RESOURCES

Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

563

CHAPTER 20

RESOURCES

STEPHEN A. RUSSO, ESQ.

Volunteer Lawyers Project, Boston

Part 1—Battered Women Shelters and Resources ................................................... 564

Part 2—Legal Services Offices .................................................................................... 568

A. General Civil Legal Services Programs ............................................................... 568

B. Special Topics / Legal Representation ................................................................ 582

C. Bar Association, Legal Answers, and Law Library Programs .............................. 592

D. Lawyer Referral Services ..................................................................................... 592

E. Social Services Organizations ............................................................................. 594

F. Ombudsmen and Agency Contacts ..................................................................... 595

Part 3—Court Service Centers .................................................................................... 597

Part 4—Probate and Family Courts ............................................................................ 598

Part 5—District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Programs .......................... 599

Part 6—Department of Children and Families Domestic Violence Units ................ 601

Part 7—SAFEPLAN Agencies and Courts .................................................................. 602

Part 8—Department of Transitional Assistance Domestic Violence Unit ............... 604

Part 9—Supervised Visitation Centers ....................................................................... 605

Part 10—Licensed Adoption Agencies in Massachusetts ........................................ 607

Licensed Public Adoption Agency ............................................................................ 607

Special Needs Referral Service ............................................................................... 607

Licensed Private Adoption Agencies ........................................................................ 607

Part 11—Mediation Services ........................................................................................ 610

Part 12—Immigration Issues........................................................................................ 614

Part 13—Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+)

Survivors of Domestic Violence .................................................................................. 616

Part 14—Internet Resources ........................................................................................ 617

Part 15—Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 621

Food, Clothing, Nutrition, Housing ........................................................................... 621

Health ....................................................................................................................... 621

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

564 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 1—BATTERED WOMEN SHELTERS AND RESOURCES

The following organizations provide a variety of resources for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Many organizations make use of the twenty-four-hour SafeLink Hotline for anyone affected by domestic or dating

violence. It is serviced by bilingual (Spanish and English) advocates and offers translation services for more than

130 languages. SafeLink (toll free): (877) 785-2020; TTY: (877) 521-2601. This list is by no means exhaustive and

additional organizations are listed on the Mass.gov website at https://www.mass.gov/service-details/domestic-

violence-programs.

Statewide Spanish Rape Crisis Hotline: (800) 223-5001

National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233

Amesbury

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, Inc.

(formerly The Women’s Crisis Center)

Hotline: (978) 388-1888

Business: (978) 834-9710 Fax: (978) 834-0825

http://www.jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org/

Amherst

Center for Women & Community

(formerly Everywoman’s Center)

24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (413) 545-0800

Local Long Distance: (888) 337-0800

TTY: (413) 577-0940

Spanish Line: (800) 223-5001

https://www.umass.edu/cwc

Attleboro

New Hope, Inc.

Crisis Hotline: (800) 323-HOPE (4673)

Batterer Intervention Services: (877) 222-0083

Business: (508) 226-4015

Fax: (508) 226-6917

http://www.new-hope.org

Beverly

Lahey Health Behavioral Services VOCAL

Adult program: (978) 927-4507 ext. 7801

Children’s program: (978) 927-4506 ext. 7803

Hotline: (800) 922-8772

http://nebhealth.org/services

Boston

Asian Shelter and Advocacy Program

Hotline: (617) 338-2355

Business: 617-338-2356

Fax: (617) 338-2354

E-mail: [email protected]

https://www.atask.org/site/our-programs/emergency-

shelter.html

Casa Myrna

SafeLink Hotline: (877) 785-2020

Business: (617) 521-0100

Fax: (617) 521-0105

http://www.casamyrna.org

Renewal House

24-hour Confidential Hotline: (617) 566-6881

UUUM Business: (617) 318-6010

http://www.uuum.org/?page_id=199

Brockton

Brockton Family and Community Resources

Crisis Hotline: (508) 583-6498

Toll-Free Hotline: (800) 281-6498

TTY: (508) 583-6498

http://www.fcr-ma.org

A New Day

(formerly Womansplace Crisis Center)

Domestic Violence Hotline: (508) 588-8255

Toll Free Domestic Violence Hotline: (888) 293-7273

TTY: (508) 894-2869

Spanish Line: (800) 223-5001

Business Phone: (508) 580-3964

http://healthimperatives.org/a-new-day

Cambridge

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

Toll-Free Hotline: (800) 841-8371

Spanish Line: (800) 223-5001

Business: 617-492-8306

http://www.barcc.org

Transition House

24-Hour Crisis Line: (617) 661-7203

Business: (617) 868-1650

Fax: (617) 868-1651

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.transitionhouse.org

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565

Chelsea

HarborCov

24-Hour Hotline: (617) 884-9909

Business: (617) 884-9799

Fax: (617) 884-9929

MassRelay 711

E-mail: [email protected]rg

http://harborcov.org

Fall River

Our Sister’s Place

24-Hour Hotline: (508) 999-6636

Business: (508) 672-2033

Fax: (508) 672-2033

E-mail: [email protected]

Stanley Street Women’s Center

Phone: (508) 675-0087

Business: (508) 679-5222

Fax: (508) 673-3182

http://www.sstar.org/womens-center

Fitchburg

Pathways for Change, Inc.

(formerly Rape Crisis Center of Central

Massachusetts)

English Hotline: (800) 870-5905

Spanish Hotline: (800) 223-5001

TTY: (888) 887-7130

Office: (508) 852-7600

Fax: (508) 852-7870

https://pathwaysforchange.help/pfc/whats-happening

Framingham

Voices Against Violence

(formerly Women’s Protective Services)

24-Hour Hotline: (800) 593-1125

TTY/Hotline: (508) 626-8686

Business: (508) 820-0834

Fax: (508) 872-4264

http://www.smoc.org/voices-against-violence.php

Gardner

YWCA Central Massachusetts

Hotline: (508) 755-9030

Office: (508) 791-3181

http://www.ywcacentralmass.org/domestic-violence

Greenfield

New England Learning Center for Women

in Transition

Business: (413) 772-0871

Crisis Hotline or TTY: (413) 772-0806

Fax: (413) 772-2743

TTY or Toll Free: 1-888-249-0806

Spanish Hotline: (800) 223-5001

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.nelcwit.org

Holyoke

Womanshelter/Compañeras

Hotline: (877) 536-1628

Local: (413) 536-1628

Business: (413) 538-9717

http://www.womanshelter.org

Hyannis

Independence House

Hotline: (800) 439-6507

Business: (508) 771-6507

TTY: (508) 771-6782

http://www.independencehouse.org

Jamaica Plain

Elizabeth Stone House

SafeLink: (877) 785-2020

TTY: (877) 521-2601

Main Line: (617) 427-9801

Fax: (617) 427-6252

http://www.elizabethstonehouse.org

F.I.N.E.X. House

Hotline: (617) 288-1054

Business: (617) 436-2002

Fax: (617) 287-0553

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.finexhouse.org

Lawrence

YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts

Hotline: (877) 509-9922

Office: (978) 682-3039 ext. 2123

Fax: (978) 691-5286

Shelter: [email protected]

http://ywcanema.org/programs-services/womens-

services/2554-2

Leominster

YWCA Central Massachusetts

Hotline: (508) 755-9030

Battered Women’s Resources (978) 537-8601

Office: (508) 791-3181

http://www.ywcacentralmass.org/domestic-violence

Lowell

Alternative House

Toll Free Crisis Hotline: (888) 291-6228

Local: (978) 454-1436

Business: (978) 937-5777

Fax:(978) 937-5595

http://www.alternative-house.org

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566 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Lynn

YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts

(formerly North Shore Rape Crisis Center)

Rape Crisis Hotline: (800) 922-8772

Spanish: (800) 223-5002

Business: (781) 477-2313

Fax: (978) 927-4507

TTY: (978) 686-8840

E-mail: ngoodwin@ywcalawrence.org

http://ywcansrcc.org

Marlborough

Wayside Youth & Family Services

Hotline: (800) 511-5070

Rape Crisis 7 DV Program: (508) 478-6888 ext. 2125

TTY: (508) 478-4205 (business hours only)

Business: (508) 478-6888

E-mail: info@waysideyouth.org

http://www.waysideyouth.org/OurServices/WaysideMil

ford/TraumaInterventionServices.aspx

Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

Hotline: (508) 696-SAFE (7233)

Business: (508) 693-7900

Program Director: Jennifer Neary; (774) 549-9667 ext. 103

[email protected]

http://www.mvcommunityservices.com

Milford

Wayside Youth & Family Services

Hotline: (800) 511-5070

Rape Crisis 7 DV Program: (508) 478-6888 ext. 2125

TTY: (508) 478-4205 (business hours only)

Business: (508) 478-6888

E-mail: info@waysideyouth.org

http://www.waysideyouth.org/OurServices/WaysideMil

ford/TraumaInterventionServices.aspx

Nantucket

A Safe Place

Hotline: (508) 228-2111

Business: (508) 228-0561

Fax: (508) 228-8825

TTY: (508) 228-7095

Spanish Line: (800) 223-5001

E-mail: http://www.asafeplacenantucket.org

http://www.asafeplacenantucket.org

New Bedford

New Bedford Women’s Center

Hotline: (508) 999-6636

Spanish Line: (800) 223-5001

Business: (508) 996-3343

Fax: (508) 999-7139

TTY: (508) 996-1177

E-mail: info@thewomenscentersc.com

http://www.thewomenscentersc.com

Newburyport

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, Inc.

(formerly The Women’s Crisis Center)

Hotline: (978) 388-1888

Business: (978) 465-0999

Fax: (978) 465-7158

http://www.jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org

Northampton

Safe Passage

(formerly Necessities/Necesidades)

Toll Free Hotline: (888) 345-5282

TTY: (888) 345-5282

Business: (413) 586-1125

Fax: (413) 586-3742

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.safepass.org

Norwood

New Hope, Inc.

Crisis Hotline: (800) 323-HOPE (4673)

Batterer Intervention Services: 1-877-222-0083

Business: (508) 226-4015

Fax: (508) 226-6917

http://www.new-hope.org

Pittsfield

Women’s Services of Western Massachusetts

(The Elizabeth Freeman Center)

24-Hour Toll Free Hotline: (866) 401-2425

Business: (413) 499-2425 (TTY)

Fax: (413) 443-3016

E-mail: info@elizabethfreemancenter.org

https://www.elizabethfreemancenter.org

Plymouth

South Shore Women’s Center

24-Hour Toll Free Hotline: (888) 746-2664

Business: (508) 746-2664

Education and Trainings: (508) 746-2664

Batterers’ Intervention Program: (508) 830-1234

Fax: (508) 746-4668

E-mail: bcaldero[email protected]

http://www.thesswrc.org

Quincy

Dove, Inc.

Hotline: (617) 471-1234 (TTY)

Youth Hotline: (617) 773-HURT (4878)

Toll-Free Hotline: (888) 314-3683

Business: (617) 770-4065

http://www.dovema.org

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567

Roxbury

Renewal House

24-Hour Confidential Hotline: (617) 566-6881

UUUM Business: (617) 318-6010

http://www.uuum.org/?page_id=199

Salem

Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC)

Hotline: (800) 547-1649

Salem Hotline: (978) 744-6841

Business: (978) 744-8552

Fax: (978) 745-6886

Additional Locations: Gloucester, Lynn

https://hawcdv.org/contact

Somerville

RESPOND, Inc.

Hotline: (617) 623-5900

TTY; (800) 439-2370

Speech to Speech: (866) 645-9870

Admin. Services: (617) 625-5996

Programs and Services: (617) 440-7267

Fax: (617) 623-4377

E-mail: info@respondinc.org

http://www.respondinc.org

Springfield

ARCH (Abuse and Rape Crisis Hotline)/

YWCA of Western Massachusetts

Hotline: (800) 796-8711 (TTY)

Hotline: (413) 733-7100 (TTY)

Business: (413) 732-3121

Fax: (413) 747-0542

Taunton

New Hope, Inc.

Crisis Hotline: (800) 323-HOPE (4673)

Batterer Intervention Services: (877) 222-0083

Business: (508) 226-4015

Fax: (508) 226-6917

http://www.new-hope.org

Vineyard Haven

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

Hotline: (508) 696-SAFE (7233)

Business: (508) 693-7900

Program Director: Jennifer Neary (774) 549-9667 ext. 103

jneary@mycommunityservices.com

http://www.mvcommunityservices.com

Waltham

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence

(formerly Support Committee for Battered Women)

Hotline: (800) 899-4000

Business: (781) 891-0724

Fax: (781) 891-3861

E-mail: [email protected]

https://reachma.org/what-we-do/about-domestic-

violence

Webster

New Hope, Inc.

Crisis Hotline: (800) 323-HOPE (4673)

Batterer Intervention Services: 1-877-222-0083

Business: (508) 949-0452

Fax: (508) 949-6482

http://www.new-hope.org

Westfield

New Beginnings YWCA of Western Massachusetts

(413) 562-1920

Business: (413) 562-5739

(413) 572-2649

Worcester

Pathways for Change Inc.

(formerly Rape Crisis Center of Central

Massachusetts)

English Hotline: (800) 870-5905

Spanish Hotline: (800) 223-5001

TTY: (888) -887-7130 (for business hours only)

Office: (508) 852-7600

Fax: (508) 852-7870

https://pathwaysforchange.help/pfc/whats-happening

YWCA/Daybreak Resources for Women

and Children

YWCA Central Massachusetts

Hotline: (508) 755-9030

Office: (508) 791-3181

Karen Riley-McNary Director of Community

Intervention: (508) 755-5371

http://www.ywcacentralmass.org/domestic-violence

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

568 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 2—LEGAL SERVICES OFFICES

The following programs provide free legal services unless otherwise noted. The first section lists GENERAL

CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS alphabetically. The second section lists programs that handle

specific legal topics.

Program intake hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless designated otherwise. Legal

services programs priorities may change based on funding, staffing, and client need. This list sets forth the current

priorities of each program as of the time of printing. Contact the program directly for the most recent intake

information.

Many programs have staff who speak languages other than English or have access to a telephone interpreting

service, which is often provided free of charge to eligible clients.

The contact information and description of most of the programs listed in this book were provided by Eastern

Region Legal Intake (ERLI), a project of the Volunteer Lawyers Project. ERLI publishes a monthly newsletter

called Intake Update that lists current intake information for major legal services programs throughout

Massachusetts.

If your organization would like to be informed of changes by mail or by e-mail on a monthly basis, you can

subscribe to ERLI Intake Update for a nominal annual charge by contacting e[email protected]g.

A. General Civil Legal Services Programs

Boston College Legal Services LAB

885 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02459

Phone: (617) 552-0248

Fax: (617) 552-0593

http://www.bc.edu/lab

Service Area: Newton, Waltham, and Watertown.

Service Area for Unemployment Compensation cases:

Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Needham,

Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, and Weston.

Interpreters will be provided free of charge to clients in

any language if an advocate on staff is not conversant in

the client’s language.

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

(Intake Coordinator)

Cases Handled (provides representation, no telephone

advice):

Housing: Evictions for tenants only (priority given to

families with children); public housing denials or

evictions; utility shutoffs.

Family Law: Contested divorces; custody (custodial

and noncustodial parents); child support (priority given

to custodial parents); 209A emergency hearings.

Government Benefits: Denials/terminations of

TAFDC, EAEDC, SNAP, EA, SSI/SSDI (not SSI/SSDI

overpayment cases); unemployment compensation (not

UC overpayment cases); MassHealth

denials/terminations.

Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services

(CASLS) (An Office of Greater Boston Legal

Services)

60 Gore Street, Suite 203, Cambridge, MA 02141

Phone: (617) 603-2700

Fax: (617) 494-8222

http://www.gbls.org

Service Area (for nonelders, i.e., under 60 years

old): Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Somerville,

Winchester, Woburn.

Service Area (for elders, i.e., 60 and over):

Cambridge and Somerville only.

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish

Cases Handled (nonelders; under 60 years old):

Government Benefits: SSI and SSDI denials at ALJ

stage; SSI/SSDI terminations; denials, terminations,

and issues relating to state benefits (TAFDC, child care,

education and training, SNAP, MassHealth, EAEDC,

and EA shelter benefits).

Housing: Eviction cases at the Notice to Quit stage and

Summons and Complaint stages and (if public housing)

at grievance stage. Tenant group issues. Denial of

admissions to public housing, Section 8 or other

subsidized housing. Section 8 terminations.

Mental Health and Disability Rights: Considers cases

where a mentally ill and/or disabled client believes his

or her legal rights have been violated based on status as

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569

disabled person, including rights to services from mental

health and other disability service agencies; housing

and public accommodation discrimination based on

disability; institutional rights and discharge advocacy

from psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and other

institutional settings; guardianship defense; advocacy

for Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (a.k.a.

“Rosie D.”) mental health services, and special

education cases for children with psychiatric disabilities.

CASLS ELDER Unit Service Area (age 60 and

above): Cambridge and Somerville only.

ELDER Cases Handled: Government benefits; access

to health care and mental health services; housing

(tenants only), including evictions (only subsidized

housing), denials of admission to public, Section 8, and

other subsidized housing, and Section 8 terminations;

nursing home residents’ rights. Guardianship defense;

protective service issues. Limited advice on consumer

issues.

Family Law: Located at GBLS; see GBLS Family Unit

listing.

Employment: Located at GBLS; see GBLS

Employment Unit listing.

Immigration: Located at GBLS; see GBLS

Immigration Unit listing.

Community Legal Aid, Inc. and Central-West

Justice Center

Central Mass.: 1-800-649-3718

TDD: (508) 755-3260

Online Application: http://www.communitylegal.org

Intake Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9:30 a.m. to

12:15 p.m.; Wed. 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Worcester Office: 405 Main Street, 4th Floor,

Worcester, MA 01608. (508) 752-3718

Springfield Office: One Monarch Place, Springfield,

MA. (413) 781-7814

Northampton Office: 20 Hampton Avenue, Suite 100,

Northampton, MA 01060. (413) 584-4034

Pittsfield Office: 152 North Street, Suite E-155,

Pittsfield, MA 01201. (413) 499-1950

Service Area: Central and Western Massachusetts.

Languages of Advocates other than English:

Spanish; French; Urdu; Hindi; Korean; Russian.

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish and

Portuguese

Cases Handled (nonelders; under 60 years old):

Family: Divorces, custody, visitation, and child support

issues for custodial and noncustodial spouses if client is

victim of domestic abuse. Will also handle restraining

order cases if client is victim of domestic abuse. Also

has an Uncontested Divorce Project for residents of

Worcester or Hampden County, through which the

agency will provide representation if no issues of

custody, visitation, property division or alimony.

Housing: Eviction defense, foreclosure defense,

housing discrimination (in Worcester County), denial or

termination of subsidies, emergency homeless shelter,

affirmative conditions claims.

Public Benefits/Medicare Advocacy: Limited

TAFDC, EAEDC, food stamps, MassHealth,

Commonwealth Care, Social Security, Disability and

SSI, Medicare and Unemployment cases.

Immigration: Humanitarian-based relief, including

VAWA petitions for victims of domestic violence,

U visas for victims of crime, SIJS petitions for

abandoned/neglected minors, and some asylum cases.

Veteran: Federal and State benefits; Service Upgrade

and Service Classification

CORI and Expungement

Migrant Farmworkers: (This is statewide project; any

migrant worker experience issuing with immigration,

housing benefits, wage and hours, working conditions,

family law can be referred).

ELDER Cases Handled: Social Security, SSI,

EAEDC, Veterans benefits, Railroad Retirement

benefits, Food Stamps. Access to Health care-Medicaid,

MassHealth, Medicare. Nursing home discharges,

transfers and quality of care issues.

Guardianship/conservatorship defense. Elder abuse

including financial exploitation. Evictions, public/

subsidized housing denials/terminations, Homesteads,

Health-care proxies and Power of Attorneys

Community Legal Services and Counseling

Center (CLASCC)

47 Thorndike Street, Suite SB-LL-1, Cambridge, MA

02141

Phone: (617) 661-1010

Fax: (617) 661-3289

http://www.clascc.org

Service Area: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline,

Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Somerville,

Watertown.

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

(2 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal).

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish

(1 Office Manager, 1 Intake Worker)

Cases Handled:

Housing (limited to Cambridge residents ONLY):

All housing issues.

Government Benefits:

SSI/SSDI: denials, termination

or reduction, disability review, work-related

overpayment cases, and applications for people who have

barriers that prevent them from applying on their own.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

570 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Immigration: Services available Statewide. Special

Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) Unit is open for both the

immigration and probate process to juveniles under the

age of 16. If juveniles are over 16, the probate process

must already be taken care of; otherwise, they will be

referred elsewhere.

Family Law: Our intake services are limited to cases

involving domestic violence.

Intake calls are done on Mondays only.

*Also offers individual, couple and group

psychotherapy/counseling services in English on a

sliding fee scale. Call main number to see if there are

services available. Ask for the Clinical Director.*

Disability Law Center

Boston: (617) 723 8455; 1 (800) 872-9992

Northampton: (413) 584 6337; 1-800-222-5619

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.dlc-ma.org

Intake Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. 9:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m.

Intake is by telephone through the Boston office.

Service Area: Statewide.

Housing Cases Eligibility: United Way of

Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley Service Area

Languages of Advocates other than English: Russian

(1 Attorney); Spanish (1 Attorney, 1 Intake Specialist);

Portuguese (2 Intake Specialists).

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: French and

Spanish (1 Support Staff).

General information about services:

DLC’s Core Function is to keep people with disabilities

safe from abuse and neglect wherever they live and

where they receive services. DLC does most of this

work by monitoring for abuse and neglect and

investigating allegations of abuse and neglect as well as

other systemic initiatives.

All services are free. There are no Massachusetts

eligibility limits for services, but income may be a

factor in case acceptance if capacity is limited.

DLC provides information and referral, advice, short-

term assistance and training so that we can use our

limited resources by providing people with disabilities

and their advocates with the tools they need for self-

advocacy. DLC also takes some cases for legal

representation. Below is the list of types of cases DLC

will take for individual representation:

Abuse and Neglect Cases

DLC will accept allegations or complaints of abuse

and/or neglect for possible representation, investigation,

or monitoring. Individuals with disabilities who have

allegations or complaints of abuse and neglect should

be referred to DLC.

Human Rights Cases

DLC will accept individual cases involving abuse and

neglect, serious and systemic violations of human rights

of individuals with mental health disabilities residing in

facilities and individuals with developmental

disabilities.

DLC will evaluate cases for systemic litigation when an

individual who is Deaf of Hard of Hearing encounters

barriers related to communication access when

interacting with law enforcement.

Education Cases

DLC will accept a limited number of cases for short-

term assistance for parents of students with disabilities

who have been excluded from school for reasons

related to their disabilities for more than 10 days.

DLC will accept a limited number of cases where

students with disabilities are current beneficiaries of

SSI/SSDI and need an accommodation in their college

academic environment.

SSI/SSDI Cases

DLC will provide information, advice, and referral to

individuals who have received a notice of a work-

related overpayment from Social Security

Administration so they may become self-advocates and

avoid future overpayment issues.

