but have an urgent issue like an imminent eviction, call anyway. CLS makes exceptions for cases involving public safety.

How to Get Help from Community Legal Services

Start by calling their main intake line at (407) 841-7777. You'll speak with an intake specialist who screens your case in about 15 minutes. They ask about your income, household size, and the legal problem you're facing.

If you qualify, CLS assigns you to an attorney or advocate within two weeks for non-emergency cases. Domestic violence and eviction cases get faster attention. You'll receive a call or letter with your appointment date and a list of documents to bring.

Documents You'll Need

Gather these before your intake call to speed things up:

• Recent pay stubs or proof of income (SSI letters, unemployment statements)
• Court papers if you've been sued or served
• Lease agreements, eviction notices, or foreclosure documents
• Creditor letters, collection notices, or lawsuit summons
• ID and Social Security cards for everyone in your household

Missing a document won't disqualify you, but it slows the process. CLS attorneys can't give you legal advice until they verify your eligibility and open a case file.

What Happens After You're Accepted

Once CLS takes your case, you get a dedicated attorney or trained advocate. They handle court filings, negotiate with opposing parties, and represent you at hearings. You don't pay for any of this.

Most cases resolve within three to six months. Eviction defense moves faster because Florida courts schedule hearings within weeks of a landlord filing. Bankruptcy cases take longer if you need to gather financial records or complete credit counseling.

CLS Can't Help with Everything

They turn away cases that don't fit their mission or capacity. You won't qualify if:

• Your income exceeds 125% of poverty guidelines and you have no extraordinary circumstances
• You're involved in a criminal case (they only handle civil matters)
• Your case could generate legal fees, like a personal injury claim
• You need help with a business dispute or commercial lease

If CLS can't take your case, ask for a referral. They maintain relationships with private attorneys who do pro bono work and other legal aid organizations across Florida.

Debt and Bankruptcy Help Through CLS

CLS attorneys represent clients in creditor lawsuits, debt collection disputes, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings. If a debt collector sued you and you qualify for CLS services, they can file an answer, negotiate a settlement, or defend you in court.

For bankruptcy, CLS walks you through the means test, helps you complete the 50-page petition, and represents you at the 341 meeting of creditors. They also handle objections from creditors or the trustee if issues come up.

That said, CLS prioritizes cases where debt threatens your housing or safety. If you're facing eviction because you can't pay rent, or a creditor is trying to garnish your Social Security, you move to the front of the line. If you just want to discharge credit card debt with no immediate crisis, you might wait longer or get referred to our free bankruptcy screening tool to explore your options faster.

What to Do If You Don't Qualify

You have other options if your income exceeds CLS limits or you live outside their service area:

• Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service. Connects you with attorneys who offer 30-minute consultations for $25.
• Pro bono programs. Local bar associations run clinics where volunteer lawyers give free advice on specific issues.
• Self-help resources. Florida Courts' website provides forms and instructions for filing motions, answers, and bankruptcy petitions without an attorney.
• Debt relief lawyers. If you're dealing with lawsuits or considering bankruptcy, many consumer attorneys work on contingency or flat fees. Use our bankruptcy screener to see if you qualify for Chapter 7 and get matched with a local attorney.

You're not stuck just because CLS can't help. Florida has one of the largest legal aid networks in the country. Someone can assist you.

Why CLS Matters for Central Florida

Most low-income residents lose legal battles because they can't afford representation. Landlords win 90% of eviction cases when tenants show up without a lawyer. Creditors get default judgments in 70% of debt collection lawsuits because defendants don't file answers.

CLS levels the field. Their attorneys know how to challenge improper eviction notices, dispute inflated debt amounts, and stop wage garnishments. They've stopped thousands of wrongful evictions and helped veterans recover millions in denied benefits.

The organization handles about 20,000 cases per year with a team of over 100 attorneys, paralegals, and advocates. That's 20,000 families who kept their homes, escaped abusive relationships, or avoided bankruptcy because they had someone who knew how to fight back.

How to Contact Community Legal Services

Call their main intake line at (407) 841-7777 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. To 5 p.m. Eastern Time. If you can't reach them during business hours, visit their website at clsmf.org to submit an online intake form. You'll hear back within three business days.

For domestic violence emergencies, call their hotline at (407) 843-0840. Staff can help you file for a restraining order and connect you with shelters or safety planning resources.

If you're facing an eviction hearing in the next 72 hours, mention that when you call. CLS prioritizes cases where you're at immediate risk of losing housing.