DLC will accept a limited number of cases to provide

limited advice and self-advocacy assistance for

individuals who are current beneficiaries of SSI/SSDI

and are experiencing discrimination based on their

disability.

Housing Cases

DLC will focus on housing cases that meet the criteria

required by our funding provider, the United Way of

Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley service area. Cases

DLC accepts will involve issues that will result in an

individual or family retaining the housing or housing

subsidy they have.

• Requests and denial of Reasonable

Accommodations

• Evictions for reasons primarily disability-related

• Subsidy terminations for reasons primarily

disability-related

• Stay of execution of eviction when appropriate

DLC does not handle post-judgment eviction cases.

Health-Care Cases

DLC will evaluate cases of individuals who are Deaf

and Hard of Hearing who are denied access to effective

communication in health care settings for systemic

litigation

Community Legal Aid for Victims of Crimes Cases

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571

DLC has a new project focused on representation of

individuals with disabilities who are victims of a crime

when the issue they need help with is directly related to

the crime they experienced. Individuals with disabilities

who are a victim of a crime should call DLC to see if

we have the capacity to provide legal assistance.

Based on capacity, DLC will accept cases for

representation and/or information or referral if the issue

is related to the crime the individual has experienced.

Issues DLC will focus on include but are not limited to

• Housing

• Employment

• Public Accommodations

• Health Care

• Community Inclusion

Eastern Region Legal Intake (ERLI)

A Project of the Volunteer Lawyers Project

ERLI Address: 197 Friend Street, 9th Floor, Boston,

MA 02114

Phone: (617) 603-1700

Toll Free: (800) 342-LAWS (5297)

http://www.vlpnet.org

Intake hours are Mon. through Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

ERLI is a project of the Volunteer Lawyers Project and

provides a free legal intake line for low-income

individuals seeking legal intake, information, advice

and referrals.

ERLI handles intake for Greater Boston Legal Services,

the Volunteer Lawyers Project and limited intake for

Metro West Legal Services and Community Legal

Services and Counseling Center.

ERLI’s service area includes the service areas of the

Volunteer Lawyers Project, Metro West Legal Services,

and Greater Boston Legal Services. Note that the

service areas for nonelder clients (under the age of 60)

and elder clients (60 years of age and older) may be

different. (as shown below).

Callers must provide essential information about

themselves such as contact information (name, date of

birth, address), household size and income, amount of

financial assets and immigration status in order to be

screened for legal services. Callers who are not eligible

for direct representation with an Eastern Region legal

services program are provided legal information and/or

referrals.

ERLI also screens client for eligibility for the Volunteer

Lawyers Project court based clinics and ERLI’s advice

panels. Information about the court based clinics and

advice panels can be found at http://www.vlpnet.org.

ERLI operates the Massachusetts Senior Legal

Helpline. See full entry in the Elder Section on page 33.

Area(s) Served:

City: Acton, Allston, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland,

Auburndale, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Billerica,

Boston, Braintree, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge,

Canton, Carlisle, Chelsea, Chestnut Hill, Cohasset,

Concord, Dedham, Dorchester, Dover, East Arlington,

East Boston, East Cambridge, East Watertown, East

Weymouth, Everett, Foxborough, Framingham,

Franklin, Grove Hall, Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston,

Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain,

Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Marlborough, Maynard,

Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Millis, Milton,

Mission Hill, Natick, Needham, Newton, Newton

Highlands, Newtonville, Nonantum, Norfolk, North

Cambridge, Norwell, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy,

Randolph, Revere, Roslindale, Roxbury, Roxbury

Crossing, South Boston, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn,

Somerville, South Walpole, South Weymouth,

Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Waban, Wakefield,

Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley,

West Roxbury, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth,

Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Wrentham.

Elder Services Area(s): Statewide

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)

197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 371-1234

Toll Free: (800) 323-3205

TTY: (617) 371-1228

Fax: (617) 371-1222

Service Area (see different service area for housing

and family law cases listed below): Arlington, Belmont,

Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Canton,

Chelsea, Cohasset, Everett, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull,

Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, Norwell,

Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate, Somerville,

Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown,

Weymouth, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn.

Service area for Housing Cases: Boston, Braintree,

Brookline, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Everett,

Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Malden, Medford, Melrose,

Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate,

Stoneham, Wakefield, Weymouth, Winthrop.

(GBLS will review housing cases from Newton,

Waltham or Watertown if Boston College Legal

Services LAB is closed.)

Service area for Family Law Cases: Arlington,

Belmont, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge,

Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Everett, Hingham,

Holbrook, Hull, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton,

Newton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate,

Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham,

Watertown, Weymouth, Winchester, Winthrop,

Woburn

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572 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

GBLS ASIAN OUTREACH PROJECT (AOP)

Serves Asian immigrant clients with linguistic and/or

cultural barriers.

Languages of Advocates other than English: Chinese

– Cantonese and Mandarin (2 Attorneys, 0.6 Paralegal);

Vietnamese (1 Paralegal). Interpreters will be provided

free of charge to clients in any language.

Areas Served:

Employment: Unemployment, wage and hour, priority

to groups of workers who share a legal issue

Family: Abuse prevention, divorce (wait list for

nonemergency matters).

Immigration: All areas

Housing: Eviction, priority to groups of tenants who

share a legal issue

AOP Clinics:

For Cantonese speakers:

Mondays, 1:30–4:30 p.m.

Chinese Progressive Association, 28 Ash St., Boston,

MA 02111

(617) 357-4499

For Vietnamese speakers:

Tuesdays, 2:00–4:00 p.m.

VietAID, 42 Charles St., Suite E, Boston, MA 02122

(617) 822-3731

For Mandarin speakers:

Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.–noon

South Cove Community Health Center, 885

Washington St., Boston, MA 02111

(617) 482-7555

GBLS ELDER, HEALTH AND DISABILITY LAW

UNIT

(Includes the former Greater Boston Elderly Legal

Services)

Elder Law:

Eligibility: No income guidelines. Client must be 60 or

over and in greatest economic and social need.

Languages of Advocates other than English: Haitian

Creole (1 Paralegal); Spanish (1 Attorney, 2 Paralegals)

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish (1

Secretary). Interpreters will be provided free of charge

to clients in any language.

Service Area: Acton, Arlington, Boston, Braintree,

Bedford, Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle,

Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Everett, Harvard,

Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln,

Littleton, Malden, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Milton,

Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, North Reading, Reading,

Revere, Scituate, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow,

Wakefield, Weymouth, Winthrop, Wilmington,

Winchester, Woburn.

Cases Handled (including advice and counsel, brief

service, and full representation, as appropriate):

Housing issues (non-Boston residents ONLY; Boston

elders should contact GBLS housing unit): Evictions

only from public/subsidized housing; public/subsidized

housing issues.

Government benefits: SSI, SSDI, Food Stamps,

EAEDC, Veteran’s benefits.

Nursing Home issues. Health care access and

Medicaid.

Elder Abuse:

Elder Financial Exploitation—any elder who alleges

that they have been financially exploited, taken

advantage of, or scammed by a family member, friend,

power of attorney or other type of fiduciary, stranger, or

any other entity.

Other Types of Elder Abuse—any type of case involving

allegations of elder abuse including physical abuse,

verbal abuse, mental or emotional abuse, caretaker

abuse or neglect, and self-neglect. (Self-neglect is a

term used to describe situations in which elders are

neglecting their physical and/or emotional wellbeing

and this failure puts them at risk of serious harm)

Health Law:

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

(2 Attorneys, 2 Senior Paralegals); Haitian Creole (1

Senior Paralegal); Portuguese (1 Senior Paralegal);

French (1 Attorney); Malayalam (1 Attorney).

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish (1

Secretary); Haitian Creole (1 Senior Paralegal);

Portuguese (1 Senior Paralegal). Interpreters will be

provided free of charge to clients in any language.

Cases Handled:

The GBLS Health Unit will take SSI/SSDI disability

cases at the ALJ stage or higher. They will also accept

health access–related cases, including Commonwealth

Care, the Health Safety Net (formerly free care), and

Medicare (see Medicare Advocacy Project listed below).

SSI and SSI/SSDI termination problems only if

termination is due to SSA claiming caller has medically

improved. Will handle very limited number of “fleeing

felon” cases. **WILL NOT HANDLE: Cases at initial

or reconsideration stage; SSI/SSDI overpayment cases;

SSI financial issues; SSA paternity related issues;

Representative Payee issues; private short term or long

term disability (LTD) insurance claims. Also will not

take cases that have been denied at the Administrative

Law Judge or Appeals Council stage, and client was

represented.**

Health Care Access: Advice, counsel and full

representation in access to public health insurance

programs such as MassHealth, including

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573

CommonHealth, CMSP, the Health Safety Net

(formerly hospital uncompensated care or free care);

MA health reform act programs such as

Commonwealth Care (in addition to usual referrals re:

eligibility denials and terminations. Access to public

health insurance programs includes eligibility denials or

terminations; denials of prior approval for services, or

another problem with accessing services.

GBLS CHILDREN’S DISABILITY PROJECT (CDP)

The Children’s Disability Project (CDP) provides

advocacy for children under age 18, who have been

wrongfully denied Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

benefits. CDP will review cases at all levels of

administrative appeals and Federal Court. CDP

provides limited advice to parents on their rights to

Special Education for their children.

NOTE: CDP will perform a comprehensive merit

assessment of each case before deciding on legal

representation. Assessment will include a review of all

pertinent records including: treating sources (medical

records), school, day-care providers, counselors and

other professionals who may have information about

the child’s level of functioning.

GBLS School to Prison Pipeline Intervention Project

School Discipline cases: any Boston Public School

(BPS) student who has been served with notice of a

threatened suspension or expulsion.

Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)

cases: Boston families/children who either currently

have MassHealth-funded CBHI services (home-based

mental health services and supports) and need advocacy

related to those services, or who want CBHI services

but are having difficulty accessing them.

Special Education cases: BPS students who need

special education advocacy and either:

•Have an emotional or behavioral disability OR Fit into

one of the following categories:

• Department of Youth Services-involved

• Department of Children and Families-involved

• Homeless

• Suspended or expelled within the last year

• Are attending an alternative education school or

have an IEP placement in a therapeutic school.

GBLS MEDICARE ADVOCACY PROJECT (MAP)

Located at GBLS: (800) 323-3205 or through ERLI:

(617) 603-1700

Service Area: Commonwealth of Massachusetts

(except for areas served by Community Legal Aid

(including Worcester, Holyoke, Springfield) and

SCCLS (including Brockton, Fall River, Hyannis).

Eligibility: No income guidelines. Caller must be

Medicare eligible.

Cases Handled:

Assists elders and person with disabilities with

Medicare and Medicare related matters. Provides

advice, referral, brief service, and full representation as

appropriate in following types of cases:

Wrongful denial of coverage of benefits and services to

which caller is entitled:

Medicare Part A: hospital stays, observation vs.

admissions, premature discharges, hospital stays,

skilled nursing facility stays, hospice care, home health

care.

Medicare Part B: physician services, durable medical

equipment, ambulance services, oxygen therapy, etc.

Part B enrollment problems: Part B premium

penalties for late enrollment; delayed onset date

Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, managed

care plans; fee for service plans; etc.) enrollment dates,

eligibility issues;

Medicare Part D prescription drug issues:

enrollment, low-income subsidy eligibility aka Extra

Help; penalties for late enrollment; medication denials;

transition from MassHealth to Part D

Other: Prescription Advantage issues; MassHealth

Buy-In; Senior Buy-In.; termination of coverage due to

lack of improvement

GBLS EMPLOYMENT LAW UNIT

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

(4 Attorneys and 1 Paralegal); Portuguese (1 Attorney);

French, German (1 Attorney); Haitian Creole (1

Administrative Assistant). Interpreters will be provided

free of charge to clients in any language.

Client Priorities: Clients must either:

a. be living with their minor children; OR

b. have lost a job at which their gross income was

$50,000 or less; OR

c. have difficulty communicating in English; OR

d. have other reasons why a lack of representation

will be especially difficult i.e. difficulty

articulating problem, illiteracy, low level of

education, cultural or disability barriers; OR

e. the cases involve day labor or other temp work

issues; OR

f. domestic workers; OR

g. client is encountering barriers to employment or

other opportunities because of CORI.

Cases Handled:

Unemployment Cases:

Will handle all Unemployment Insurance benefits

appeals at any stage if application denied or employer

appeals initial grant of benefits. Will handle all issues

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574 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

pertaining to access problems due to the unemployment

agency’s UI Online program, access to extended UI

benefits to participate in training, and UI overpayments

and attempts to get waivers of overpayments. Due to

reduced resources, some cases will be “advice only.”

Domestic workers: Unit will review cases for domestic

workers (nannies, housekeepers, care givers of people

with disabilities and the elderly) with unemployment,

wage and hour, or tax issues. (Closed for discrimination,

labor trafficking, and immigration cases.)

Access to Training: Will handle cases for clients

attempting to secure job training and extended

unemployment benefits through the unemployment

system, the trade adjustment act, or through the one-

stop career centers. Representation of Community-

Based Organizations: Will handle employment related

advocacy issues and provide workers’ rights training,

and assist with administrative or legislative advocacy.

Wage and Hour Cases: For immigrants with limited

English proficiency, wage and hour issues where the

amount owed is $1,000 or more.

The GBLS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC):

This project provides free tax assistance and

representation (but not routine tax return preparation) to

low income taxpayers. Priorities are immigrant families

with any tax controversy (frozen/delayed refunds;

audits; collections; ITINs needed or denied); workers

with bank or wage levies; and disabled persons. People

in need of representation who do not fit these priorities

should be referred to the Bentley LITC, VLP, or the

Taxpayer Advocate: federal (877) 777-4778; and

Massachusetts, Dennis Buckley (617) 626-3235.

CORI AND RE-ENTRY PROJECT

The project will accept record sealing cases,

particularly those involving young people ages 16 to 24

from Boston or kicked out of BHA housing; Appeal of

CORI sealing petitions denied by a judge; people

denied the right to seal cases or those whose cases were

legally dismissed before an arraignment but have a

CORI in error; cases where a judge has ordered sealing

but the Commissioner of Probation will not seal or

expunge the record as ordered. Job application issues

where CORI information is requested; people denied

employment opportunities including licensure issues

due to a CORI record.

Note: People with cases to seal in the Dorchester

Division of the BMC can get help at the Dorchester

Courthouse CORI clinic from GBLS on the 2nd and 4th

Wednesdays of the month from 9:00 am to noon. The

BMC Roxbury Courthouse CORI Sealing Clinic is on

the 3rd Thursday of each month from 9:00 am to noon.

Clients must live in Boston or have some cases to seal

in a Boston area court to use these clinics. Advice,

limited representation or full representation provided.

GBLS FAMILY LAW UNIT

Languages of Advocates/Staff other than English:

Spanish (4 Attorneys, 2 Paralegals, 1 Secretary)

Guajarati and Hindi (1 Attorney),Vietnamese (1

Attorney). Interpreters will be provided free of charge

to clients in any language.

Case priority types:

Contested matters in Probate and Family Court

involving children: custody, divorce, paternity,

contempt and modification of custody orders;

Appeals of denials of 209A restraining orders or

issuance of mutual restraining orders or restraining

order issued against victim by District Court or Probate

and Family Court.

Client type priority:

Custodial parent experiencing or has experienced

domestic violence/coercive control or other safety

concerns caused by the opposing party.

Non-custodial parent cases limited to those where

opposing party/abuser has obtained custody within the

last 30 days under false pretenses or in violation of

existing court orders.

Full and Limited Assistance Representation (LAR)

available.

Other Services Available:

Divorce Wait List: Divorce cases may be assigned to a

wait list depending on the circumstances of the

individual case. Cases include those clients with

children who are victims of domestic abuse by the

opposing party where OP is parts unknown or client

does not need immediate service.

Suffolk and Middlesex Counties Probate and Family

Courts Domestic Violence Projects:

Suffolk County hours: Tuesday, Wednesday,

Thursday 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Middlesex County hours: Monday, Thursday, and

Fridays from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Relocation Counseling Project: Provides telephone

counsel and advice and limited representation for

victims of domestic violence and other crimes of

violence regarding legal rights and responsibilities

attendant to relocating to obtain safety. This project

does NOT provide funding for actual moving costs.

**Does not handle: DCF cases, guardianship of minors,

cases where only issue is child support, modification

cases where only issue is visitation unless domestic

violence/safety is at the nexus of the request for

modification.**

GBLS HOUSING UNIT

Service Area for Housing Cases: Boston, Braintree,

Brookline, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Everett,

Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Malden, Medford, Melrose,

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575

Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate,

Stoneham, Wakefield, Weymouth, Winthrop.

(Housing cases from Newton, Waltham, or Watertown

will be reviewed if Boston College Legal Services LAB

is closed.)

Cases Handled:

Evictions: Pro Se Clinic: Mondays at 9:30 a.m. by

appointment, walk-ins permitted if space allows. Clinic

provides overview and assistance in filing paperwork in

response to eviction hearings. Also individual

representation and advice in eviction matters.

Public/subsidized housing issues: GBLS Housing unit

will take Section 8 terminations where the client has

exhausted their administrative appeals and is within 30–

60 days of the decision. Limited representation in

obtaining subsidy or admission to public housing or if

is having problems with a subsidy. Emergency Shelter

Issues. Will handle cases involving EA (Emergency

Assistance). Limited intake for shelter location issues if

related to disabilities, employment, or education. No

assistance regarding shelter conditions.

GBLS IMMIGRATION UNIT

GBLS Immigration Unit will handle political asylum

cases: cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault

and other crimes; and unaccompanied minors.

Telephone Intake messages can be left requesting

callbacks at 617-603-1808 and calls will be returned as

time permits.

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

(2 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal); French (1 Attorney);

Portuguese (1 Attorney); Haitian Creole (1 Paralegal).

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish (1

Intake Paralegal, 1 Secretary); Haitian Creole (1

Secretary/Paralegal); French (1 Volunteer Attorney).

GBLS WELFARE LAW UNIT

Languages of advocates fluent in languages other

than English: Spanish (1 Attorney); Portuguese (1

Attorney); Cape Verdean Creole (1 Paralegal). WLU

uses interpreters for other languages and for these

languages as needed.

Cases handled: Will handle denials of benefits,

terminations or other issues with TAFDC, Child Care,

EAEDC, and Food Stamp (SNAP) cases. (Neither DTA

nor TAFDC need be involved in child care benefits cases.)

Cases not handled: (1) Child care cases in which the

client’s problem is having to wait on the child care wait

list; (2) Food Stamp cases involving questioning or

disputing the amount of benefits, unless the benefits are

for a family with minor children; (3) cases involving

the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI).

Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime (CLAVC)

Project: General area of practice for any crime victim

who has suffered physical, sexual, financial, or

emotional harm as a result of the commission of a

crime. There must be a nexus between the crime and

the client’s civil legal need.

GBLS CONSUMER RIGHTS UNIT

GBLS Consumer Rights Unit accepts certain

preforeclosure and postforeclosure eviction cases that

meet the following criteria:

Preforeclosure

Ability to stop foreclosure and homeowner can possibly

get modification or other ways to stay in home

Clear violation of foreclosure statutes or power of sale

Bankruptcy an option

Postforeclosure

Section 8 tenants a priority

People have sufficient income for use and occupancy,

want to move, and have potential for alternative

housing

People with disabilities, elders, history of domestic

violence, minor children and need additional time to

move

Good legal claims

Consumer Rights Legal Clinic: CRU hold periodic

evening clinics. Contact the office for up-to-date

details. Volunteer attorneys will provide free legal

advice on issues such as debt collection, credit reports,

scams, bankruptcy, foreclosures, and lending

discrimination.

Small Claims Clinics: GBLS represents low-income

debtors in small claims court on a limited assistance

basis at the following locations:

Roxbury Municipal Court on Wednesdays at 2:00p.m.

Chelsea District Court on Fridays at 9:00 a.m.

Additional clinics are held by the Volunteer Lawyers

Project.

Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB)

23 Everett Street, First Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: (617) 495-4408

Fax: (617) 496-2687

http://www.harvardlegalaid.org

Service Area:

Family Law, Government Benefits, and Wage & Hour

Cases: Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer,

Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boston (Allston, Brighton,

Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain,

Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, West Roxbury),

Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle,

Chelmsford, Chelsea, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable,

Everett, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton,

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576 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Malden,

Marlborough, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Natick,

Newton, North Reading, Pepperell, Revere, Somerville,

Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield,

Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Westford, W.

Townsend, Weston, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop,

and Woburn.

Housing Cases: Boston (Allston, Brighton,

Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park,

Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South

Boston, South End, West Roxbury), Cambridge, and

Somerville.

Cases Handled:

Family Law: (note different service area) Divorce,

209A issues, child support, custody, contempt, etc.

Priority for custodial parents and cases involving

domestic violence, restraining order against opposing

party or kidnapping/threat to kidnap.

Housing: (note different service area) Evictions—

private, public or subsidized housing at Notice to Quit

or Summons and Complaint Stage. Section 8 voucher

terminations at court appeal stage only.

Government Benefits: (note different service area)

SSI/SSDI—ALJ stage, no overpayments.

Unemployment benefits—DUA hearings at the Boston

office only.

Wage and Hour: Representation to clients who have

not been paid the wages, overtime and other

compensation they have earned.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS):

Represents juveniles seeking special immigrant juvenile

status in family court. This practice area is open to

referrals from partners only.

Harvard Transactional Law Clinics

6 Everett Street, Suite 103, Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: (617) 998-0101

Fax: (617) 998-0146

http://www.harvardtlc.org

Service Area: Boston Metropolitan Area.

Eligibility & Fees: No income guidelines. Fees are

based upon clients’ ability to pay. In most cases, below-

market rates are set on a flat-fee basis. Free services are

available to those who qualify.

Program Description: Provides legal services to

individuals and organizations for business, non-profit,

real estate and entertainment transactions. Provides

legal services to small businesses and entrepreneurs,

homeowners, community development corporations,

artists, producers, non-profit organizations as well as

various community and economic development

organizations and social service providers.

Cases Handled:

Small Business & Non-Profit Organizations:

business formations; contract preparation and review;

business permits; licensing; financing; customer and

contractor agreements; trademarks; employee and

confidentiality agreements; business sales and

acquisitions; partnership and shareholder agreements;

corporate governance and compliance reviews;

applications for tax-exempt status and with regulatory

compliance for non-profit organizations.

Real Estate: Residential and commercial purchases,

sales and leasing; residential and commercial

development; condominium conversion; affordable

housing and community revitalization; zoning.

Music, Arts and Entertainment: Artist and company

representation; copyright and trademark registration;

contract drafting and negotiations; rights releases and

licensing; music, visual and literary arts counseling.

Jewish Family & Children’s Services—Bet

Tzedek Legal Services (JFCS)

1430 Main Street (Rte. 117), Waltham, MA 02451

Intake Line: (781) 693-1333

http://www.jfcsboston.org

Eligibility: Provides information and referrals to pro

bono attorneys for clients below 200 percent of the

Federal Poverty Level and limited assets.

Service Area: Greater Boston.

Languages of Staff who regularly assist Clients in

languages other than English: Russian.

Cases Considered: Bet Tzedek has limited ability to

provide information regarding and referrals to pro bono

attorneys in the areas of Elder Law, Consumer Law,

Bankruptcy, Housing and Family Law (postdivorce

modifications or discrete issues). Extremely time-

sensitive matters cannot be considered for referrals to

pro bono attorneys. JF&CS Bet Tzedek can access the

many resources of the agency and refer callers to

additional programs including the Hunger and Nutrition

program, Journey to Safety (domestic abuse) program,

Disabilities Resource Network, Senior Services and more.

Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School

122 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain, MA02130

http://www.legalservicescenter.org

Phone: (617) 522-3003

Fax: (617) 522-0715

Intake Line: 617-390-2525

Intake Hours: Varies by practice area—call for

schedule.

Service Area: Greater Boston

Languages of Advocates other than English:

Spanish, Hebrew, Russian, German, Portuguese

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577

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish (1

Interpreter/Receptionist, 1 Case and Business Manager)

Case Types Handled:

Consumer Law: Consumer debt collection defense,

bankruptcy. For student debt, see below.

Family Law: The Family and Domestic Violence unit

prioritizes domestic violence victims and survivors,

especially with issues pertaining to financial security.

Clients are referred to the clinic through referral

partners only.

Federal Tax Clinic: Audit reconsiderations, Offers in

Compromise, Installment Agreements, IRS Liens and

Garnishments, Innocent Spouse Claims, Dependency

Exemptions, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit,

Tax Court, and more. Intake Line: 617-390-1729

Government Benefits: SSI and Social Security,

SNAP/Food Stamps

Housing: For eviction cases due to foreclosure.

Student Loans: Federal, private, and institutional debt,

with a focus on for-profit Colleges. Intake hotline: 617-

390-2669

Veterans and Family Members of Veterans: Federal

veterans benefits appeals (e.g. service-connected

disability, pension, dependency and indemnity

compensation (DIC), etc.), Massachusetts veterans’

services benefits (Ch. 115), discharge upgrades/

correction of military records, LGBT veterans rights,

estate planning, estate administration, guardianship,

conservatorship, access to other public benefit

programs, access to healthcare, student loan debt, tax/

IRS issues, and certain other civil matters.

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

24 School Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 338-2345, Press 4 “for legal help”

Toll Free Line: (800) 342-9092

Fax: (617) 338-2347

http://www.mhlac.org

Intake hours: Voicemail system accepts messages

24/7. Intakes are conducted by phone, during regular

business hours. Unable to accept walk-ins.

Services Provided: Primarily provides information, pro

se advice, materials and referrals on an array of legal

areas. Income limits may apply.

Language of Advocates other than English: Spanish,

Hindi

Service Area: Statewide

Cases Handled: MHLAC may provide representation

to people who have legal concerns in the following

areas; where there is some reason to believe that they

have a mental health condition:

Mental Health Services

DMH Eligibility Denials

Denial or termination of DMH’s Community Based

Flex Supports (CBFS) services.

Denial or termination of MassHealth’s Children’s

Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) services.

Education

Denial of appropriate educational services to youth

under 22 years old confined in a DYS or DMH run

facility, county jail, or prison.

Exclusion from school as a result of school disciplinary

action or arrest, including the failure to provide

adequate alternative education.

Discrimination in public schools due to mental health,

including failure to provide adequate curriculum and

services.

Restraint and seclusion.

Employment / Insurance

Discrimination in employment or workplace benefits

Private Disability Insurance (Income Replacement)—

Denial or termination from short or long-term

disability, where the disability is based on a mental

condition.

Health Insurance-denial of coverage for mental health

services or out-of-network providers.

Family Law

Custody of or parenting time with their children.

Termination or denial of DCF services.

Jail and Bridgewater State Hospital

Denial of mental health care.

Restraint and seclusion.

Medical Treatment Discrimination

Dismissal of physical health concerns by a health

provider because of a person’s psychiatric history.

Allegations of improper disclosure of confidential

mental health treatment information.

Mental Health Facilities & Emergency Room.

Allegations of mistreatment and rights violations in

hospital emergency rooms or mental health facilities.

Restraint and seclusion.

Residential:

Eviction or threat of eviction from DMH group home

(supported housing) settings.

Restraint and seclusion.

MHLAC PROJECTS

Clubhouse Family Legal Support Project: (see domestic

relations priorities as listed above) with preference for

clients involved with a clubhouse and/or DMH services.

Call MHLAC Intake Line to do intake for this

collaborative project.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

578 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

DYS Project: Representation on civil matters to youth

adjudicated delinquent and involved with DYS including

both confined youth and youth residing in the

community, particularly education, and mental health

issues.

Metro West Legal Services

63 Fountain Street, Suite 304, Framingham, MA 01702

Phone: (508) 620-1830

Toll Free: (800) 696-1501

Fax: (508)-620-2323

http://www.mwlegal.org

Service Area: Acton, Ashland, Bedford, Bellingham,

Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough,

Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson,

Lexington, Lincoln, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield,

Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood,

Plainville, Sharon, Sherborn, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole,

Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Wrentham.

Cases Handled:

Family Law: Full-representation or advice on divorce

and custody cases for victim/survivors of domestic

violence. Advice for Plaintiffs in 209A cases.

Government Benefits: Will handle welfare cases

(TAFDC, EAEDC, SNAP), SSI, unemployment, SSDI

and Mass Health cases.

Housing: Cases involving public housing evictions,

tenant based or project based subsidies with court date

or Notice to Quit, Section 8 terminations, and mortgage

foreclosures. For private housing (moved tenant based

subsidy) cases at the Summons and Complaint stage,

continue to refer to MWLS pro se Housing clinic

regardless of court.

Special Education: Will handle cases involving special

education for children, such as IEP issues, 504 planning

and civil rights matters. Will also accept discipline

cases for children not involved in special education.

Immigration: Includes Worcester County. Will assist

immigrant victims of domestic violence with their

immigration matters including VAWA self-petitions,

U Visa Petitions, T Visa Petitions, Special Immigrant

Juvenile Status, and asylum applications.

PBI: Maintains pro bono panel for: divorce; wills,

powers of attorney and health care proxies;

bankruptcies and CORI Sealing.

ELDER Project Service Area: Ashland, Belmont,

Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough,

Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson,

Marlborough, Medfield, Millis, Natick, Needham,

Newton, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwood, Plainville,

Sharon, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Waltham,

Walpole, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley,

Westborough, Weston, Westwood, Wrentham

ELDER Cases Handled: Government benefits,

SSI/SSDI, health benefits, nursing home issues,

bankruptcies, wills, divorces, health care proxies

(HCP), power of attorney (POA), and unemployment.

New England Law | Boston—Clinic Law Offices

Phone: (617) 422-7380

Fax: (617) 422-7385

Service Area: Middlesex and Suffolk County

Cases Handled:

Domestic Relations: Child support, custody and

visitation (even if parents never married), contempts,

and modifications.

Family Law: Divorce (only with children in the

marriage).

Government Benefits: SSI/SSDI and Unemployment

benefit appeals only.

Cases NOT handled: Consumer, Housing and DCF

cases.

Northeast Legal Aid

Lowell Office: 35 John Street, Suite 302, Lowell, MA

01852-1101

Fax: (978) 458-3481

Lynn Office: 181 Union Street, Suite 201, Lynn MA

01901

Fax: (781) 595-2022

Lawrence Office: 50 Island Street, Suite 203,

Lawrence, MA 01840-1507

Fax: (978) 685-2933

Telephone for all three offices: (978) 458-1465 Toll

Free: (800) 336-2262

http://www.northeastlegalaid.org

Service Area: Amesbury, Andover, Ashby, Ayer,

Beverly, Billerica, Boxborough, Boxford, Burlington,

Byfield, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable,

Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groton, Groveland,

Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Littleton,

Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the Sea,

Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant,

Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North

Reading, Peabody, Pepperell, Reading, Rockport,

Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Shirley,

Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Townsend,

Tyngsborough, Wenham, West Newbury, Westford,

and Wilmington.

Languages of Advocates other than English:

Spanish, French, Khmer, Polish, Portuguese

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish,

French.

Consumer Law: Bankruptcy (simple chapter 7

nonemergency), Debt Collection Defense (with

CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES 

Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

579

postjudgment small claims cases, will have a payment

review date with the court)

Domestic relations: Representation of custodial parent

who has been a victim of domestic violence in a wide

range of family law matters; 209A cases that will be

heard in Lowell District Court; and: Family Law

Helpline (serves people in need of family law services

who don’t fit within any of the other family law

projects, services include single issue/question counsel

and advice via telephone by PAI). When resources

allow, staff will handle guardianship of children in

which the caller is at risk of losing the child(ren) and

Pro Se Divorce Clinic.

General-Victims of Crime: General area of practice

for any crime victim who has suffered physical, sexual,

financial, or emotional harm as a result of the

commission of a crime. There must be a nexus between

the crime and the client’s civil legal need.

Government benefits: SSI, SSDI, EA, TAFDC, UC,

MassHealth, SNAP, Veterans Services.

Housing: Private/Public/Subsidized housing eviction

defense, terminations.

Immigration: Immigration Helpline (brief telephone

advice regarding immigration issues); Removal

Proceedings (services for immigration issues in which

removal proceedings have begun and there is a Notice

to Appear in Immigration Court); Victims of DV/

Sexual Assault (assistance to victims of DV and/or

sexual assault); Unaccompanied Minors (all non-citizen

minors seeking immigration assistance).

Uncontested divorce: Cases which do not involve

domestic violence, parties must have been separated for

at least 6 months, and no disputed issue.

ELDER Unit Cases Handled: Any of the above cases,

nursing home/rest home/assisted living issues,

regarding involuntary transfer, discharge or evictions

elder abuse, and Public Benefits including Social

Security and SSI issues, MassHealth denials and

terminations of benefits, and VAWA or U-VISA

Petitions

South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.

(SCCLS)

SCCLS Fall River Law Office

22 Bedford Street, Fall River, MA 02720-3002

(800) 244-9023

Intake Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mon.–Thurs.

Service Area: Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley,

Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown,

Mansfield, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, N. Attleboro,

Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset,

Swansea, Taunton, Westport.

ELDER Service Area: Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley,

Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown,

Gosnold, Mansfield, Marion, Mattapoisett, New

Bedford, N. Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth,

Rochester, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton,

Westport.

Priorities: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare,

Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure,

Health/Disability/Mental Health, Housing, Public

Benefits (including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food

Stamps/SNAP), SSI/SSDI, Unemployment

Compensation Benefits.

SCCLS Hyannis Law Office

460 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601-3653

Phone: (800) 244-9023

Intake Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mon.–Thurs.

Area Served: Aquinnah, Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster,

Carver, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Eastham,

Edgartown, Falmouth, Gay Head, Gosnold, Halifax,

Hanson, Harwich, Hyannis, Kingston, Lakeville,

Marion, Marshfield, Marston Mills, Mashpee,

Middleboro, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Orleans,

Pembroke, Plympton, Provincetown, Rochester,

Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wareham, Wellfleet, West

Tisbury, Yarmouth.

ELDER Services Area: Aquinnah, Barnstable,

Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis,

Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gay Head, Harwich,

Hyannis, Marston Mills, Mashpee, Nantucket, Oak

Bluffs, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Tisbury,

Truro, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, Yarmouth.

Priorities: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare,

Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Health/

Disability/Mental Health, Housing, Public Benefits

(including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food Stamps/SNAP),

SSI/SSDI, Unemployment Compensation Benefits.

Justice Center of Southeastern Massachusetts

LLC (Subsidiary of SCCLS)

231 Main Street, Suite 201, Brockton, MA 02301-4342

Phone: (800) 244-8393

Intake Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mon.–Thurs.

Service Area: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton,

Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Hanover, Plymouth,

Rockland, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman.

ELDER Services Area: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater,

Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton,

Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville,

Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth,

Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West

Bridgewater, Whitman.

Priorities: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare,

Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure,

Health/Disability/Mental Health, Housing,

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

580 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Immigration/Asylum, Immigration, Public Benefits

(including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food Stamps/SNAP),

SSI/SSDI, Unemployment Compensation Benefits

Veterans Legal Services

Phone: (857) 317-4474

Fax: (844) 621-2797

E-mail: info@veteranslegalservices.org

Veterans Legal Services helps homeless and low-

income veterans through comprehensive legal services.

Intakes are performed through our on-site legal clinics

at area shelters and service centers. Legal issues

handled are primarily in the following areas: Family

Law/Domestic Relations, Landlord/Tenant, Public

Housing, CORI/Criminal Records Expungement,

Consumer Debt, Public Benefits, State and Federal

Veterans’ Benefits. Veterans Legal Services does not

handle the following: Labor, Dept. of Children &

Families Cases, Fee Generating Matters, Criminal Law.

Services are available through our legal clinics for

low-income veterans only. Call the office at 857-317-

4474 Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, for

eligibility screening and to check clinic dates and times

Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center—By

appointment only. Approximately every 6 weeks. 200

Springs Road, Building 80, Bedford, MA.

Chelsea Soldiers’ Home—Walk-in. Most alternating

Mondays, 10:30 a.m., 91 Crest Avenue, Chelsea, MA.

New England Center & Home for Veterans—Walk-in.

Most Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. 17 Court Street

(Government Center), Boston, MA.

Norfolk County Veterans Treatment Court—For

veterans participating in the Veterans Treatment Court

only. Usually the first Tuesday of each month. 631

High Street, Dedham, MA.

Weather Cancellation Policy—Clinics are not held if

Boston Public Schools are closed due to weather.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, a Program of

the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

15 Channel Center Street, Suite 103, Boston, MA 02210

Phone: (617) 350-7600

Fax: (888) 412-7610

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.artsandbusinesscouncil.org

Service Area: Statewide

The VLA provides pro bono assistance or referrals for

income-eligible artists and arts organizations on all

types of civil legal matters and for nonartists with art-

related legal problems including but not limited to

contracts, copyright, trademark, first amendment, not-

for-profit incorporations, consignment of fine art,

collections and live/work space.

Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP)

99 Chauncy Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02111

Phone: (617) 423-0648

TTY: (617) 338-6790

http://www.vlpnet.org

Use ERLI’s number for Intakes unless otherwise

indicated: (617) 603-1700.

All clients, including elders, must be financially eligible

for legal services.

Service Area: Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Bedford,

Bellingham, Belmont, Boston, Braintree, Brookline,

Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Chelsea, Cohasset,

Concord, Everett, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin,

Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson,

Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Marlborough,

Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Millis,

Milton, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, Norwell,

Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Sharon,

Sherborn, Scituate, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow,

Sudbury, Walpole, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown,

Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth,

Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Wollaston, Wrentham.

Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist

clients in languages other than English: Spanish (2

Support Staff).

Cases Handled:

Bankruptcy: Call ERLI for Intake or go to this link for

online intake:

https://www.clientspace.org/vlplogin.asp.

VLP holds monthly bankruptcy clinics for clients to

receive general information on the bankruptcy process

and assistance with gathering their financial documents.

The clinics are held every third Tuesday of the month,

rotating between the VLP office and Dorchester House.

Clients who would like to attend the clinic must sign up

in advance by calling (857) 320-6453 stating their

interest in the clinic, and leaving their name and number.

Consumer: Consumer cases including foreclosures.

VLP also helps with tax issues such as requesting

hardship exemptions. VLP will consider cases of tax

taking and/or tax title foreclosures or other issues

including issues of property tax cases that have been

brought in the Massachusetts Land Court for clients

eligible for VLP geographically, financially and

otherwise. Call ERLI first when dealing with consumer

and tax cases. Contact ERLI for information on debt

collection clinics.

Family Law: (Cannot handle emergencies, so active

domestic violence issues should be referred to GBLS or

elsewhere.) Divorce cases on behalf of the custodial

parent or where there are no minor children of the

relationship or the children are adults. Cases on behalf

of a custodial parent who is seeking child support,

where the non-custodial parent has reported income

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Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

581

and/or assets. Cases to Establish Paternity for custodial

and non-custodial parent, and cases for Custody,

Support, and Parenting time for custodial parents. VLP

will consider Three Party Complaints to Establish

Paternity in Equity for biological fathers. Simple

uncontested Divorces for limited English proficiency or

limited literacy clients only. Call ERLI for Intake.

*Cases that do not fit these priorities can be referred to

the Family Law Clinic on Wednesdays from 9 to 1 (last

in-take is at noon) at the Court Services Center at

Edward Brooke Courthouse in Boston.

Guardianship: Uncontested guardianship cases where

the client is seeking to become the guardian of a minor

child OR of an incapacitated person (including

incapacitated elders). Clients can be referred directly to

the VLP Court Projects. Client should obtain a Medical

Certificate or Clinical Term Report prior to the case

being referred to VLP.

Probate and Family Court Suffolk County: Tuesdays

from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (last intake at noon) in the

Court Services Center

Probate and Family Court Middlesex County:

Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.—second floor

Probate and Family Court Norfolk County:

Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Housing Intake: Eviction assistance for tenants and

owner-occupied landlords. Bad conditions. Utility

claims against landlords. Retaliation. Discrimination.

Lead Paint. In public and subsidized housing: applicant

selection issues, program terminations, evictions. For

homeownership: tax takings and/or tax title

foreclosures.

Utilities: Will accept cases concerning issues with

utilities: service, termination, payment plan, etc.

Wills: Call ERLI for intake for both wills and probate

matters.

Wage and Hour: Will accept cases for clients who

have not been paid wages or overtime. Several Legal

Aid programs participate in a monthly Wage Theft

Clinic at Suffolk Law School where workers are

provided legal advice on their wage and hour matters.

Contact ERLI for additional information.

Tax Cases: Issues on tax collection, completing past

taxes, and other complicated tax issues should first try

the Harvard Legal Services Center Federal Tax Clinic

or Bentley Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. If the client

was turned away from these clinics and they have a

legal issue (not just completing taxes) they can be

referred to VLP for legal representation.

Unemployment: (Call ERLI for Intake). VLP accepts

unemployment insurance matters involving

disqualification of claims.

Fair Debt Collection Lawyer for the Day in the

Boston Municipal Court: Project provides pro bono

lawyers to low-income, unrepresented debtors and

creditors to assist in their civil debt collection lawsuits.

It is a joint effort of the Volunteer Lawyers Project,

Senior Partners for Justice, and the Litigation Section of

the Boston Bar Association. Volunteer attorneys assist

low-income debtors and creditors at the Boston

Municipal Court in the Brook Courthouse on

Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon in front of

Courtrooms C and D (5th Floor) on a Limited Assistance

Representation (LAR) basis. LAR means that the

attorney only represents the client in the proceeding (case

management conference, Motion, etc.) before the court

that day. This clinic assists debtors in the civil session.

VLP also represents low-income debtors in small

claims court on a LAR basis. Attorneys and students

represent clients in the small claims magistrate hearings

before court that day:

Quincy District Court First Tuesday of the month at

1:30 p.m.

Cambridge District Court Thursdays at 8:45 a.m.

Boston Municipal Court Central Division, every other

Thursday at 1:00 p.m.

Additional clinics are held by Greater Boston Legal

Services.

Discovery Clinic: Once a month, the Volunteer Lawyers

Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) conducts a

Debtors Discovery Clinic to assist debtors, who are

representing themselves, in the Boston Municipal Court

with the discovery process. Pro se debtors who would

like to attend the clinic must sign up in advance by

calling (857) 320-6453, stating their interest in the

discovery clinic, and leaving their name and number. At

the clinic, volunteer lawyers are matched with debtors to

help them answer and draft discovery requests that night

only. The clinic will be held every second Wednesday of

the month from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Civil Appeals Clinic: VLP, in collaboration with

Boston-based members of the Association of Pro Bono

Counsel (APBCO), operates a pro bono Civil Appeals

Clinic at the Appeals Court Clerk’s Office at John

Adams Courthouse every Wednesday from 12:30 to

4:00 p.m. At the Clinic, self-represented litigants who

qualify for assistance meet with volunteer attorneys,

who may, among other things, assess whether a final

judgment exists and calculate any deadlines, give

general advice concerning appellate issues and

procedure, advise the litigant in making the strategic

decision to appeal or to continue seeking relief in the

trial court, and provide and assist with self-help

materials, other resources, forms and motions. Be

advised that the Clinic is limited to low-income persons

who qualify for services. The areas of law that are

appropriate for referral are the main practice areas of

VLP, including family law, housing, consumer,

employment, guardianship.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

582 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

B. Special Topics / Legal Representation

Programs listed below provide representation, advice or assistance to people with specific types of legal problems.

These programs may be free or on a sliding fee scale. Government agencies and hotlines do not have income

requirements.

AIDS/HIV SECTION

AIDS Action Committee

75 Amory Street, Boston, MA 02119

Phone: (617) 437-6200

TTY: (617) 437-1394

Fax: (617) 450-1311

HIV Hotline: 1-800-235-2331

TTY: (617) 437-1672

HEP-C Hotline: 1-888-443-4372

TTY: (617) 437-1672

Legal Intake Line: (617) 450-1317

E-mail: [email protected]

Service Area: Greater Boston area for HIV/AIDS+

persons and for transgender individuals who are clients

or become clients of AAC’s TransCEND program.

Cases Handled:

Housing, Family Law, Discrimination, Employment,

Basic Estate Planning, Social Security Appeals, and

Public Benefits Appeals.

Other services include health hotlines, housing search

and advocacy, case management, Rental Start-up

Program, Homelessness Prevention Program,

workshops, and a Health Library. Some programs have

eligibility guidelines.

No eligibility requirements for legal services.

CHILDREN/EDUCATION SECTION

Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (CLCM)

Intake line: 1-888-KIDLAW8 (1-888-543-5298)

Lynn Office

298 Union Street, 2nd Floor, Lynn, MA 01901

Phone: (781) 581-1977

Fax: (781) 598-9364

EdLaw Project (accepting intakes on education

matters for Boston callers only)

144 Bromfield St, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02108.

Care of Youth Advocacy Division of CPCS

Phone: 617-482-6212

Intake: Mon.–Fri. 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Subject to

change depending on capacity; check website for up-to-

date information (http://www.clcm.org).

Calls will be put into an Intake worker’s voice mail

where the caller can leave their name and phone

number. They will be called back within 24–48 hours.

Service Area for CLCM Lynn Office: Essex County,

Middlesex County, North Suffolk County.

Service Area for EdLaw Project (Boston): Suffolk

County.

Service Area for Information and Referrals:

Statewide.

Children issues: Education, Suspensions/Expulsions,

Special Education, Restraint and Seclusion,

Homelessness, Other School Issues, Child Welfare,

Mental Health, Immigration (Unaccompanied

Minors/SIJ), DCF Custody, Guardianship, and CRA.

Disability Law Center

Boston: (617) 723 8455

Toll Free: (800) 872-9992

http://www.dlc-ma.org

See full listing above.

Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC)

25 Kingston Street, Floor 2, Boston, MA 02111

Phone: (617) 357-8431, Ext 223 or 0

Fax: (617) 357-8438

http://www.massadvocates.org

Service Area: Statewide

Languages of Advocates other than English: Spanish

(2).

Priorities: Special education, school discipline,

transition age youth 14–22 years old with a focus on

Boston, children with autism in Boston and Lawrence,

children affected by trauma (including domestic

violence), children whose parents speak Spanish and

are limited English proficient, and parents seeking

greater school inclusion.

Services: MAC’s services include: a special education

helpline; intensive technical assistance for children with

autism; and legal representation in our priority areas.

Parents and professionals wishing to discuss their

special education issues can access the helpline by

leaving a voice message or completing the online form

on our website. Staff and helpline volunteers respond in

three–five days. Through the helpline, we provide

Information and referral, including referral for intensive

technical assistance for children with autism and for

legal representation.

CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES 

Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

583

CIVIL RIGHTS SECTION

Attorney General’s Civil Rights Hotline

Hotline: 1-800-994-3228

http://www.mass.gov/ago

Following reports of harassment and intimidation of

racial, ethnic and religious minorities, women, LGBTQ

individuals and immigrants since Election Day, the

Attorney General’s office established this hotline to

report incidents of bias-motivated threats, harassment,

and violence.

The hotline will be managed by attorneys and staff in

the AG’s Office. While not every incident will be

appropriate for legal action, the AG’s Office will be

tracking reports and appropriate matters may be

referred to local law enforcement or the Attorney

General’s Criminal Bureau. Potential hate crimes

should also be reported to the local police in the first

instance.

CONSUMER/GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

SECTION

Attorney General’s Elder Hotline

(888)-AG-ELDER (1-888-243-5337)

Statewide, toll-free elder service providing consumer

information and referrals to seniors about health

insurance, Medicare, telemarketing fraud and home

improvement scams.

Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and

Response Division

Phone: 617-727-8400

Combining the staff and resources from the Public

Inquiry and Assistance Center, and the Elder Hotline,

CARD reflects a new and enhanced approach to

consumer assistance within the Attorney General’s

Office.

CARD is staffed with trained consumer specialists that

you can contact through our Consumer Hotline. If you

are in need of help, CARD’s knowledgeable staff can

answer your questions, assist you directly in seeking to

resolve the problem with the business, or, if necessary,

refer you to a wide network of available consumer

assistance and legal aid resources.

The types of issues that CARD can handle include:

• Defective products;

• Car sales and financing;

• Telemarketing scams;

• Debt collection;

• Mortgage servicing;

• Home improvement contracts;

• Utility bills; and

• Identity theft

Attorney General’s Insurance & Financial

Services Hotline

(888) 830-6277

INSURANCE: Answers questions about health, dental,

disability, death, property, travel and credit insurance.

Mails educational materials provide referrals to

government agencies. If a caller’s insurance problem is

appropriate for mediation by the AG’s office, the

hotline staff will send the caller a complaint form.

STUDENT LOANS: Provides a hotline and free

mediation service to borrowers who are having

difficulties with student loans

Attorney General’s Wage Hotline

(617)-727-3465

Mon.–Fri., 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Inspectors and

Attorneys answering calls.

Citizens Information Center

Office of the Secretary of State

Phone: (617) 727-7030

Toll Free: 1-800-382-6090

Information on Consumer Affairs, Employment,

Environment, Legislation, Taxes. How to Reach

Elected Officials, Start a Small Business, Obtain a

License.

Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School

See full listing above.

Student Loans: Can leave a message on hotline at 617-

390-2669 or call main number.

Mass Executive Office of Consumer Affairs &

Business Regulation

Phone: (617) 973-8787

Hotline: 888-283-3757

http://www.mass.gov/consumer

Protect Massachusetts consumers through education

and ensuring fair and honest business practices among

the companies and licensees within our regulatory

jurisdiction. Provides information on Tenant/Landlord

Rights and Responsibilities, Lemon Laws, Home

Improvement Contractors, Shopping Rights, and

Responsibilities, and the Do not call registry.

Law-binding Arbitration: Lemon Law Arbitration

(free), Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration.

Pro Se Debtors Bankruptcy Clinic

John W. McCormack Post Office and Court House

Law Library, 12th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston,

MA 02109

Phone: (617) 748-5351

Date, Time and Location: Call to find out information

on the clinic.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

584 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Featuring consumer bankruptcy attorneys offering

information and forms to individuals considering filing

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases or who have

recently filed bankruptcy and still have questions.

Small Claims Advisory Service

Phone: (617) 497 5690 (main line)

http://www.masmallclaims.org

E-mail: [email protected]

Gives free information on small claims procedures and

assists with demand letters, small claims court forms,

etc. Works primarily by phone and email, but will meet

clients face-to-face. For information, call main line.

CRIMINAL SECTION

Harvard Defenders

6 Everett Street, Suite 5110, Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: (617) 495 4413

http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical/defenders

Service Area: All Boston district courts, Brookline,

Cambridge, Charlestown, Chelsea, Dedham, Lynn,

Malden, Newton, Quincy, Peabody, Somerville,

Waltham, and Woburn.

Cases Handled: ONLY Clerk Magistrate hearings/

show cause hearings. NO minor traffic violations.

Prisoners’ Legal Services (PLS)

10 Winthrop Square, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110

Phone: (617) 482 -2773

MA only: (800) 882-1413

Fax: (617) 451-6383

State prisoners in Massachusetts should use speed dial

number: *9004#

Service Area: Statewide

PLS accepts collect calls from Massachusetts prisoners

on Monday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. County

prisoners can call collect to (617) 482-4124.

Cases Handled: PLS was established in 1972 to

provide legal services to people in Massachusetts

prisons and jails. The office does not provide criminal

defense services. The office focuses on four issues:

health and mental health care, guard-on-prisoner

violence, physical conditions of confinement, and

segregation and isolation. PLS addresses these

problems through administrative advocacy, legislative

advocacy, and litigation. This organization provides

advice, referrals and pro se materials on a host of

matters outside of our focus areas.

DISCRIMINATION SECTION

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)

30 Winter Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.glad.org

Phone: (617) 426 1350

Hotline: 1-800-455-GLAD (4523)

Intake: Mon.–Fri. 1:30–4:30 p.m., Language

translation services are available. Hotline provides legal

information and civil and criminal referrals to private

attorneys; client negotiates fee with attorney.

Cases Handled: Impact litigation on civil rights issues

related to sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS, and gender

identity and expression: family law, same-sex

marriages and civil unions, employment discrimination,

housing discrimination, HIV privacy, transgender,

youth and schools.

Massachusetts Commission Against

Discrimination (MCAD)

One Ashburton Place, Sixth Floor, Room 601, Boston,

MA 02108

http://www.state.ma.us/mcad

Phone: (617) 994-6000

Investigates complaints of discrimination in Credit,

Housing, Public Accommodation, Employment and

Education. Complainant must file within 300 days of

incident. Also protects people retaliated against for

cooperating with MCAD.

ELDER SECTION

Attorney General’s Elder Hotline

Phone: (888) AG-ELDER (1-888-243-5337)

Statewide, toll-free elder service providing consumer

information and referrals to seniors about health

insurance, Medicare, telemarketing fraud and home

improvement scams.

Executive Office of Elder Affairs

Elder Abuse Hotline: (800) 922-2275

Nationwide: (800) 243-4636

Boston: (617) 727-7750

TTY: (800) 872-0166

http://www.ma-elderaffairs.org

Services provided: Information on prescription drug

assistance, care giving, community resources, local

programs, homecare, housing/assisted living facilities,

legal issues, etc. See also SHINE listing in Disability

section.

Elder Abuse Reporting

Elder Protective Services: (800) 922-2275 (Serves all

of Massachusetts)

Central Boston Elder Services: (617) 277-7416;

(emergency) (617) 992-6111

Somerville/Cambridge Area Elder Services: (617)

628-2601

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585

GBLS Medicare Advocacy Project (MAP)

See full listing above.

Homeowner Options for Massachusetts Elders

(H.O.M.E)

87 Hale Street, Lowell, MA 01851

http://www.elderhomeowners.org

Phone: (978) 970-0012

Toll Free: 1-800-583-5337

Fax: (978) 970-0015

Service Area: Statewide

H.O.M.E. provides comprehensive in-home counseling

on financial and homeownership issues to enable

successful aging-in-place. HOME provides remainder-

of-life planning, budgeting, income maximization,

equity conservation, foreclosure prevention, consumer

protection, equity conversion, and creative financial

options specially crafted for seniors.

Restrictions on Assistance: Low/Moderate Income

seniors 60 and over (single, no more than $30,000 per

year; couple no more than $40,000 per year, and assets

of no more than $85,000.00, exclusive of home and car)

with only one piece of property that is the principal

residence.

Services include:

Education and assistance with budgeting

Advice to and education of clients with regard to

potentially available programs and senior tax breaks to

help with common monthly expenses

Evaluation of clients’ budget and financial situation,

and as a HUD approved HECM counseling agency,

assessment of whether a reverse mortgage is available

or advisable for needs such as home health care,

resolving debt issues like real estate tax delinquency,

mortgage delinquency and consumer debt accounts.

Assistance with Potential Loan Modifications for

recently defaulted residential mortgages

HOME is not a legal services agency.

HOME cannot assist with:

• Bankruptcy filings

• Responding to tax title, foreclosure, bankruptcy or

eviction filings

• Delaying or postponing a foreclosure auction sale

• Providing grants or funds for repairs or loan and

tax deficiencies

• Procuring Rental housing

Mass Options

Phone: 1-844-422-62-77 (1-844-422-MASS)

http://www.MassOptions.org

MassOptions, a service of the Massachusetts Office of

Health and Human Services, connects elders,

individuals with disabilities and their caregivers with

agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs.

Massachusetts Senior Legal Helpline

197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114

Local: (617) 603-1700

Toll Free: (800) 342-LAWS (5297)

http://www.vlpnet.org

Intake hours: Mon.–Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Elder Services Area(s): Statewide

The Massachusetts Senior Legal Helpline is

administered by ERLI, a project of the Volunteer

Lawyers Project. The helpline provides a free legal

intake line for elder individuals seeking legal intake,

information, advice and referrals. There are no income

and asset restrictions for elder callers seeking advice,

information, or referrals.

ERLI also handles intake for Greater Boston Legal

Services, the Volunteer Lawyers Project and limited

intake for Metro West Legal Services and Community

Legal Services and Counseling Center.

Callers must provide essential information about

themselves such as contact information (name, date of

birth, address), household size and income, amount of

financial assets and immigration status in order to be

screened for legal services. Callers who are not eligible

for direct representation with an Eastern Region legal

services program are provided legal information and/or

referrals.

ERLI also screens client for eligibility for the Volunteer

Lawyers Project court based clinics and ERLI’s advice

panels. Information about the court based clinics and

advice panels can be found online.

Women’s Bar Foundation—Elder Law Project

27 School Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.womensbar.org

Intake: (617) 651 2357

Fax: (617) 973-6663

Pro bono referrals for simple wills, health care proxies,

and powers of attorney. Clients must meet the

following criteria:

• Income under 250% of Federal Poverty

Guidelines

• Total assets less than $50,000 (in the case of

married clients, consider their combined assets)

• 60+ or disabled

• Have less than $1 million equity in their home

Cases Handled: Simple wills, health care proxy, power

of attorney, and HIPAA authorization

Service area:

Eastern Massachusetts, including

Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Worcester,

Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable.

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586 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

EMPLOYMENT SECTION

Attorney General’s Wage Hotline

Phone: (617)-727-3465

Mon.–Fri,, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Inspectors and

Attorneys answering calls.

Fair Employment Project

777 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: (617)-902-0192

http://www.fairemploymentproject.org

Service Area: All Massachusetts intake by phone and

email.

Meetings by appointment in Boston and Cambridge.

Languages of Staff other than English: Spanish

occasionally.

Cases Handled: Services provided: We provide general

information about workplace legal issues (especially,

but not exclusively, discrimination) and the legal process,

and appropriate self-help assistance. We can occasionally

arrange or provide additional low-cost services in

collaboration with other organizations or firms.

National Labor Relations Board

Phone: 1-866-667-NLRB (1-866-667-6572)

Languages: Spanish language option and relay service

available.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is a legal

resource for employees, union representatives, and

employers who believe that their rights under the

National Labor Relations Act have been violated. The

National Labor Relations Act provides the legal

framework for private-sector employees to organize

bargaining units in their workplace, or to dissolve their

labor unions through a decertification election.

Those parties may file charges alleging unfair labor

practices at their nearest NLRB regional office. When a

charge is determined to have merit, the NLRB

encourages parties to resolve cases by settlement rather

than litigation whenever possible.

FAMILY LAW SECTION

Casa Myrna, Inc.—Legal Advocacy Program

38 Wareham St., 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118

http://www.casamyrna.org

Intake and Legal Help: (617) 521-0146

Legal Helpline: Statewide. Telephone consultations,

pro se assistance and referrals on civil matters related to

domestic violence.

Languages of Advocates other than English:

Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole.

Domestic relations: Consultations with persons who

have been victims of domestic violence in a wide range

of family law matters including divorce, custody,

visitation, child support, contempt, modifications, and

209A abuse prevention orders (Greater Boston area

District Courts and Probate & Family Courts).

Screening for consideration of services beyond

consultation

Mass. Dept. of Revenue/Child Support

Enforcement Division

Phone: (800) 332 2733

TDD: (800) 255-5587

Parent service representatives will assist any parent

seeking child support with such services as locating

absent parent, establishing paternity of child born out of

wedlock, paternity blood testing, enforcing existing

support orders. Custodial parent must live in MA with

the child who is under 18 years old.

The Family Court Answer Center

For questions, contact Marisol.mancia@jud.state.ma.us.

http://www.mass.gov/courts

The Family Court Answer Center is a joint initiative

between the Probate and Family Court, community

leaders, and volunteer lawyers. The purpose of the

Answer Center is: to provide mothers and fathers with

general information on certain family law matters; to

provide a one-on-one opportunity to meet individually

with an attorney, Department of Revenue, Department

of Children and Families, Probation Department,

Registry/Judicial staff and a Domestic violence

advocate; to supply and help complete necessary forms

for court proceedings; to refer those seeking to hire a

lawyer to legal referral services; to make available

written information on community programs and

services that are available. The types of family law

matters to discuss are divorce, paternity, child support,

parenting time, modification actions and contempt

actions, dispute intervention, procedural questions,

what to expect in the courtroom and many more.

The free information workshops are usually held on the

second Thursday of the month from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30

p.m. at Court Service Center (CSC) located on the 2nd

floor of the Edward Brooke Courthouse at 24 New

Chardon Street, Boston MA. No sign-up or pre-

registration is required (drop-in). Not limited to Suffolk

county residents.

Women’s Bar Foundation—Family Law Project

27 School Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.womensbar.org

Phone: (617) 973-6666, Intake: ext. 2216

Fax: (617) 973-6663

Pro bono referrals and/or limited advice and legal

assistance for intakes who are victims of domestic

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587

violence. Services for victims up to 250% of the federal

poverty guidelines who meet eligibility criteria.

Service area: Eastern Massachusetts including Suffolk,

Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Worcester, Plymouth,

Bristol, and Barnstable.

Intake Hours: Callers may leave a message anytime on

the intake line and intakes will be conducted Monday

through Friday, 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Call to schedule an Intake.

Cases Handled: Divorce, custody/visitation, support,

modification and referrals to pro bono attorneys for

representation on 209A Abuse Prevention Orders.

HEALTH AND DISABILITY SECTION

Center for Public Representation

Newton Office: (617) 965-0776

Fax (617) 928-0971

http://www.centerforpublicrep.org

246 Walnut Street, Newton, MA 02160

Northampton Office: (413) 587-6265

Fax: (413) 586-5711

TTY: (413) 586-6024

22 Green Street, Northampton, MA 01060

Individual and systemic advocacy in the following

disability areas: inpatient and outpatient mental health

and retardation services, conditions of confinement,

discrimination, access to disability support services,

civil commitment, nursing facilities, juvenile justice

and children’s mental health issues. Clients speak with

an attorney who will decide what services the Center is

able to provide.

Community Based Services—Statewide Head

Injury Program (SHIP)

600 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02111

http://www.mass.gov/mrc/ship

Phone: (617) 204-3852

Toll Free: 1-800-223-2559

**Official name change: SHIP has merged with the

ABI/MFP Waiver Unit**

Eligibility Guidelines: Massachusetts resident,

documented, externally caused traumatic brain injury,

related impairments resulting in cognitive, physical

and/or behavioral, functioning, able to participate in

community-based services.

Services Available to Anyone: Information and

referral, social and recreational programs, general

technical assistance and consultation by SHIP staff and

clinical specialists, advocacy and guidance.

Services Available to Eligible Applicants: service

coordination, regional head injury centers, residential

services, case management, 1:1 skills training and support,

substance abuse services, and assistive technology.

To apply: Applicants can call to request SHIP

application or obtain the SHIP Application online at

http://www.mass.gov

Department of Justice—ADA Information Line

Information Line: (800) 514-0301

Offers technical assistance on the ADA standards for

accessible design and other ADA provisions applying

to businesses, non-profit service agencies, state and

local government programs; also provides information

on how to file ADA complaints.

Disability Law Center

See full listing above under “Legal Services Offices.”

Executive Office of Elder Affairs

Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone

(SHINE Program)

(800) AGE-INFO 800-243-4636

TTY: (800) 872-0166

http://www.800ageinfo.com

Service Area: Statewide.

Services Provided: Free health insurance information,

assistance and counseling to Medicare beneficiaries of

all age. Help compare costs and benefits of various

health plans, explain benefits of Medicare and

additional insurance options, including Medigap,

HMOs, MassHealth & prescription drug options, and

assist with claims, billing, or denial of care issue.

GBLS Medicare Advocacy Project (MAP)

located at GBLS: 1-800-323-3205

Service Area: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

(Except for Community Legal Aid—Holyoke and

South Coastal Counties Legal Services area.)

Eligibility: No income guidelines. Caller must be

Medicare eligible.

See full listing above.

Health Care for All Helpline

Helpline: (800) 272-4232

Fax: (617) 451-5838

http://www.hcfama.org/helpline

Service Area: Statewide

Service Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday;

Callers can leave a voicemail outside of Helpline hours.

Languages of staff other than English: Spanish;

Portuguese.

Services Provided: Helpline Counselors who speak

English, Spanish and Portuguese let callers know what

their health insurance options are, assist with

enrollment into state programs, as well as troubleshoot

issues with state programs such as MassHealth and the

Health Connector. Counselors can also make referrals

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588 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

to HCFA’s in-house legal team when the caller needs

help with a denial of care case or medical bills.

Health Law Advocates

Phone: (617) 338-5241

Toll free: (888) 211-6168

http://www.healthlawadvocates.org

Service Area: Statewide

Income Eligibility: Households under 300 percent of

federal poverty level.

Services Provided: Affiliated with Health Care for All.

Provides legal advice and representation to income-

eligible people experiencing a denial of access to health

care and/or health insurance.

Cases Handled: Denials coverage for specific health

care services by health insurers; denials and terminations

of enrollment in all types of health insurance coverage:

other special focus areas include: problems accessing

mental health services; particularly for children; health

care access for immigrants, health care access for

transgender individuals; and medical debt collection.

Also represent groups of consumers or communities

(impact litigation) and provide education and outreach.

To speak with an advocate, call 617-338-5241 or toll

free at 888-211-6168, and ask to speak with the Intake

Paralegal, or see HLA’s website at

https://www.healthlawadvocates.org/contact-us

Does NOT handle medical malpractice or provide

general health care program information. For general info,

call Health Care for All’s Helpline at 1-800-272-4232.

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

4 School Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.mhlac.org

(617) 338-2345, Press 4

1-800-342-9092

Fax: (617) 338-2347

See full listing above.

HOUSING SECTION

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee

(CEOC)

Phone: (617) 868-2900

Service Area: Cambridge residents only

Cases Handled: Representation of public housing

tenants at informal conferences, private conferences

and grievance panel hearings, assistance with rent re-

certification issues and concerns and completion of

applications for housing subsidies.

City Life/Vida Urbana

284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

www.clvu.org

28 Paris St, E. Boston, MA 02128

(617) 524-3541

City Life/Vida Urbana is a nonprofit organization

working to organize communities for housing rights. At

weekly housing meetings, tenants and owner-occupants

at risk of losing their housing can speak with organizers

and lawyers about affordable housing, foreclosure

defense, and eviction defense. Brockton meetings

largely cover foreclosure cases and Boston meetings

largely cover eviction defense.

Housing Meetings: Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30p.m.

City Life Vida Urbana, 284 Amory St., 1st Fl., Jamaica

Plain, 02130

Language: English with Spanish Interpreters

Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00p.m.

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church basement, 28 Paris St.,

East Boston, 02128

Language: Spanish with English Translation

Every other Wednesday, 6:00-8:00p.m.

65 W. Elm Street, Brockton, 02301

Community Action Agency of Somerville

(CAAS)

66-70 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143

(617) 623-7370

Service Area: Low-income Somerville residents only

Cases Handled: Helps tenants at risk of homelessness

assert their rights, prepare eviction defenses and assist

at court. We can also help with benefits enrollment to

maximize income. Can provide some advice and

advocacy to people undergoing foreclosure. We will

also be able to help low-income Somerville residents

with Fuel Assistance applications satellite this fall, by

appointment only. Call (617)-623-7370 to make an

appointment for food stamps, cash assistance, and/or

fuel assistance.

Homeowner Options for Massachusetts Elders

(H.O.M.E.)

87 Hale Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01851

http://www.elderhomeowners.org

Phone: (978) 970-0012, 1-800-583-5337

Fax: (978)-970-0015

Housing Families Inc. Pro Bono Legal Services

Program

919 Eastern Ave., Malden, MA 02148

Phone: (781) 322-9119 ext. 146

http://www.housingfamilies.org

Service area: Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose,

Wakefield, Revere, Chelsea

Cases Handled:

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589

Housing: Pro-se answer and discovery clinic every

Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) at 9:45 a.m.

Eviction defense; public housing and subsidy

terminations/denials. Brief advice.

Benefits: Emergency Assistance shelter denials/appeals.

Lawyers Clearing House

16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.lawyersclearinghouse.org

Phone: (617) 778-1980

Fax: (617) 778-1981

Cases Handled: Provides pro bono services to

nonprofit organizations. Areas of legal services for

nonprofit organizations include incorporation, tax-

exempt status, governance, intellectual property,

contract, real estate, and other areas of law. While

housing and homelessness continues to be a focus, all

nonprofits are eligible for services. Legal workshops for

nonprofit organizations are offered in Boston, Lawrence,

and Easton. We also assist individuals who are guests

or are using services at Pine Street Inn, St. Francis

House, Cardinal Medeiros Center, Bridge, MBHP,

Woods Mullen Shelter, and Southampton Shelter.

Massachusetts Division of Banks

Hotline: (800) 495-BANK (2265)

Hotline Hours: Mon.–Fri., 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Cases Handled: Consumers who are struggling with

mortgage payments and risk losing their homes.

Complaints are handled on a case-by-case basis. In

many instances, the Division of Banks has successfully

negotiated voluntary 60-day forbearance on the

foreclosure action.

Mass Executive Office of Consumer Affairs &

Business Regulation

(617) 727 7780

http://www.state.ma.us/consumer

Provides legal information and self-help materials

including “Tenant’s Rights,” “Guide to Small Claims

Court,” and other pro se/self-help informational

pamphlets on consumer and landlord/tenant matters.

Office of Housing Stability

26 Court Street, 1st Fl., Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 635-4200

Service Area: Boston

Evening Clinic for landlords and tenants: Thurs.,

5:00–7:00 p.m.

At the Evening Clinic, Housing Crisis Case

Coordinators provide advice and services for a range of

legal and non-legal housing related issues.

Services include: information for landlords and tenants

on their rights and responsibilities under the law; access

to mediation services for housing disputes; answers to

questions on any rental housing matter; counseling,

services, and help for individuals facing homelessness

due to natural disaster, eviction, or other circumstances;

answers to questions on affordable housing rules and

processes; and help connecting individuals to resources

that will assist in the search for affordable housing.

Tenant Advocacy Project (N)

Harvard Law School, 6 Everett St., Cambridge, MA

02138

Phone: (617) 495-4394

Fax: (617) 496-2294

The Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) is a student

practice organization at Harvard Law School. TAP

advocates provide free representation and advice to

public housing, Section 8 housing, and MRVP housing

tenants and applicants before local housing authorities.

TAP advocates are supervised by practicing attorneys

who attend all hearings with the students.

Intake Hours: Intake hours are generally 8:30 a.m.–

4:30 p.m., but can vary depending on staffing resources.

Tenants should leave a detailed message on the TAP

voicemail, and someone will call back as soon as

possible. Intakes are conducted via telephone. Tenants

may also fax TAP at (617) 496-2294 or email

[email protected]rvard.edu.

TAP represents tenants whose public housing, Section 8

or MRVP is administered at the following public

housing agencies: MBHP, Arlington, Belmont, Boston,

Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dedham,

Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton,

Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown,

Wellesley, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn.

Cases Handled: Public housing evictions, application

denials, reasonable accommodation requests, transfer

denials, subsidy terminations (for subsidies

administered by housing authorities—not project-based

subsidies). TAP provides telephone advice on general

landlord-tenant problems for Section 8 or public

housing tenants/applicants only.

Cases NOT Handled: HUD-subsidized housing;

project-based subsidies; Court cases; HomeBase cases.

IMMIGRATION SECTION

Some of the following organizations offer legal clinics

in the community. Call first to verify the dates, times,

and locations.

American Immigration Lawyers Association

(AILA)

http://www.ailalawyer.org

The AILA search engine may be used to assist clients in

narrowing their choices in selecting a private

immigration attorney. The attorneys do not provide pro

bono services.

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590 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Ascentria Care Alliance

http://www.ascentria.org

(Formerly Lutheran Social Services of New England)

Worcester Office: 11 Shattuck Street, Worcester, MA

01605

Tel.: 774-243-3045

West Springfield Office: 593 Main Street, West

Springfield, MA 01089

Tel.: (413) 787-0725; ask for Immigration Dept.

Area: Statewide

Languages Spoken: Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Other languages available.

Appointment Policy: The Immigration Program

operates on an appointment-only basis.

Cases Handled: Pro bono legal representation in cases

involving asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and

victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and

violent crime. In addition, Ascentria provides

consultations to clients with general immigration

questions and assistance/representation in the following

areas: adjustment of status, naturalization, family based

petitions, consular processing, and temporary protected

status applications.

Case acceptance is based upon attorney availability.

Consult fee in other cases is $50. Form assistance is

available on a sliding scale, based on client’s income

level and the type of application. Fee waivers and

payment plans available for clients under certain

income guidelines.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston

275 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

617-464-8100; ask for Consultation for Immigration

Department

Clinic hours: Appointment ONLY

There is no longer a walk-in clinic.

Clients must call on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. ONLY to

schedule an appointment.

Currently not accepting new asylum cases.

Cases Handled: Low-income referrals from within

Greater Boston areas. Handle immigration applications;

represents Clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigra-

tion Services and the Immigration Court. Spanish

speaking attorneys and staff. Other languages available.

Other Services: Clinic: For attorney consultation. By

appointment only. Consult fee is $50; fee can be waived

in extreme cases.

Fees: Additional Nominal Fee depending on case type.

Centro Presente

12 Bennington Street, #202, East Boston, MA 02128

http://www.cpresente.org

Tel: (857) 256-2981

Fax; (617) 629-2436

Cases Handled: Legal immigration services for the

Latin American immigrant community including:

Deferred Action (DACA), NACARA, TPS, family-

based petitions, work permit renewals, fingerprints,

adjustment of status, citizenship applications. Provides;

Spanish, English, and Citizenship classes. Will also

refer clients to private attorneys. Languages spoken:

Spanish, English.

City of Boston Immigration Clinic

Boston City Hall, One City Hall Square, Boston, MA

02201

Phone: (617) 635-2980

Provides free immigration advice and assistance

coordinated through the Mayor’s office. The clinic

operates on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

Hours of Operation: The immigration clinic operates

in Room 804 of the Boston City Hall from 12:00 p.m.

(noon) until 2:00 p.m. Call for dates. Keep in mind there

are no intakes done after 2:00 p.m. For more information,

contact the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians, Boston

City Hall Room 810, (617) 635-2980.

Irish International Immigrant Center

(Formerly known as Irish Immigrant Center)

1 State Street, Suite 800, Boston MA 02109

http://www.iiicenter.org

Phone: (617) 542-7654

**FREE Legal Clinics on Immigration and U.S.

Citizenship issues. Call in advance to confirm clinics

are being held**

Cases Handled: Provides legal counsel, representation

and referrals for immigrants on issues related to U.S.

immigration and citizenship. Also provides some social

services, English language classes, and cross-cultural

education programming.

Project Citizenship

4 Faneuil South Market Building, 3rd Floor, Boston,

MA 02109

Phone: 617-694-5949

info@projectcitizenship.org

Project Citizenship is New England’s largest citizenship

services provider that helps eligible, legal permanent

residents (LPRs) overcome barriers to naturalization.

Project Citizenship offers free citizenship assistance

including eligibility screening, application assistance,

legal referrals and all materials needed to apply for U.S.

citizenship. Project Citizenship has community partners

throughout New England that provide a range of support

services, including civics instruction, application

assistance, and referrals to legal services and ESOL

classes.

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591

LGBT SECTION

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)

30 Winter Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 426 1350, 1-800-455-GLAD (4523)

http://www.glad.org

See full listing above.

SEXUAL ASSAULT SECTION

Victim Rights Law Center

http://www.victimrights.org

Phone: (617) 399-6720

Intake: Call our intake line at 617-399-6720 ext. 19

and leave your contact information, including your

name and a safe phone number, and a brief message.

Eligibility: Victims of sexual assault in Massachusetts.

No income restriction.

Languages: Spanish. For additional languages, we use

the language line or other interpreter services.

Services: The VRLC provides free civil legal services

to sexual assault victims in Massachusetts in the areas

of safety, privacy, immigration, education, housing,

employment, and financial stability. The VRLC also

provides advice regarding the criminal justice process.

The VRLC provides brief consultations and full repre-

sentations related to those legal areas. The VRLC does

not provide services related to family law or tort suits.

STUDENT LOAN SECTION

Legal Services Center

122 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130

Phone: (617) 522 3003

Fax: (617) 522-0715

Hotline: (617) 390-2669

For student loan assistance leave a message on the

hotline or call main number.

Attorney General’s Insurance & Financial

Services Hotline

Tel: (888) 830-6277

The Attorney General’s Insurance & Financial Services

Division provides a hotline and free mediation service to

borrowers who are having difficulties with student loans.

Student Loan Borrower Assistance

http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org

The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan

Borrower Assistance Project is a resource for

borrowers, their families, and advocates representing

student loan borrowers. The website features a wide

range of questions and answers about student debt.

TAXES SECTION

Bentley Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (BLITC)

Tel: (781) 891-2083; 800-273-9494

Provides free tax assistance to low income taxpayers,

who have a controversy or potential controversy with

the IRS. The BLITC Management Team consists of a

Program Director and two experienced tax Professors.

Bentley Graduate Students provide services to their

Clients under the supervision of the two Professors.

Service Area: Greater Boston and surrounding areas.

Cases Handled: Provides services for ESL and low

income tax payers with controversies or potential

controversies. Offers free tax counseling, representation

before the IRS and referrals and translation services

where needed. Client’s annual household income must

not exceed $30,150.

Each additional household member increases that limit

by $10,450.

GBLS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Project

197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114

Tel: (617) 603-1569; 1-800-323-3205

TTY: (617) 371-1228

Fax: (617) 371-1222

http://www.gbls.org

Service Area: See Greater Boston Legal Services.

This project provides free tax assistance and

representation (but not routine tax return preparation) to

low income taxpayers. Priorities are immigrant families

with any tax controversy (frozen/delayed refunds;

audits; collections; ITINs needed or denied); workers

with bank or wage levies; and disabled persons. Callers

seeking assistance should call (617) 603-1569. People

in need of representation who do not fit those priorities

should contact the Bentley LITC, VLP, or the Taxpayer

Advocate: federal (877) 777-4778; and Massachusetts,

Dennis Buckley (617) 626-3235.

Federal Tax Clinic

Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School

122 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Tel: 617-390-1729

Free legal representation to clients with tax problems

including: Audit reconsiderations, Offers in Compromise,

Installment Agreements, IRS Liens and Garnishments,

Innocent Spouse Claims, Dependency Exemptions,

Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit and more.

For service area, hours and eligibility, see full listing

above under “Legal Services Offices.”

VETERANS SECTION

Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108

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592 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

http://www.bostonbarlawyer.org

Tel: (617)742 0625, (800)552-7046

E-mail: LRS@bostonbar.org

Military Legal Help Line: The Boston Bar Association

Lawyer Referral Service is home to the Military Legal

Help Line, which connects veterans, military personnel,

and their families with either attorneys offering regular

and reduced fee legal assistance, or government and

nonprofit agencies offering pro bono services. Callers

should identify their affiliation with the military when

calling. All attorneys on the Lawyer Referral Service

who have elected to take these cases are trained to assist

with the unique legal issues faced by members of the

military and their families.

Legal Services Center

122 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Tel: (617) 522 3003

Fax: (617) 522-0715

legalservicescenter.org

Intake Line for Veterans Legal Clinic: (617) 390-2525

Veterans and Family Members of Veterans: Federal

veterans benefits (e.g. service-connected disability,

pension, dependency and indemnity compensation

(DIC), etc.), Massachusetts veterans’ services benefits,

discharge upgrades/correction of military records,

access to other public benefit programs, access to

healthcare, and certain other civil matters.

Veterans Legal Services

(857) 317-4474

Fax: (844) 621-2797

info@veteranslegalservices.org

See full listing above.

C. Bar Association, Legal Answers, and Law Library Programs

Mass Legal Answers Online

40 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.masslao.org (link is external)

E-mail: [email protected] (link sends e-mail)

Service Area: Statewide

Program Description: Mass Legal Answers Online is

a website where low income Massachusetts residents

can post their civil (noncriminal) legal question.

Volunteer attorneys will answer the question through

the same website. Mass Legal Answers Online is part of

the American Bar Association's Free Legal Answers

project, and is being administered by the Massachusetts

Law Reform Institute with the assistance of the

Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Intake Notes: Go to http://www.masslao.org and create

an account by answering some eligibility questions.

Individuals can ask up to 3 legal questions per calendar

year. A volunteer attorney will answer questions

through the same website.

Norfolk County Bar Association Free Legal

Clinic

Tel: (617) 471-9693

A panel of attorneys experienced in all areas of the law

will provide one-on-one consultations to discuss legal

questions. No appointment necessary—Walk-in Clinic.

The Free Evening Legal Clinics will be held at 6:00

p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings.

Trial Court Law Libraries

http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/law_lib

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Trial Court Law

Libraries

Office of Court Management, 2 Center Plaza, 9th Floor,

Boston, MA 02108

Tel: 800-445-8989; (617) 878-0338

Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

The Trial Court Law Libraries are a system of 17 law

libraries located across Massachusetts. Just like public

libraries, everyone can use the libraries and their services.

Librarians are available by phone, email, instant

messaging and in person. Hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:30

p.m. For locations, call the 800# or go to the website.

D. Lawyer Referral Services

The lawyer referral services listed here refer callers to lawyers for all types of cases, including contingency cases.

Most LRS attorneys charge an initial hourly fee from $25 to $75. Lawyers will then negotiate fees with clients who

retain them after the consultation. Some LRS lawyers will charge lower fees to clients who meet the bar

association’s financial guidelines listed below.

Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108

http://www.bostonbarlawyer.org

Tel: (617)742 0625; (800)552-7046

http://www.bostonbarlawyer.org/es

E-mail: LRS@bostonbar.org

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593

Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon.–Fri.

NO walk-ins.

The Boston Bar Lawyer Referral Service has been

connecting the public to lawyers for over 60 years.

Individuals can submit an online request for an attorney

at any time through the website, or call for intake. All

attorneys charge fees; see below for reduced fee

guidelines.

Intake in English & Spanish—Referrals to bi-lingual

attorneys available. Call for available languages.

Service Area: Massachusetts, concentration in Greater

Boston; many attorneys willing to travel to clients.

Subject Areas: Attorneys in all areas of the law,

including over 350 subcategories.

Consultations: Trained intake staff provide callers with

a free referral to a lawyer depending on the facts of the

case. Intake staff can directly connect callers with

attorneys’ offices. However, intake staff are not lawyers

and cannot provide legal advice over the phone. No Pro

Bono services are rendered.

Reduced-Fee Panel Guidelines: Some attorneys take

reduced fee cases. Reduced Fee Referrals are limited to

clients who document:

• Annual gross household income no more than 300

percent of the 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines;

• Household cash assets do not exceed $3,000 or 10

percent of gross annual household income

(whichever is greater); and

• Total real estate holdings limited to one owner-

occupied dwelling.

Military Legal Help Line: The Boston Bar Association

Lawyer Referral Service is home to the Military Legal

Help Line, which connects veterans, military personnel,

and their families with either attorneys offering regular

and reduced fee legal assistance, or government and non-

profit agencies offering pro bono services. Callers should

identify their affiliation with the military when calling.

All attorneys on the Lawyer Referral Service who have

elected to take these cases are trained to assist with the

unique legal issues faced by members of the military

and their families.

Justice Bridge Legal Center

www.justice-bridge.org

Boston Office:

274 Franklin Street Lower Level, Boston, MA 02110-

3110

Tel: (617) 860-3414

Fax: (857) 263-8881

Intake Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through

Friday, walk-ins accepted. Evenings Mondays through

Fridays (by appointment).

Boston: Incubator attorneys provide discounted legal

services at a scaled hourly rate for clients falling within

225 to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level

(approximately $60,625-$72,750 in annual income for a

family of four).

New Bedford Office:

257-259 Union Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Tel: (508) 449-9296

Fax (774) 202-2214

Intake Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through

Friday, walk-ins accepted. Evenings Mondays through

Fridays (by appointment).

New Bedford: Incubator attorneys provide discounted

legal services at a scaled hourly rate for clients falling

within 200 to 225% of the Federal Poverty Level

(approximately $48,500 in annual income for a family

of four).

A Legal Incubator Program of the University of

Massachusetts School of Law. All legal representation

is provided by recently-licensed attorneys in good

standing, who carry professional liability insurance and

consult with retired judges and other experienced

mentors within the incubator program.

Service area: Metropolitan Boston area, extending into

eastern Massachusetts.

Languages other than English: Spanish, Portuguese,

Arabic, French

Services provided: Legal consultation and advice, as

well as limited scope representation (LAR) and full

legal representation, in the most civil practice areas,

including family law (including divorce, custody,

alimony, child support, modifications), housing

(including evictions and breach of warranty law),

consumer law, debt collection and re-finance,

bankruptcy, probate, wills and trusts, immigration

(special immigrant juvenile status/SIJS, unaccompanied

minors), employment law, and education law (including

special education appeals).

Income eligibility: Optional fixed fee and flexible

payment plans may be available. Hourly rates range

between $50 to $100 per hour, depending on clients’

income and assets. Incubator attorneys do not provide

free legal services.

Lawyers for Affordable Justice

[email protected]

650 Beacon Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Tel: (857) 277-1963

Income eligibility: There are no financial eligibility

guidelines. LAJ has a particular emphasis on assisting

low to moderate income clients. While LAJ does not

offer free legal representation, they do assist low to

moderate income clients and work with them on various

fee structures after the client goes through a consultation

to allow clients to manage their costs effectively.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

594 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Cases Handled: Business law, employment law,

landlord/tenant law, immigration law, family law and

criminal law.

Massachusetts Bar Association

20 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

http://www.MassLawHelp.com

Tel: (617)654-0400; 1-866-MASS-LRS (627-7577) for

in-state calls

E-mail: [email protected]

Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Mon.–Fri.

NO Walk-ins.

Service Area: Statewide.

Intake: Language Line available for all intakes in any

language.

The Massachusetts Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral

Service (LRS) is one of the largest legal referral

services in the nation. Since its inception in 1974, the

LRS has helped thousands of people find attorney

representation and legal resources. The LRS has

attorney members located throughout Massachusetts

that can accept cases in many areas of law. All LRS

attorneys are in good standing with the state licensing

board and must have professional liability insurance.

Attorneys participating on the LRS service charge no

more than $25 for the first half-hour consultation.

•Reduced Fee Referrals are available in some areas of

law and is limited to clients who are income eligible.

No Pro Bono services are rendered.

•The Massachusetts Bar Association also offers a

monthly Dial-A-Lawyer program, where members of

the public can call in for free legal advice. This is held

on the First Wednesday of each month between the

hours of 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Call Toll Free: (877) 686-

0711 or (617) 338-0610.

The Massachusetts Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral

Service now offers instant referrals 24 hours a day,

seven days a week on www.MassLawHelp.com

National Lawyers Guild

14 Beacon Street, Suite 407, Boston, MA 02108

www.nlgmasslawyers.org

(617) 227 7008

Email: nlgmass-l[email protected]

Intake: (Speakers in English only) Monday – Friday,

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Callers can leave message or

complete an online form at any time. No walk-in service.

Service Area: Massachusetts

Attorneys are available who speak Spanish and other

languages. Geared to low and moderate income clients.

Attorneys cover most areas of law including criminal,

civil rights, disability, domestic, and employment.

Initial phone calls are free, while attorneys set their own

fees on a case by case basis.

Cases Handled: Attorneys cover most areas of law

including immigration, bankruptcy, debt collection,

taxes, real estate, personal injury, workers’ comp.,

landlord/tenant, family law, criminal, civil rights,

discrimination, disability, SSI/SSDI, employment,

unemployment, and wills and estates.

E. Social Services Organizations

Casa Myrna, Inc.

Operates the statewide domestic violence hotline,

SafeLink, accessible 24 hours a day at (877) 785-2020;

TTY (877) 521-2601. Access to translation service for

more than 150 languages.

Citizen’s Information Center—Office of the

Secretary of State

(617) 727-7030 or 1-800-382-6090

E-mail: [email protected]

A Citizen’s Guide to MA State Services. The guide

contains information about state services, agencies, and

contact points, as well as information on consumer

affairs, employment, environment, legislation, taxes,

how to reach elected officials, start a small business, or

obtain a license.

Elderly Commission of the City of Boston

Tel: (617) 635-4366

E-mail: [email protected]

Services for Boston residents aged 55 and over include

assistance in applying for government benefits and

community-based services, discount programs, housing

advice, transportation options, advocacy, volunteer

programs, information, and referrals.

Executive Office of Elder Affairs—Shine Program

(800) AGE-INFO 800-243-4636

TTY: (800) 872-0166

http://www.800ageinfo.com

Free health insurance information, assistance, and

counseling to Medicare beneficiaries of any age. Help

compare costs and benefits of various health plans,

explain benefits of Medicare and additional insurance

options, including Medigap, HMOs, MassHealth &

prescription drug options, and assist with claims,

billing, or denial of care issue.

Health and Human Services Catalog

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/utility/catalog-of-

services.html

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595

Use the Catalog of Services to learn about health and

social services available in Massachusetts. The catalog

provides general information about who is eligible for

services and how to apply.

MASS 2-1-1

Dial 211 or 1-877-211-MASS (6277)

Mass 211 provides information about critical health and

human services available in the community. It serves as

a resource for finding government benefits and services,

nonprofit organizations, support groups, volunteer

opportunities, donation programs, and other local

resources. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

MASSCAP

http://www.masscap.org

MASSCAP is the association of the 24 MA Community

Action Agencies, which are private, non-profit human

service and advocacy organizations. These community

based agencies provide programming and training for

low-income people in workforce development and

education, asset development, small business creation,

Head Start and daycare programs, WIC nutrition, senior

services and youth programs, emergency food

assistance, health services, homelessness prevention,

affordable housing creation, home heating assistance,

and weatherization assistance.

MASSOPTIONS

1-844-422-62-77 (1-844-422-MASS)

http://www.MassOptions.org

MassOptions, a service of the Office of Health and

Human Services, connects elders, individuals with

disabilities and their caregivers with agencies and

organizations that can best meet their needs.

Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese

Speakers (MAPS)

http://www.maps-inc.org/services

1046 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

(617) 864-7600; Fax (617) 864-7621

92 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143

(617) 764-2091; (617) 764-0111

697 Cambridge Street, Suite 203, Brighton, MA 02135

(617) 787-0557; 1-800-232-7725

One Stoughton Street, Dorchester, MA 02125

(617) 825-5897; Fax (617) 825-4167

11 Mill Street, Lowell, MA 01852

(978) 970-1250; Fax (978) 970-0843

24 Union Ave., Suite 8 &10, Framingham, MA 01702

(508) 872-2652; Fax (508) 872-2658

Provides services to the Portuguese-speaking community,

including Immigrant Integration Services including

Citizenship Assistance; Citizenship and Portuguese

Classes; Elder Services; Family-Based Services (FBS)

and In Home Therapy for children and families; Domestic

Violence and Sexual Assault Services; Intimate Partner

Abuse Education; HIV/STI Prevention & Screening;

Medical Case Management; Driver Alcohol Education;

Notary Public and Translation Services.

Somali Development Center

http://www.sdcboston.org

10 Malcolm X Blvd., 2nd Floor Roxbury, MA 02119

Tel: 617-522-0700

Fax: 617-522-7484

Language Capacity: Somali, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya

Provides community services to all Somalis and other

African communities in Boston, regardless of

immigration status. These services include:

1. Postresettlement community services such as housing

search assistance, advocacy, interpretation and

translation

2. Basic adult literacy program, ESOL classes, and

citizenship assistance

3. Youth employment, crime prevention and general

youth adjustment issues

4. Elder care services

5. Newcomer orientation & acculturation related issues

6. Employment services including job readiness

training and job search

7. Legal assistance in the areas of immigration, welfare,

housing, domestic violence, and advocacy in the courts

8. Maternal-child health issues, health education and

health care access in general

9. Mental health counseling and crisis intervention

10. Access to resources and information provided in

constituents’ native language

F. Ombudsmen and Agency Contacts

Boston Housing Authority

Grievance Panel Coordinator

Tel: (617) 988-4579

TTY: (800) 545-1833 ext. 420

E-mail: [email protected]

The Department of Grievances and Appeals conducts

administrative hearings when requested by Boston

Housing Authority (BHA) applicants and residents to

review certain BHA actions. A resident who has any

questions regarding the appeal process may contact the

Grievance Panel Coordinator.

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596 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Department of Children and Families

Ombudsperson

Tel: (617) 748-2444

Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) Resource Line

(800) 955-2232

For questions or complaints about HUD rental

programs, including Housing Choice (Section 8)

Vouchers, HUD has a central resource line from which

an operator will direct the client to the appropriate

office based on their case information.

Department of Public Utilities Consumer

Hotline

One South Station, Boston, MA 02110

(617) 737-2836 or (877) 886-5066

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

Ombudsperson

DTA Central Ombudsperson

600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111

Ombudsperson Line: (617) 348-5354

E-mail: [email protected]

Assistance Line: (877) 382-2363

The DTA Ombudsperson can be contacted as an avenue

for advocates to report repeated issues they have noticed

among their cases. Clients themselves should not

contact the DTA Ombudsperson phone number or email.

Clients should instead call the DTA Assistance Line.

Department of Public Health—Division of

Healthcare Quality Advocacy Office and

Complaint Unit

99 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111

(617) 753-8150 or (800) 462-5540

Clients may call to make a complaint about health care

facilities. The division also investigates complaints of

patient abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities

and discrimination in treatment based on being a

Medicare beneficiary.

Health and Human Services

Tel: (800) 462-5540 or (617) 753-8150

To file a complaint about a hospital, clinical staff,

nurse, or physician, call the 24 hour consumer

complaint line or file a complaint online at

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs.

Inspectional Services Department—Boston

1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

02118

(617) 635-5300

Refer Boston tenants to this number for information or

to make complaints about conditions.

Massachusetts Division of Insurance

1000 Washington St, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02118

(877) 563-4467

For specific questions about insurance coverage, to

toll-free consumer information line. The toll free

number connects to all of the Division’s units.

Mass Health Connector Ombudsperson

Members can contact the Ombudsman Office through

the “Contact” section of the Health Connector’s

website, MAhealthconnector.org, or by mail at PO Box

960484, Boston, MA 02109

Ma Long-Term Care/Nursing Home

Ombudsperson Office

Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs

Ombudsman Office

1 Ashburton Place, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02108

Tel: (617) 727-7750 or 1-800-AGE-INFO (1 (800) 243-

4636)

Mass Rehab Commission Ombudsperson

MRC Ombudsperson Customer Relations Department

600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111

(617) 204-3600 (central office) or 1 (800) 245-6543

voice or TTY

Individuals can be directed from central office, or call

the office nearest them.

Consumers may contact the Ombudsperson about issues

such as delays in service, their legal rights within the

system, or provision of specialized services. The

Ombudsperson also provides assistance to Social

Security claimants and to beneficiaries of SSI and SSDI.

One Care Ombudsman

11 Dartmouth Street, Suite 301, Malden, MA 02148

(855) 781-9898 or MassRelay dial 711

One Care is a new health care insurance option for

some adults with disabilities living in Massachusetts

who are eligible to receive both Medicare and

MassHealth services.

Unemployment Insurance Ombudsperson

(Problem Resolution Unit)

Problem Resolution

19 Staniford Street, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02114

(617) 626-6800 or Relay Operator: 1 (800) 439-0183

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597

PART 3—COURT SERVICE CENTERS

Individuals can receive assistance from Court Service Centers when they need one-on-one help filling out court

forms; information about court rules, procedures, and practices; court documents and written instructions; access to

interpreter services; assistance with legal research; and contact information for community resources, legal

assistance programs, and social service agencies. CSCs cannot give legal advice, only legal information.

See below for location questions.

CSC services are free (with the exception of filing fees or fees associated with the case) and services are not means

tested, which means they serve clients of all incomes.

Additional locations may be added in the future. For more information and an updated list of locations, go to

http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/court-management/plan-initiatives/court-service-centers.html.

Edward W. Brooke Courthouse

Counties Served: Suffolk, Middlesex & Norfolk

Hours: 8:30–4:30, Monday–Friday

Location: 24 New Chardon Street, 2nd floor, Boston,

MA 02114

Public transit: Accessible by MBTA

Franklin County Courthouse

Counties Served: Franklin, Hampshire & Berkshire

Hours: 8:30–4:30, Monday–Friday

Location: 101 Munson Street, ground floor, Greenfield

Corporate Center, Greenfield, MA 01301

Public transit: Accessible by FRTA

Fenton Judicial Center

Counties Served: Essex & Middlesex

Hours: 8:30–4:30, Monday–Friday

Location: 2 Appleton Street, 2nd floor–Law Library,

Lawrence, MA 01840

George N. Covett Courthouse

Counties Served: Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol & the

Islands

Hours: 8:30–4:30, Monday–Friday

Location: 215 Main Street, 1st floor, Brockton, MA

02301

Springfield Hall of Justice

Counties Served: Hampden, Hampshire & Berkshire

Hours: 8:30–4:30, Monday–Friday

Location: 50 State Street, 1st floor, Springfield, MA

01102

Worcester Trial Court Complex

Counties Served: Worcester

Hours: 8:30–4:30, Monday–Friday

Location: 225 Main Street, 1st floor, Worcester, MA

01608

**NOTE: All CSCs will assist people from any county.

“Counties served” above are based on location and are

purely for convenience. Any clients who live in

Suffolk, Middlesex, or Norfolk and are able to get to

CSCs in other counties should try to go to the other

CSCs (i.e., Fenton) first because lines will be shorter**

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598 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 4—PROBATE AND FAMILY COURTS

Probate and Family Courts have jurisdiction over matters including divorce, paternity, child support, custody,

parenting time, adoption, termination of parental rights, abuse prevention, and wills, estates, trusts, guardianships,

conservatorships, and changes of name. The Probate and Family Court Department Administrative Office may be

reached at (617) 788-6600. Below is a list of Probate and Family Courts by county and the phone numbers for the

info/trial-court/pfc/pfc-ch-by-county-gen.html.

Barnstable County Probate and Family Court

3195 Main Street

P.O. Box 346

Barnstable, MA 02630

(508) 375-6722

Berkshire County Probate and Family Court

44 Bank Row

Pittsfield, MA 01201

(413) 442-6941

Bristol County Probate and Family Court

40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780

(508) 977-6040

505 Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 999-5249

289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02723

(508) 672-1751

Dukes County Probate and Family Court

81 Main Street

P.O. Box 237

Edgartown, MA 02539

(508) 627-4703

Essex County Probate and Family Court

36 Federal Street

Salem, MA 01970

(978) 744-1020

TTY: (978) 975-2429

2 Appleton Street

Lawrence, MA 01840

(978) 686-9692

Franklin County Probate and Family Court

43 Hope St.

P.O. Box 590

Greenfield, MA 01302

(413) 774-7011

TTY: (413) 774-3364

Hampden County Probate and Family Court

Department

50 State Street

P.O. Box 559

Springfield, MA 01102-0559

(413) 748-7760

Hampshire County Probate and Family Court

33 King Street, Suite 3

Northampton, MA 01060

(413) 586-8500

Middlesex County Probate and Family Court

Department

208 Cambridge Street, P.O. Box 410480

East Cambridge, MA 02141-0006

(617) 768-5800

Williams Street

Marlborough, MA 01752

(617) 768-5800

Gorham Street

Lowell, MA 01852

(617) 768-5800

Nantucket County Probate and Family Court

Department

19 Broad Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

(508) 228-2669

Norfolk County Probate and Family Court

35 Shawmut Road

Canton, MA 02021

(781) 830-1200

Plymouth County Probate and Family Court

52 Obery Street, Suite 1130

Plymouth, MA 02360

(508) 747-6204

215 Main Street, Suite 220

Brockton, MA 02301

(508) 897-5400 ext. 2964

Suffolk County Probate and Family Court

24 New Chardon Street, 3rd Floor

P.O. Box 9667

Boston, MA 02114

(617) 788-8301

Worcester County Probate and Family Court

225 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01608

(508) 831-2000

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599

PART 5—DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS

The District Attorney’s Office provides free services to victims of crimes, their family members, and witnesses as

mandated by G.L. c. 258B, the Victim Rights Law. Victim witness services often include efforts to reduce stress and

trauma in the aftermath of a crime. Victim witness advocates work closely with victims and witnesses during the

prosecution of criminal cases. These services may be accessed by contacting the District Attorney’s Office directly.

When applicable, the direct lines to Victim Witness Assistance Programs have been included in the list below.

Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket

Counties

Cape and Islands Victim Witness Assistance

Program

3231 Main Street, P.O. Box 455

Barnstable, MA 02630

Business: (508) 362-8103

Fax: (508) 362-1443

http://www.mass.gov/capeda/public-safety-assistance/

victim-and-witness-assistance/victim-and-witness-

unit.html

Cape and Islands Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (508) 362-8113

http://www.mass.gov/capeda/community-

programs/domestic-violence

Barnstable County

Berkshire County Victim Witness Assistance

Program

7 North Street. P.O. Box 1969, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Business: (413) 443-5951

Fax: (413) 449-6349

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/berkshire-district-attorneys-

office

Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (413) 443-5951

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (413) 443-5951

Bristol County

Bristol County Victim Witness Assistance Program

888 Purchase Street, P.O. Box 973, New Bedford, MA

02741

Business: (508) 997-0711

Fax: (508) 997-0396

http://bristolda.com/resources

Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (508) 997-0711

Local Hotline: (508) 999-6636

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (508) 997-0711

Local Hotline: (508) 999-6636

Essex County

Essex County Victim Witness Assistance Program

10 Federal St., Salem MA, 01970

Business: (978) 745-6610

Fax: (978) 744-2161

https://www.mass.gov/essex-victim-witness-services

Lawrence Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (978) 688-1147

Fax: (978) 794-9127

Lynn Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (781) 599-2310

Fax: (781) 599-2310

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (978) 745-6610

Hampden County

Hampden County Victims Witness Assistance

Programs

50 State Street. Springfield, MA 01103

Business: (413) 747-1000

Fax: (413) 747-5628

http://hampdenda.com/resources

Domestic Violence Prosecution and Intervention Unit

Business: (413) 505-5651

Fax: (413) 747-5628

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (413) 505-5651

Fax: (413) 747-5628

Middlesex County

Middlesex County Victim Witness Service Bureau

15 Commonwealth Ave, Woburn, MA 01801

Business: (781) 897-8490

Fax: (781) 897-8301

http://www.middlesexda.com

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600 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (781) 897-8300

Fax: (781) 897-8301

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (781) 897-8300

Fax: (781) 897-8301

Norfolk County

Norfolk County Victim Witness Assistance Program

45 Shawmut Road. Canton, MA 02021

Business: (781) 830-4800

Fax: (781) 830-4801

Website: http://www.mass.gov/da/norfolk/index.html

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (781) 830-4972

Fax: (781) 251-0835

Northwestern District Franklin and

Hampshire Counties

Northwestern District Victim Witness Assistance

Program

Northampton

1 Gleason Plaza. Northampton, MA 01060

Business: (413) 586-5780

TDD: (413) 586-9382

Fax: (413) 584-3635

Greenfield

13 Conway Street, Greenfield, MA 01301

Business: (413) 772-6944

Belchertown

205 State Street, Belchertown, MA 01007

Business: (413) 323-5275

Orange

1 Court Square, Orange, MA 01364

Business: (978) 544-7376

Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (413) 586-5780

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (413) 586-5780

Plymouth County

Plymouth County Victim Witness Program

166 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301

Business: (508) 584-8120

Fax: (508) 586-3578

Hotline: (508) 583-3306

http://www.mass.gov/daplymouth/prosecution

Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (508) 584-8120

Suffolk County

Suffolk County Victim Witness Assistance Program

1 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114

Business: (617) 619-4200

http://www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com/victim-

assistance/victim-witness-assistance-program

Victim Compensation Division

Business: (617) 727-2200 ext. 2160

Domestic Violence Unit

Business: (617) 619-4260

Sexual Assault Unit

Business: (617) 619-4350

Worcester County

Worcester County Victim Witness Assistance

Program

225 Main Street. Worcester, MA 01608

Business: (508) 755-8601

Fax: (508) 831-9899

http://www.worcesterda.com

Domestic Violence Unit:

Business:(508) 755-8601

Sexual Assault Unit:

Business:(508) 755-8601

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601

PART 6—DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE UNITS

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) works to keep children safe from abuse and neglect and supports

young adults (age eighteen to twenty-two) transitioning from DCF to independent living. DCF has four regional

offices and twenty-nine area offices. The contact information for each regional office is listed below, along with the

specific phone number for their domestic violence units or specialists when applicable. Where there is no phone

number for the domestic violence unit, call the general business line and you will be connected to a domestic

violence advocate.

Massachusetts Department of Children& Families

Linda Spears, Commissioner

600 Washington St, 6th Floor

Boston, MA 02111

(617) 748-2000 operator

(617) 748-2400 auto attendant

Child-at-Risk Hotline: (800) 792-5200

Fax: (617) 261-7435

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-

of-children-families

DCF Boston Regional Office

Esquire Building

451 Blue Hill Ave.

Dorchester, MA 02121

Business: (617) 989-9200

Fax: (617) 989-9250

DCF Northern Regional Office

280 Merrimack Street

Lawrence, MA 01843

Business: (978) 557-2500

Fax: (978) 683-7455

Domestic Violence Specialist: (978) 557-2723

E-mail: [email protected]

DCF Southeastern Regional Office

110 Mulberry St.

Brockton, MA 02302

Business: (508) 894-3700

Fax: (508) 559-7878

Domestic Violence Specialists: Jules Simmons (508)

894-3960, Assuncao (508) 894-3976

DCF Western Regional Office

140 High St., 4th Floor

Springfield, MA 01105

Business: (413) 452-3350

Fax: (413) 781-448239-5851

Domestic Violence Unit: Sue Englaish (413) 452-3432

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602 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 7—SAFEPLAN AGENCIES AND COURTS

SAFEPLAN is the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) statewide, court-based program that

provides specially trained and certified advocates to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking

who are seeking protection from abuse. SAFEPLAN advocates are employed by local community-based domestic

violence and sexual assault programs in forty-one district and probate courts across the state. The services they

provide to victims are free of charge. The information for the agencies below can be found at http://www.mass.gov/

mova/safeplan/safeplan-agencies-and-courts.

SAFEPLAN advocates help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in several ways:

• personalized safety planning;

• assistance obtaining 209A restraining orders (also called protective orders) and 258E harassment prevention

orders (HPO) from the court;

• make referrals to local support services;

• provide information on legal and safety options; and

• accompany the victim to protective order hearings.

Barnstable County

Independence House

160 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601

Phone: (508) 771-6507

http://www.independencehouse.org

Serving: Barnstable Probate and Family Court,

Barnstable District Court, Falmouth District Court,

Orleans District Court

Berkshire County

Elizabeth Freeman Center

43 Francis Ave.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Phone: (413) 499-2425

Fax: (413) 443-3016

Serving: Berkshire Probate and Family Court, Northern

Berkshire District Court (North Adams), Southern

Berkshire District Court (Great Barrington)

Bristol County

New Bedford Women’s Center

405 Country Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

Phone: (508) 996-3343

Serving: Bristol County Probate and Family Court

(New Bedford), New Bedford District Court

The Women’s Center at Stanley Street Treatment

and Resource Center

386 Stanley Street, Fall River, MA 02720

Phone: (508) 324-3500

Serving: Bristol County Probate Court (Fall River),

Fall River District Court

New Hope, Inc.

140 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: (508) 226-4015

Serving: Attleboro District Court, Taunton District

Court, Taunton Probate and Family Court

Essex County

YWCA of Northeastern Massachusetts

(Previously YWCA of Greater Lawrence)

38 Lawrence Street, Lawrence, MA 01840

Phone: (978) 687-0331

Serving: Haverhill District Court, Lawrence District

Court, Lawrence Probate and Family Court

Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC)

27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970

Phone: (978) 744-8552

Serving: Lynn District Court, Salem Probate and

Family Court, Salem District Court

Franklin County

New England Learning Center for Women

in Transition (NELCWIT)

10 Park Street, Greenfield, MA 01301

Phone: (413)-772-0871

Serving: Franklin County Probate and Family Court,

Greenfield District Court, Orange District Court

Hampden County

Womanshelter/Compañeras, Inc.

P.O. Box 1099

Holyoke, MA 0104

Phone: (413) 538-9717

Serving: Hampden County Probate and Family Court,

Chicopee District Court, Holyoke District Court

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603

Hampshire County

YWCA of Western Massachusetts

1 Clough Street, Springfield, MA 01108

Phone: (413) 732-3121

Serving: Hampshire County Probate and Family Court,

Eastern Hampshire District Court (Belchertown),

Northampton District Court, Westfield District Court

Middlesex County

Greater Boston Legal Services

197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 371-1234

Serving: Middlesex County Probate and Family Court

YWCA of Central MA, Inc./BWR

14 Monument Square, Suite 400, Leominster, MA

01453

Phone: (978) 537-8601

Serving: Ayer District Court

Plymouth County

A New Day

P.O. Box 4206, Brockton, MA 02403

Phone: 508-588-2045

Serving: Brockton District Court, Brockton County

Probate and Family Court (Brockton)

South Shore Women’s Resource Center

P.O. Box 6237, North Plymouth, MA 02362

Phone: (508) 746-4688

Serving: Plymouth County Probate and Family Court

(Plymouth), Hingham District Court, Plymouth District

Court, Wareham District Court

Worcester County

YWCA of Central MA, Inc./Daybreak

1 Salem Square, Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: 508-767-2505

Serving: Worcester County Probate and Family Court,

Worcester District Court

YWCA of Central MA, Inc./BWR

14 Monument Square, Suite 400, Leominster, MA

01453

Phone: (978) 537-8601

Serving: Clinton District Court, Fitchburg District

Court, Gardner District Court, Leominster District

Court, Winchendon District Court

New Hope, Inc.

140 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

Phone: (508) 226-4015

Serving: East Brookfield District Court, Dudley

District Court, Westborough District Court, Milford

District Court, Uxbridge District Court

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604 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 8—DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE UNIT

Every DTA office has staff members who are experienced in the field of domestic violence. For general information

about the Domestic Violence Unit, call the DTA assistance line at (877) 382-2363 or visit the website at http://www

.state.ma.us/dta. The following is a list of domestic violence specialists in each DTA office. Spanish-speaking

specialists and professional interpreter services for all other languages are available.

Southeast Region

Brockton (Coordinator): (508) 895-7163

Fall River: (508) 646-6299

Hyannis: (508) 862-6614

New Bedford: (508) 961-2013

Plymouth: (508) 732-3117

Taunton: (508) 884-5354

Greater Boston Region

Coordinator: (617) 989-2205

Dudley Square: (617) 989-6075

Chelsea Center: (617) 551-1724

New Market: (617) 249-8140

Quincy: (617) 249-8140

Northeast and Central Regions

Coordinator: (508) 661-6627

Malden: (781) 388-7394

Fitchburg: (978) 665-8713

Framingham: (508) 661-6627

Lawrence: (978) 725-7155

Lowell: (978) 446-2414

North Shore: (978) 825-7448

Worcester: (508) 767-3115

Western Region

Greenfield (Coordinator): (413) 772-3418

Holyoke: (413) 52-5420

Springfield: (413) 858-1080; (413) 858-1155

Pittsfield: (413) 236-2014

Southbridge: (508) 765-2426

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605

PART 9—SUPERVISED VISITATION CENTERS

There are many supervised visitation centers in Massachusetts. A current list can be found at http://masslegalhelp

.org. The list is in the Domestic Violence section and is listed under the heading “Supervised Visitation Centers”.

The website also provides links to the flyers of each programs listed below. The flyers contain information regarding

eligibility, cost, and specific services. There are more supervised visitation centers in Massachusetts that are

members of the Supervised Visitation Network. They can be found at http://www.svnetwork.net.

Barnstable County

Community & Family Resources Visitation Center –

Hyannis

35 Winter Street, Suite 100B

Hyannis, MA 02601

Business: (508) 778-1980

Fax: (508) 771-1935

Berkshire County

Elizabeth Freeman Center

43 Francis Ave

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Business: (413) 499-2425

Fax: (413) 443-3016

Bristol County

Seven Hills Behavioral Health Safe Child Visitation

Center

1402 Pleasant Street

Fall River, MA 02723

Business: (508) 646-3521

Community and Family Resources Visitation Center

– Taunton

152 Dean Street, Suite 1

Taunton, MA 02780

Business: (508) 824-1342

Fax: (508) 824-1342

Dukes County

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

11 Edgartown Road

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Business: (508) 693-7900

Fax: (508) 693-7192

TTY: (508) 684-8176

info@mvcommunityservices.com

Nantucket County

A Safe Place, Inc. Supervised Visitation Program

24 Amelia Drive

Nantucket, MA 02554

Business: (508) 228-0561

Fax: (508) 228-8825

Essex County

Alternative House – Haverhill

P.O. Box 2100

Lowell, MA 01851

Business: (978) 937-5777

Fax: (978) 937-5595

Franklin County

Franklin County Children’s Visitation Program, a

program of the New England Learning Center for

Women in Transition

479 Main Street

P.O. Box 520

Greenfield, MA 01302

Business: (413) 772-0871 ext. 119

fccvp@nelcwit.org

Hampden and Hampshire Counties

YWCA Visitation Centers

1 Clough Street, Springfield, MA 01118

Business: (413) 732-3121

Fax: (413) 747-0542

YWCA Visitation Center – North

1 Clough Street, Springfield, MA 01118

Business: (413) 732-3121

Fax: (413) 747-0542

Specialized Counseling Services, Inc.

380 Union Street

West Springfield, MA 01089

Business: (413) 731-5582

Fax: (413) 731-7999

Middlesex County

Alternative House – Lowell

P.O. Box 2100

Lowell, MA 01851

Business: (978) 937-5777

Fax: (978) 937-5595

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606 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Family Skill Building Program, Council of Social

Concern

2 Merrimac Street

Woburn, MA 01801

Business: (781) 935-6495

Fax: (781) 935-1925

SMOC Kidspace

300 Howard Street

Framingham, MA 01702

Business: (508) 962-2643

Fax: (508) 872-4264

Childsafe Visitation Center

945 Concord St.

Framingham, MA 01475

Business: (978) 660-1065

Fax: (617) 249-0224

[email protected]

The Guidance Center – Meeting Place

5 Sacramento Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

Business: (617) 354-2275 x145

Fax: (617) 547-4356

Jeanette McCue, MA, LMHC

Somerville, MA

Business: (617) 997-6645

Norfolk County

Community and Family Resources Visitation Center

– Quincy

180 Old Colony Ave.

Quincy, MA

Business: (617) 742-1389; (508) 584-2185

Fax: (508) 588-6186

Plymouth County

Community and Family Resources Center –

Brockton

500 Belmont St., Suite 302

Brockton, MA 02301

Business: (508) 584-2185

Fax: (508) 588-6186

Community and Family Resources Visitation Center

– Brockton

250 Belmont Street

Brockton, MA 02301

Business: (508) 584-2809

Fax: (508) 584-1030

Seven Hills Behavioral Health – Family center

64 Industrial Park Road

Plymouth, MA

Business: (508) 927-8888

Suffolk County

Children’s Services of Roxbury Family Visitation

Program

520 Dudley Street

Roxbury, MA 02119

Business: (617) 445-6655 ext. 314

Fax: (617) 445-0940

Worcester County

New Hope, Inc. MJ Leadenham Family Visitation

Center

91 Prescott Street

Worcester, MA 01605

Business: (508) 753-3146

Fax: (508) 753-3148

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PART 10—LICENSED ADOPTION AGENCIES IN MASSACHUSETTS

This list of Adoption Agencies is provided by the Adoption Community of New England, Inc. A current list and

additional information can be found on their website, which is http://www.adoptioncommunityofne.org.

Key to Agency Programs and Status

a - international; agency’s own resources

b - international; work with sources in other states

c - U.S. infants; agency’s own resources

d - U.S. infants; work with sources in other states

e - U.S. infants; parent identified placements

f - U.S. special needs

g - long-term foster placements

h - resources for singles

i - resources for gay and lesbian couples

k - provisional license

m - MAPP training

n - other languages available

p - post-adoption services

[] - agency did not respond to survey

Licensed Public Adoption Agency

Department of Children and Families (DCF),

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

[f, i, m] (No Fee Charged)

When using DCF, residents of Massachusetts MUST

apply to the Adoption Unit in their geographical area.

Contact one of the numbers listed below for

information about the Adoption Unit closest to you.

The majority of children available through DCF are

white school-age through teenage, school-age sibling

groups, minority race children, or those with physical,

mental or emotional challenges. The majority of DCF

children are placed as “Legal Risk Adoptions.”

Boston Unit

Esquire Building, 50B Park Street, Dorchester, MA 02122

(617) 822-4840

Metro Unit

30 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02174

(781) 641-8500

Northeast Unit

Everett Mills, 15 Union Street, 2nd Floor, Lawrence,

MA 01840

(978) 557-2500

Southeast Unit

165 Quincy Street, Brockton, MA 02301

(508) 897-2000

Central Unit

13 Sudbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609

(508) 929-2000

West Unit

140 High Street, 5th Floor, Springfield, MA 01105

(413) 452-3350

Includes harder-to-place children who are older, part of

a sibling group, or may have other special needs.

Special Needs Referral Service

Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange

(MARE)

45 Franklin Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301

(617) 542-3678

(800) 882-1176

TTY: (617) 542-7772

http://www.mareinc.org

Licensed Private Adoption Agencies

Acton

Bright Futures Adoption Center

36 Knox Trail, Suite 206, Acton, MA 01720

Mailing Address: 2352 Main St., Suite 206, Concord,

MA, 01742

(978) 263-5400

[c,d,e,f,h,i,p]

Attleboro

Adoption Options at Jewish Family Service

901 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

(800) 337-6513

[b,c,e,h,i,k,p]

Boston

Boston Adoption Bureau

14 Beacon Street #613, Boston, MA 02108

(617) 520-2048

[c,d,e,h,i,p]

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608 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Children’s Services of Roxbury

520 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

(617) 445-6655

[f,h,i,m,p]

Communities for People

418 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215-2801

(617) 267-1031

[f,g,k,m,p]

DARE Family Services, Inc.

265 Medford St., Suite 500, Somerville, MA 02143

(617) 629-2710

[f,g,h,i,m]

The Home for Little Wanderers

10 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135

(888) 466-3321

[b,c,d,e,f,h,i,m,n,p]

Brookline

Post-Adoption Resource Center/Children’s Legal

Services

4 Cypress Street, Brookline, MA 02445

(617) 778-6213

[b,d,e,h,i,k,p]

China Adoption with Love, Inc.

251 Harvard Street, #19 & 20, Brookline, MA 02446

(617) 731-0798

[a,h,n,p]

AAA Full Circle Adoptions

1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476

(413) 587-0007

[b,c,d,e,f,h,i,p]

Cambridge

Adoption Resource Associates

245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02140

(617) 492-8888

[b,d,e,f,h,i,n,p]

Cambridge Family and Children’s Service

60 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141

(617) 876-4210

[f,h,i,m,n]

Danvers

DARE Family Services, Inc.

2 Electronics Avenue, Suite 28, Danvers, MA 01923

(978) 750-0751

[f]

Duxbury

Love the Children of Massachusetts

2 Perry Drive, Duxbury, MA 02332

(781) 934-0063

[a,p]

Fall River

Adoption by Choice

(Catholic Social Services of Fall River Inc.)

1600 Bay Street, Fall River, MA 02724

(508) 674-4681

[b,c,d,e,f,h,m]

Child and Family Services, Inc.—Adoption Program

66 Troy Street, Fall River, MA 02720

(508) 676-5708

[b,c,d,e,f,h,i,m,p]

Framingham

Adoption Choices

475 Franklin Street, Suite 101, Framingham, MA 01702

(800) 872-5232

[b,c,d,e,h,i,n,p]

Leominster

Catholic Charities—Diocese of Worcester

196 Mechanic Street, Leominster, MA 01453

(978) 840-0696

[b,c,d,f,h,m,n,p]

Mattapoiset

Southeastern Adoption Services—SEAS

8 Prospect Dr., Mattapoisett, MA 02739

P.O. Box 356, Marion, MA 02738

(508) 758-4801

[b,d,e,h,i,p]

Needham

Alliance for Children, Inc.

17 Oak Street, Needham, MA 02492

(781) 431-7148

[a,b,c,d,e,f,h,i,n,p]

Newton

Adoptions With Love, Inc.

246 Walnut St. Suite 103, Newton, MA 02460

(800) 722-7731

[c,d,p]

Northampton

AAA Full Circle Adoptions

39 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060

(413) 587-0007

[b,c,d,e,f,h,i,p]

Pittsfield

Berkshire Children and Families

Berkshire County, 480 West Street, Pittsfield, MA

01201

(413) 448-8281 or (888) 742-7443

[b,c,d,e,f,h,i,m,p]

South Dennis

Good Hope Adoption Services

900 Route 134, Unit 3-30, South Dennis, MA 02660

(508) 385-7815

[a,b,h,i,k]

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609

Tewksbury

United Homes for Children

1147 Main Street #209/210, Tewksbury, MA 01876

(978) 640-0089

[c,e,f,g,h,m,n]

Waltham

Adoption Resources

1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451

(800) 533-4336

[b,c,d,e,f,h,i,p]

Wide Horizons For Children, Inc.

375 Totten Pond Road, Suite 400, Waltham, MA 02451

(800) 729-5330

[a,b,c,d,e,h,i,n,p]

Winchester

Child Adoption Associates

200 Swanton Street, #635, Winchester, MA 01890

(781) 929-1313

[a,h,i,k,n,p]

Worcester

Catholic Charities—Diocese of Worcester

10 Hammond Street, Worcester, MA 01610-1513

(508) 798-0191

[b,c,d,f,h,m,n,p]

Children’s Friend

21 Cedar Street, Worcester, MA 01609

(508) 753-5425

[b,c,d,e,h,i,m,n,p]

Jewish Family Service of Worcester, Inc.

646 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609

(508) 755-3101

[b,c,d,e,f,p]

Lutheran Community Services of Southern New

England

30 Harvard Street, Worcester, MA 01608

[a,c,e,f,h,i,m]

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

610 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 11—MEDIATION SERVICES

The Massachusetts Trial Court offers court-connected ADR as an alternative to litigation in every Trial Court

Department. Court-connected ADR is governed by the Uniform Rules on Dispute Resolution, Supreme Judicial

Court Rule 1:18. For a list of court-connected approved programs for alternative dispute resolutions, see https://

www.mass.gov/alternative-dispute-resolution-and-mediation.

Beverly

North Shore Community Mediation, Inc.

100 Cummings Center, Suite 307-J

Beverly, MA 01915

Phone: (978) 232-1212

Fax: (978) 232-0060

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.nsmediation.org

NSCM helps to resolve disputes among couples, family

members, neighbors, and shared housing arrangements.

Our mediators have also assisted in business disputes,

including workplace conflicts, landlord tenant and

property co-owner issues. NSCM offers a sliding fee

scale to families and others seeking community

mediation in order to encourage access to this effective

and cost-efficient approach to resolving disagreements.

Experienced NSCM mediators, specially trained in

divorce mediation, work with families of all types. This

includes resolving the division of assets and debt,

developing parenting plans, spousal support and child

support for couples contemplating divorce and for

separating non-marital couples. Mediation is especially

helpful when children are involved because the process

focuses on parental communication

Brookline

Metropolitan Mediation Services

43 Garrison Road, Brookline, MA 02445-4498

Phone: (617) 734-3443 ext. 165

Fax: (617) 734-6385

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.metromediation.com

Metropolitan Mediation Services (MMS) is an

innovative organization which has offered mediation

services in the Greater Boston area since 1984. MMS

provides mediation services to businesses, government

agencies, schools, courts, social service agencies, and

individuals from Greater Boston neighborhoods and

families. MMS has a multi-disciplinary staff which

includes attorneys, social workers, and educators from

elementary through graduate level. Metropolitan

Mediation Services offers a variety of dispute

resolution programs and services, including:

Community Mediation, Family Disputes, School

Mediation Programs, and Court Mediation Programs

Cambridge

Community Dispute Settlement Center, Inc.

60 Gore Street, Suite 202

Cambridge, MA 02141-1236

Phone: (617) 876-5376

Fax: (617) 876-6663

http://www.communitydispute.org

Each year, CDSC’s roster of over 60 experienced

mediators serve an average of 1,000 clients, mediating

some 350 cases. Our mediators come from a variety of

backgrounds including the legal community, social

services, education, business, and mental health, and

contribute their services pro bono. We help people

resolve issues related to separation and divorce,

working with both traditional and non-traditional

families. Through a group of specially trained

mediators, we help gay and lesbian couples deal with

issues unique to their circumstances. We mediate

workplace disputes, as well as issues involving

neighbors, landlords, and tenants. Our elder care

services help families make decisions about the

changing needs of older adults. We charge nominal fees

for these services, with a sliding scale based on income.

Framingham

Framingham Court Mediation Services

116 Concord Street

Framingham, MA 01702

Phone: (508) 872-9495

Fax: (508) 872-9764

info@framinghammediation.org

http://www.framinghammediation.org

Framingham Court Mediation Services, Inc. (FCMS) is

an independent non-profit agency with a governing

board of directors. The FCMS Dispute Resolution

Center was established in 1979 with a federal grant

from the Department of Justice and administered by the

MA Committee on Criminal Justice as a

court/community mediation project in the Framingham

District Court

In 1981, FCMS incorporated as an independent non-

profit organization serving towns and communities in

the Framingham, Marlborough, Natick, and Concord

District Court areas to provide mediation as a method

for resolving differences to prevent escalating criminal

behavior, especially between parties who are known to

each other. FCMS is committed to the use of trained

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611

community volunteers as the primary provider of direct

mediation services

Access to services is available to the public through

self-referral, as well as to court-involved people

through court referral. FCMS provides mediation

services to clients regardless of their ability to pay and

strives to reduce barriers to service including physical,

language, ethnicity, programmatic and economic

barriers. We provide a range of alternative dispute

resolution services including, mediation, and

facilitation at the earliest stage of conflict, arbitration,

case evaluation, and mini trials.

Greenfield

The Mediation & Training Collaborative (TMTC)

277 Main Street, Suite 401

Greenfield, MA 01301-3267

Phone: (413) 774-7469 Fax: (413) 774-7460

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.fcac.net

The Mediation & Training Collaborative (TMTC) is a

program of Community Action of the Franklin,

Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions, a non-profit

organization. In operation since 1987, TMTC is now

celebrating its 20th year. We are a comprehensive

conflict resolution, mediation and training organization.

TMTC mediates a broad range of disputes, including

consumer, housing, divorce and family, workplace and

neighborhood.

Haverhill

North Essex Mediators

145 Essex Street, Haverhill, MA 01832

Phone: (978) 373-1971 ext. 287

http://www.communityactioninc.org

North Essex Mediators of Community Action, Inc.

(NEM) has provided Face-to-Face Mediation services

for the residents of northern Essex County since 1984.

Many different types of conflicts may be mediated by

NEM, including family, business to business, private-

party, and consumer and merchant disputes. In Face-to-

Face Mediation, the parties craft their own solution to

the conflict. Approximately 80% of the cases utilizing

Face-to-Face Mediation meet with success. Individuals

who have participated in constructing their own

resolution to a conflict honor their agreements over

98% of the time.

Leominster

Mediation Services, Inc.

853 North Main Street, Leominster, MA 01453

Phone: (978) 466-9595

Fax: (978) 466-9522

Fitchburg District Courthouse

100 Elm Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420

(978) 354-2111 Ext. 242

E-mail: mediati[email protected]

http://www.mediationncm.org

The overarching goal of community mediation is to

prevent the escalation of violence in the community by

helping residents to talk through their conflicts with the

assistance of volunteer community mediators. Often,

community-based conflicts are complex and require

multiple mediation sessions. Typical conflicts referred

to mediation include; contract and money disputes,

property damage, neighborhood feuds, noise complaints

and other community disturbances. Family mediations

give all members the opportunity to have a neutral third

party facilitate issues. Mediation Services has

successfully mediated families comprising of multi-

generations.

Marblehead

Marblehead Counseling Center, Inc.

66 Clifton Avenue, Marblehead, MA 01945-1737

Tel (781) 631-8273

Fax (781) 631-7264

E-mail: info@marbleheadcounseling.org

http://www.marbleheadcounseling.org

The Mediation Program provides an alternative

approach to dispute resolution. Trained mediators help

parties in conflict identify the issues, communicate

concerns, and constructively explore possible solutions

to problems. Mediation can help resolve disputes

between business and consumers, landlords and tenants,

parents and children, and neighbors and friends.

Mediators assist people in reaching agreements they

can live with and that are right for them. Often, people

are able to develop a better ability to communicate with

each other after experiencing the mediation process.

The mediators are volunteers who have been trained to

help people negotiate disagreements. They are trained

in the mediation process, negotiation and

communication skills, and facilitation and conflict

resolution techniques. Often, the presence of a mediator

helps people discuss their differences more easily than

they could on their own. Mediators make difficult

conversations productive. There is no established fee

for mediation services. Donations in any amount are

greatly appreciated in order to help maintain this

program in the community.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

612 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Medford

Solutions for Living

200 Boston Avenue, Suite 1900

Medford, MA 02155

Phone: (781) 306-1180

E-mail: (781) 306-1187

Fax: (781) 306-1190

http://www.solutionsforliving.org/communitymediation

.html

Solutions for Living’s Community Mediation Program

offers dispute resolution services to Individuals who

seek an alternative process to the courts. Disputes

among friends, family, neighbors, landlords/tenants,

and restitution cases may be resolved in confidential

mediation sessions. They also provide Divorce

mediation and support services. The service will

provide: A non-threatening, informal atmosphere

conducive to direct and open communication, a trained

volunteer mediator, capable of impartiality, skilled in

modeling positive, constructive communication, and

experienced in helping mediation participants to draw

upon their own strengths, and a follow up for the

purpose of monitoring restitution payments and/or

supporting participants in following through with any

agreements reached.

Orleans

Cape Mediation

80 Route 6A, Unit 3

P.O. Box 193

Orleans, MA 02653

Phone/Fax: (508) 240-1717

E-mail: ccdrc1@verizon.net

http://www.capemediation.org

Cape Mediation (CM) is a Massachusetts not-for-profit

corporation with the goal of improving the

administration of justice throughout Cape Cod by

offering alternative dispute resolution forums. Cape

Mediation’s second objective is to serve the needs of

the community by providing mediation skills training

for school personnel in order to improve

communication with parents and for social workers and

other personnel to improve their interaction with their

clients. Cape Mediation also provides facilitation

services to community groups and organizations and

provides support for peer mediation programs in

schools. Since 1985, (CM) has successfully mediated

many types of disputes including personal and family

issues.

Pittsfield

Berkshire Mediation Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 3822

Pittsfield, MA 01202

Phone: (413) 499-2792

Fax: (413) 447-9976

http://www.berkshiremediation.org

Berkshire Mediation Services (BMS) is the only

comprehensive program in Berkshire County that has a

full-time presence that deals only with mediation

services. BMS is the only provider of mediation and

conflict resolution training in the county. Mediation is

seen as a less costly and less adversarial way of

resolving disagreements, especially in situations where

the parties have on-going relationships. Mediation is a

process that empowers the parties, making it more

likely that a self-generated agreement will work for

them. Mediation offers an alternative process to seeking

expensive court settlement or resorting to violence to

resolve conflict. Mediation needs to be available to

families and neighborhoods as well as to the schools,

the courts, the workplace and organizations. BMS

provides all types of family and divorce mediation,

including such issues as custody and visitation, child

support, and post-divorce matters. We help parents

resolve conflicts relating to their children in a way that

can be less adversarial, stressful, and costly. In the long

run, mediation is often in the best interests of the

children because it reduces the trauma and stress of

high conflict situations.

Springfield

Dispute Resolution Services, Inc.

115 State Street

P.O. Box 30023

Springfield, MA 01103

Phone: (413) 787-6480

Fax: (413) 788-9685

E-mail: drs.inc@verizon.net

http://www.drsmediation.com

Dispute Resolution Services, Inc. (DRS) has been

providing mediation services to the communities and

courts of Western Massachusetts. One of the largest

non-profit alternative Dispute Resolution centers in the

state, DRS has resolved thousands of disputes through

mediation and trained hundreds of individuals to

mediate successfully. With a trained pool of over 50

certified volunteer mediators, DRS provides dispute

mediation services to the families and neighborhoods of

Springfield. Cases involve family, neighborhood or

juvenile conflict.

Vineyard Haven

Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Program

155 State Road

Vineyard Haven

Phone: (508) 693-2999

Fax: (508) 693-2199

E-mail: info@mvmediation.org

http://www.mvmediation.org

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613

The MVMP was founded in 1984 by Judge Herbert

Tucker, now retired, and Thomas Teller, who was then

clerk/magistrate of the Edgartown District Court.

Known as the Edgartown District Court Mediation

Program and modeled after the Urban Mediation

Project in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the program at

first was court-based, taking only cases referred by the

district court of Dukes County. In 1990, the program

expanded to accept cases from the community of Dukes

County. Today the program is still approved by the

state as a court-annexed mediation program, able to

handle cases referred by the Edgartown District Court

and the Dukes division of the Probate and Family

Court, but our mediators also work on community

conflicts involving neighbors, landlords and tenants,

homeowners and contractors, business owners, parents

and children, partners, and spouses.

Worcester

The Community Mediation Center

Worcester Community Action Council

484 Main Street, Second Floor

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 754-1176 x138

Fax: (508) 754-0203

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.wcac.net/mediation.htm

Mediation is a form of conflict resolution that relies on

the belief that people are creative and have the desire to

resolve their conflicts. Mediation uses an impartial third

party to help people find workable solutions

confidentially. Mediation provides people an opportunity

to talk about issues fully and directly in a non-adversarial

and confrontational environment with as much time as

needed. Face-to-Face Mediation provides a neutral

setting for people to resolve their differences. Trained

community volunteers facilitate face-to-face mediation

providing a forum for people to resolve their differences.

CMC receives referrals from individuals, social service

agencies, and the court. CMC provides mediation for

Divorce/Post Divorce/Family Issues, including:

custody/parenting plans, child support/ alimony,

visitation, health/education issues, non-traditional family

issues. CMC uses a sliding fee scale that is generally

shared between the parties and is typically less costly

than litigation. Many services are free.

Mediator Referral Services

Massachusetts Council on Family

Mediation, Inc. (MCFM)

P.O. Box 59

Ashland, NH 03217-0059

Phone: (781) 449-4430

Toll Free: (877) 777-4430

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.mcfm.org

The Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc.

(MCFM) is a nonprofit organization established more

than 25 years ago by family mediators interested in

sharing knowledge and setting guidelines for family

mediation. MCFM is the oldest professional

organization in Massachusetts dedicated to family

mediation. MCFM serves the public and its members

by providing information about divorce and family

mediation and maintaining a mediator referral

directory.

Association for Conflict Resolution

1015 18th Street, NW Suite 1150

Washington, DC 2003

Phone: (202) 464-9700

Fax: (202) 464-9720

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.ACRnet.org

The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is a

professional organization dedicated to enhancing the

practice and public understanding of conflict resolution.

ACR represents and serves a diverse national and

international audience that includes more than 6,000

mediators, arbitrators, facilitators, educators, and others

involved in the field of conflict resolution and

collaborative decision-making. ACR maintains a

referral list includes all current Advanced Practitioner

(AP) members of the Association for Conflict

Resolution who have met the strictest training and

experience requirements. The listing only includes

practitioners in the Family and Workplace practice areas.

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

614 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 12—IMMIGRATION ISSUES

Below is a list of some of the organizations in the Boston area that provide free or low-cost immigration services to

low-income immigrants. Many take only certain limited types of cases. Be aware that there are many people in the

community who hold themselves out as immigration practitioners who are neither members of the bar nor Board-

certified immigration paralegals. These people, who essentially practice law without a license, can do untold damage.

Urge your clients to seek help through one of these organizations to be sure of obtaining competent assistance.

AMERICAN IMMIGRATION

LAWYERS’ ASSOCIATION

(800) 954-0254

http://www.ailalawyer.com

The AILA search engine may be used to assist

individuals in narrowing their choices in selecting a

private immigration attorney. The attorneys do not

provide pro bono services.

Cases Handled: Lawyer referral service for private

immigration attorneys.

ASIAN AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION

87 Tyler Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111

Tel: (617) 426-9492

Fax: (617) 482-2316

TTY: (617) 426-9157

[email protected]

http://www.aaca-boston.org

Cases Handled: AACA is recognized as a voluntary

agency by the United States Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS). AACA provides

counseling on initial entry into the United States,

immigrant visa processing, change of status, application

procedure for citizenship, and petitioning to bring

family members to the United States.

Immigration Clinic: The Immigration Clinic is held on

Fridays at the AACA office. No appointment is

necessary, the clinic is held on a first-come, first-served

walk-in basis. The clinic is free for AACA Friends and

there are additional fees for petitions and applications.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF

BOSTON

Phone: (617) 464-8100; ask for Consultation for

Immigration Department

Clinic hours: Appointment ONLY. There is no longer a

walk-in clinic.

Callers must call on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. ONLY to

schedule an appointment.

Currently not accepting new asylum cases.

Cases Handled: Low-income referrals from within

Greater Boston areas. Handle immigration applications;

represents clients before U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services and the Immigration Court.

Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff. Other languages

available.

Clinic: For attorney consultation. By appointment only.

Consult fee is $50; fee can be waived in extreme cases.

Fees: Additional nominal fee depending on case type.

CENTRO PRESENTE

17 Inner Belt Road, Somerville, MA 02143

Phone: (857) 256-2981

Fax: (617) 629-2436

http://www.cpresente.org

Cases Handled: Legal immigration services including

Deferred Action (DACA), NACARA, TPS, family-

based petitions, work permit renewals, fingerprints,

adjustment of status, citizenship applications.

Provides: Spanish, English, and citizenship classes.

Will also refer clients to private attorneys.

Languages spoken: Spanish, English.

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES

AND COUNSELING CENTER

1 West Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

http://www.clsacc.org

Phone: (617) 661-1010

Fax: (617) 661-3289

Service Area: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline,

Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Somerville,

Watertown

Cases Handled:

Immigration: Services available statewide. Special

Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) Unit is open for both the

immigration and probate process to juveniles under age

sixteen. If juveniles are over sixteen, the probate

process must already be taken care of; otherwise they

will be referred elsewhere.

GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES

IMMIGRATION UNIT

197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114

http://www.gbls.org

Tel: (617) 371-1234; (800) 323-3205

TTY: (617) 371-1228

Fax: (617) 371-1222

Service Area: Services are available statewide but

concentrated in the Greater Boston area. Callers may be

directed to other programs.

**Closed except for VAWA, U Visa, SIJ, Haitian TPS,

and DACA**

Cases Handled: GBLS Immigration Unit will handle

asylum cases; cases involving domestic violence,

CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES 

Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

615

sexual assault, and other crimes; and unaccompanied

minors. Telephone intake messages can be left

requesting callbacks at (617) 603-1808 and calls will be

returned as time permits.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW

ENGLAND

(previously International Institute of Boston)

2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116

(617) 695-9990

15 Warren Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852

(978) 459-9031

http://www.iine.org

Case Management: IINE serves refugees and new

immigrants who are overwhelmingly low-income with

limited support networks. IINE offers unique services

to persecuted immigration populations including

refugees, asylees, parolees, unaccompanied immigrant

minors reunifying with family, and victims of human

trafficking. They have site-specific programming

focusing on refugee youth, Central American minors,

and Haitian community members. Their staff designs

services to address each individual’s distinct social,

emotional, legal, and vocational needs.

IRISH INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANT

CENTER

(previously Irish Immigration Center)

1 State Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02109

(617) 542-7654

http://www.iiicenter.org

Cases Handled: Provides legal counsel, representation

and referrals for immigrants on issues related to U.S.

immigration and citizenship. Services are provided

regardless of legal status or ability to pay. IIIC’s

Immigration Legal Services also provides some social

services, English language classes, and cross-cultural

education programming.

**FREE legal clinics on immigration and U.S.

citizenship issues. Call in advance to confirm clinics are

being held.**

MASSACHUSETTS IMMIGRANT AND

REFUGEE ADVOCACY COALITION (MIRA)

http://www.miracoalition.org

MIRA works to advocate for the rights and

opportunities of immigrants and refugees. In

partnership with its members, MIRA advances this

mission through education, training, leadership

development, organizing, policy analysis, and

advocacy. The website contains lists of legal services

providers, government agencies, and other immigration

organizations.

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD

14 Beacon Street, Suite 407, Boston, MA 02108

(617) 227-7008

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.nlgmasslawyers.org

Intake: (Speakers in English only) Mon.–Fri. 9:00

a.m.–4:00 p.m. Clients can leave message or complete

an online form at any time. No walk-in service.

Service Area: Massachusetts

Immigration Law Workshops provide participants with

information on basic immigration law including:

prerally concerns, right to legal representation, visas,

citizenship, traveling, criminal convictions, and

admissions to criminal court, and detention and

deportation. Contact nlgmass[email protected] or (617) 227-

2335.

Cases Handled: Attorneys are available who speak

Spanish and other languages. Geared to low- and

moderate-income clients. Attorneys cover most areas of

law including criminal, civil rights, disability, domestic,

and employment. Initial phone calls are free, while

attorneys set their own fees on a case-by-case basis.

POLITICAL ASYLUM / IMMIGRATION

REPRESENTATION (PAIR) PROJECT

14 Beacon Street, #840A, Boston, MA 02108

(617) 742-9296 (ask for Detention Project)

Detention Program appointments:

[email protected]

Pro Bono Asylum Program appointments:

[email protected]

http://www.pairproject.org

Cases Handled: Provides free legal services to secure

the safety and freedom of asylum seekers and to

promoting the rights of immigration detainees. They

provide free legal representation of asylum-seekers and

immigration detainees, referrals to reduced-fee private

immigration and pro bono attorneys, “Know Your

Rights” presentations to communities and legal

orientation in detention. PAIR also runs the Asylum

intake project funded by Cummings Foundation.

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616 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

PART 13—SERVICES FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER,

QUEER (LGBTQ+) SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The organizations below specialize in providing legal resources and support for LGBTQ+ individuals, both

pertaining to interpersonal sexual violence and instances of discrimination.

EMERGE: COUNSELING & EDUCATION

TO STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2464 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 101

Cambridge, MA 02140

Phone: (617) 547-9879

Fax: (617) 547-0904

E-mail: info@emergedv.com

http://www.emergedv.com

Services provided: Emerge is a certified “Batterer

Intervention” program. Emerge provides support,

counseling, and education for domestic abusers and

survivors. They have developed services for Lesbian,

Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) abusers. LGBT

persons should call the office and make an

appointment.

FENWAY VIOLENCE RECOVERY PROGRAM

(VRP)

Phone: (617) 927-6250

Toll-Free: (800) 834-3242 (Option for anonymous

reporting of a hate crime or same-sex domestic

violence)

1340 Boylston Street, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., Fri. 8:00

a.m.–5:00 p.m.

75 Kneeland Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02111

Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Fri. 9:00

a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Walk-ins on Fridays from 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

Counseling and Advocacy services are also offered in

Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod. All calls may be

directed to the main phone line.

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.fenwayhealth.org

Services provided: The VRP provides counseling,

advocacy, and referral services to lesbian, gay, bisexual

and transgender (LGBT) victims of bias crime,

domestic violence, sexual assault, and police

misconduct. Other services include a support group for

LGBT domestic violence and sexual assault survivors,

sexual assault, advocacy with the courts and police, and

assistance with victim compensation. VRP provides

short-term counseling to survivors and their families,

and referrals to longer-term counseling through our

mental health department. They frequently accompany

crime victims to court to assist in obtaining restraining

orders or for hearings or trials on criminal cases, and

may also accompany clients to police stations to file

police reports.

GAY & LESBIAN ADVOCATES & DEFENDERS

(GLAD)

30 Winter Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02108

(617) 426-1350

(800) 455-GLAD

http://www.glad.org

Intake: Mon.–Fri. 1:30–4:30 p.m., English or Spanish.

Hotline provides legal information and civil and

criminal referrals to private attorneys; client negotiates

fee with attorney.

Cases Handled: Impact litigation on civil rights issues

related to sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS, and gender

identity and expression: family law, same-sex

marriages and civil unions, employment discrimination,

housing discrimination, HIV privacy, transgender,

youth, and schools.

THE NETWORK/LA RED

PO Box 6011 Boston, MA 02114

Office: (617) 695-0877

Fax: (617) 423-5651

Hotline: (617) 742-4911

Toll-Free Hotline: (800) 832-1901

TTY: (617) 227-4911

E-mail: info@thenetworklared.org

http://tnlr.org/en

Services provided: The Network/La Red is a survivor-

led, social justice organization that works to end partner

abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, BDSM,

polyamorous, and queer communities. The Network/La

Red has a bilingual English/Spanish hotline that

provides confidential support, information, and referrals

to partner abuse survivors. There is an emergency

shelter for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and/or

transgender (LGBQ/T), their children, and pets.

Advocates are also available to accompany clients in

court, assist with safety planning and victim

compensation, provide support and crisis intervention.

This program can assist with accessing medical, legal,

housing, or other social services.

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617

PART 14—INTERNET RESOURCES

There are many Internet resources containing family law information and guidance. This is an alphabetical list of

sites intended to assist legal services advocates and clients. It is by no means exhaustive.

The Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative

(CLAVC)

https://massclavc.org

CLAVC helps victims of crime throughout

Massachusetts with their related civil legal problems—

including family law, housing, immigration, disability

rights, child welfare, education, consumer, identity theft,

employment rights, and public benefits.

Six regional CLAVC-funded legal aid programs offer a

wide variety of civil legal services to victims of crime

who live in that program’s geographic service area.

Services include housing, public benefits, family law,

immigration, consumer law, health law, disability law,

education, elder law, veterans rights, employment

rights, and more.

Three statewide CLAVC-funded legal aid programs

offer specialized civil legal services to victims of crime

in the areas of children’s rights, disability rights, and

rape and sexual assault.

To get help from a CLAVC lawyer, applicant must: (1)

be a victim or a survivor of a crime; (2) have a civil

(noncriminal) legal problem that is a result of that

crime; and (3) live in Massachusetts, or the legal

problem must be in Massachusetts.

The crime does not need to have been reported to the

police or prosecuted.

Aunt Bertha

https://www.auntbertha.com

Aunt Bertha allows users to search by Zip code for free

or reduced-cost services such as medical care, food, job

training, and more.

Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/child-support-

professionals

The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)

promotes effective child support enforcement tools and

family-centered customer service. Their website offers a

profile of each state’s child support enforcement laws

and agencies. It also has a variety of policy documents,

news releases, and the full text of federal regulations

governing establishment of paternity.

Action for Boston Community Development

(ABCD)

http://www.bostonabcd.org

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) is

Boston’s antipoverty agency, serving more than

100,000 low-income Greater Boston residents through

its citywide network of neighborhood-based

organizations. ABCD provides innovative, timely

programs that promote upward mobility and a higher

quality of life for people and communities. While

ABCD’s overall focus remains long-term self-

sufficiency, they understand that sometimes, things

happen. ABCD offers a number of programs that help

families through these times of crisis, including fuel

assistance in winter, food pantries, and rental

assistance.

Children’s Rights Council

http://www.crckids.org

The Children’s Rights Council believes that “the best

parent is both parents.” Its site includes information

about current legislation relating to child custody and

support, and has the full text of related federal bills. The

site also includes the text of the Children’s Bill of

Rights.

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)

https://www.clasp.org

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a

national nonprofit that works to improve the lives of

low-income people. CLASP’s mission is to improve the

economic security, educational and workforce

prospects, and family stability of low-income parents,

children, and youth and to secure equal justice for all.

Their website has a variety of resources.

Council of State Governments Justice

https://cleanslateclearinghouse.org/

The Council of State Governments Justice has many

features including: (1) summarizing record clearing law

for each state, to assist new advocates and laypeople;

(2) providing advocates with legal and other resources;

and (3) identifying organizations at which people with

records can seek advice and representation.

Coming Home Directory

http://www.cominghomedirectory.org

Coming Home Directory provides extensive

information on social and legal services available to ex-

offenders returning to or living in communities in

Greater Boston.

Massachusetts Courts Self-Help Center

https://www.mass.gov/topics/courts-self-help-center

The Courts Self-Help Center provides information on

how the Massachusetts court system operates, how to

find a lawyer, and how to locate other legal services.

The site provides extensive information on civil

appeals, abuse and harassment court orders, criminal

law, family matters, guardianship, housing, name

changes, small claims, traffic tickets, and probate of

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618 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

wills and estates. Additionally the site provides a

glossary of court terms, advice for preparing for court,

and representing yourself in a civil case.

Massachusetts Network of Information Providers

for People with Disabilities (MNIP)

https://www.disabilityinfo.org/resources/mnip

The Massachusetts Network of Information Providers

for People with Disabilities (MNIP), coordinated by

INDEX, is a collaborative effort of more than 130

agencies in Massachusetts. Network members

disseminate disability-specific information and make

referrals to the public for free.

DivorceNet

http://www.divorcenet.com

This site offers state-specific articles, an online

community, and a nationwide directory of divorce

lawyers, mediators, and financial professionals.

Employee Benefits Security Administration—

Determining Qualified Status and Paying Benefits

FAQs

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-

activities/resource-center/faqs/qdro-determining-

qualified-status-and-paying-benefits

This site provides general information about qualified

domestic relations orders (QDROs). A QDRO allows

one spouse to assign some or all of his or her pension

benefits to the other spouse, children, or other

dependents to satisfy family support or marital property

obligations.

Emerge

http://www.emergedv.com

Emerge was the first abuser education program in the

United States. Since its creation, Emerge has been a

national leader in working to end violence in intimate

relationships. Emerge works to educate individuals

abusers, prevent abuse, improve institutional responses

to domestic violence, and increase public awareness

about the causes and solutions to partner violence. The

Emerge website is designed to offer information on

services they offer, such as abuser education services

and training materials. It also answers frequently asked

questions about abuse. The website provides links to

websites that can be good resources for finding more

information on domestic violence, for locating help for

victim/survivor resources, or for general research.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)

http://www.glad.org

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is

New England’s leading legal rights organization

dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual

orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and

expression. Providing litigation, advocacy, and

educational work in all areas of gay, lesbian, bisexual,

and transgender civil rights and the rights of people

living with HIV, GLAD has a full-time legal staff and a

network of cooperating attorneys across New England.

Their website provides resources and links for many

areas of the law.

Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects

of International Child Abduction

https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/fu

ll-text/?cid=24

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of

International Child Abduction aims to secure the return

of children who are wrongfully removed or retained in

a contract state and ensure that custody rights are

respected in both contracting states and throughout the

return process. A list of contracting states (those who

have ratified the convention) is also listed on this site.

Health Care for All

https://www.hcfama.org

Health Care for All is an organization that seeks to

create a consumer-centered health-care system that

provides comprehensive, affordable, accessible,

culturally competent, high-quality care and consumer

education for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

Their website has information regarding health-care

options and health insurance rights. They can provide

information and referral to appropriate health care

programs including MassHealth, Free Care, DET

Medical Security Plan, and prescription drug assistance.

Health Law Advocates (HLA)

https://www.healthlawadvocates.org

Health Law Advocates (HLA) is a nonprofit public

interest law firm whose mission is to provide pro bono

legal representation to low income residents

experiencing difficulty accessing or paying for needed

medical services. HLA provides free legal services to

clients including representation and class-action

litigation. They specialize in challenging denials of

health insurance (commercial and public), denials of

coverage, protecting patients from illegal billing and

collection practices and obtaining health care through

state agencies and school systems. Their website

includes information on intake procedure and resources

including a guide to appeals and mental health parity

tool kit.

IdentityTheft.gov

http://identitytheft.gov

One-stop website offers array of new tools for identifi-

cation theft victims. Free recovery plans will assist

consumers in alerting police, credit agencies, and IRS.

Jane Doe Inc.

http://www.janedoe.org

Jane Doe Inc. brings together organizations and people

committed to ending domestic violence and sexual

assault. They advocate for responsive public policy,

promote collaboration, raise public awareness, and

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Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

619

support member organizations to provide

comprehensive prevention and intervention services.

Jane Doe Inc. runs a website that includes information

and resources regarding domestic violence, safety

planning, and sexual assault. There are also extensive

links to other organizations, such as local and national

government agencies and advocacy coalitions. There

are also links regarding elder abuse, batterers

intervention, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender

resources, kids/teens resources, men’s initiatives, and

victim assistance.

Legal Information Institute—Uniform Matrimonial

and Family Laws Locator

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol9.html

This site will help you locate state laws on the Internet

that correspond to uniform matrimonial, family, and

health laws. Examples of the references here include:

Uniform Adoption Act, Uniform Alcoholism and

Intoxication Treatment Act, Uniform Child Custody

Jurisdiction Act, Uniform Civil Liability for Support

Act, Uniform Divorce Recognition Act, Uniform Duties

to Disabled Persons Act, Model Health Care Consent

Act, Uniform Health Care Information Act, Interstate

Family Support Act, and the Uniform Controlled

Substances Act.

Mass.gov Trial Court Libraries

http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/law-lib

This is the state trial court law libraries website. It has

information on numerous legal issues and a section

where clients can ask a librarian.

Legal Resource Finder

http://www.masslrf.org

Screens applicants and provides contact information for

legal aid programs, nonprofits, government agencies

and court based programs that may be able to help with

legal issues. Provides links to legal information and

self-help materials.

Massachusetts Legal Answers Online

http://www.masslao.org

Massachusetts Legal Answers Online is a website

where low-income Massachusetts residents can post

their civil (noncriminal) legal question. Volunteer

attorneys will answer the question through the same

website.

MassLegalServices

http://www.masslegalservices.org

MassLegalServices provides resources and information

about legal issues facing lower-income Massachusetts

residents to advocates and social service professionals. In

addition to the public site, staff members of legal

services organizations can create an account and access

extensive resources and information contributed by

numerous programs statewide.

MassLegalHelp

http://www.masslegalhelp.org

MassLegalHelp offers basic information and resources

for low-income clients. It is client friendly and offers

resources in different languages. The site also has a

search engine that helps clients find legal services in

their area.

MASS 211

http://www.mass211.org

Website where clients can access social services agency

phone numbers throughout the state.

Mass.gov

http://www.mass.gov

Website for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Clients can access information about all three branches

of state government.

Child Support Enforcement Division (CSE)

http://www.mass.gov/cse

The Child Support Enforcement Division (CSE) of the

Massachusetts Department of Revenue aims to make a

difference in the lives of children by enforcing the

financial responsibilities of parenthood. The CSE is

here to assist parents in establishing paternity and child

support orders, collecting child support, and asking

courts to adjust child support orders when

circumstances change. This site offers information

about state programs and a child support application

form online.

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

http://www.mass.gov/dta

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is

the state agency responsible for administering public

assistance programs for needy citizens of the

Commonwealth. The DTA provides food assistance,

job assistance, cash assistance, emergency shelters, and

domestic violence assistance.

Department of Children and Families (DCF)

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-

department-of-children-families

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) works

in partnership with families and communities to keep

children safe from abuse and neglect. Their website

contains information on their programs, services, and

locations around the Commonwealth.

Mass.gov Domestic Violence Programs

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/domestic-

violence-programs

State and national resources for victims of domestic

violence and professionals who deal with it.

MASSCAP

https://www.masscap.org

Provides access to the various of community action

programs throughout Massachusetts. The MASSCAP

programs are typically organized regionally.

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620 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

(NCMEC)

http://www.missingkids.com

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

(NCMEC) is a nonprofit whose mission is to help find

missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and

prevent child victimization. The site contains detailed

information on federal laws regarding the sexual

exploitation of children. The NCMEC’s Family

Abduction Unit consists of case management teams

which provide legal technical information and support

for families. This unit would be especially useful in the

event that custody battles result in parental abductions.

NCMEC has additional resources for international

family abductions, child runaways.

National Legal Resource Center

https://nlrc.acl.gov

General information on a national level about numerous

legal issues that impact elders.

National Consumer Law Center

http://www.nclc.org

National Consumer Law Center works with nonprofit

and legal services organizations, private attorneys,

policymakers, and federal and state governments and

courts to stop exploitative practices, help financially

stressed families build and retain wealth, and advance

economic fairness. The website work covers a broad

range of issues, including consumer protection, unfair

and deceptive acts and practices, privacy rights, civil

rights, and employment.

Professional Academy of Custody Experts (PACE)

http://pace411.com

The Professional Academy of Custody Experts (PACE)

is a private, nonprofit organization devoted to

registering custody evaluators based on specific criteria

and disseminating information concerning the

education, training, and experience of registered

evaluators. The site contains information on materials

and resources to be used in evaluating custody and

useful links to related sites.

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

http://www.povertylaw.org

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

works to advance laws and policies to secure justice

and improve the lives and opportunities of people living

in poverty. The site contains many online resources and

links to related websites. They also provide the

Clearinghouse Community, a space for advocates to

connect and share tools and resources for advocating on

the behalf of low-income people. Additionally, they

publish monthly articles with information and analysis

of poverty law, advocacy strategy, and legal theories.

An archive of fifty years’ worth of articles can be found

on their website.

Project Bread

http://www.projectbread.org

Project Bread provides information concerning hunger

and health. It helps individuals enroll in state and

federal nutrition programs and refer them to local food

resources. Their website has helpful links to resources

like GettingSNAP.org, and Meals4Kids and the

FoodSource Hotline, which provides statewide

information and referrals for people facing hunger.

Social Security Administration

http://www.ssa.gov

The Social Security Administration website provides

online resources for advocates and those receiving

benefits through SSA.

National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan

Borrower Assistance Project

http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org

The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan

Borrower Assistance Project is a resource for

borrowers, their families, and advocates representing

student loan borrowers. The website features a wide

range of questions and answers about student debt.

Support Kids

http://www.supportkids.com

Support Kids is a resource if you would rather not rely

on the state to collect arrearages. This private company

will, for a fee, help collect court-ordered child support.

Pension Action Center

https://www.umb.edu/pensionaction

The Pension Action Center is part of UMass Boston’s

Gerontology Institute. It strives to improve retirees’ and

workers’ standard of living in retirement through

individual case advocacy, referrals, issue analysis, and

reform of public policy.

National Association of Working Women

http://www.9to5.org

The National Association of Working Women is a

national organization dedicated to putting working

women’s issues on the public agenda. 9to5’s

constituents are low-wage women, women in

traditionally female jobs, and those who have

experienced any form of discrimination. The website

offers resources and links regarding employment.

CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES 

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621

PART 15—MISCELLANEOUS

For access to more resources, visit the MassCAP website (http://www.masscap.org), Mass 211

(http://www.mass211.org), or Aunt Bertha (http://www.auntbertha.com). In addition to the Legal Services in Part 2,

the Internet Resources in Part 14, and the social services section of the ERLI Intake Update, this is a list of other

social service agencies.

Food, Clothing, Nutrition, Housing

Good Neighbor Energy Fund

Eastern Massachusetts: (800) 334-3047

Western Massachusetts: (800) 262-1320

http://www.magoodneighbor.org

Fuel assistance to low-income families during the

winter months.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

(617) 573-1100

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/low-income-

home-energy-assistance-program-liheap

Fuel assistance to low-income families during the

winter months.

WIC

Statewide Hotline: (800) WIC-1007 (942-1007)

Food for low- or moderate-income pregnant women

and children under five

Also assistance with nutritional issues, child health and

parenting.

Health

AIDS Action Committee

Main Office: (617) 437-6200

Cambridge Office: (617) 661-3040

Hours: (Boston) Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

(Cambridge) Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

http://www.aac.org

Information, referrals and support for HIV- and AIDS-

related issues.

Al-Anon

(508) 366-0556

E-mail: [email protected]

http://ma-al-anon-alateen.org

Support for family members affected by alcoholism or

other substance abuses

Alcohol and Drug Hotline

(800) 327-5050

TTY: 888-448-8321

Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Weekends 8:00

a.m.–6:00 p.m.

http://www.helpline-online.com

The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and

Education Helpline provides free and confidential

information and referral for alcohol and other drug

abuse problems and related concerns. Language

interpreters are always available.

Children’s Medical Security Plan

(800) 841-2900

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/insurance/more-

programs/childrens-medical-security-plan.html

Provides certain uninsured children and adolescents

under the age of 19 with primary and preventive

medical and dental coverage.

Health Care for All

(800) 272-4232

https://www.hcfama.org

Advocacy and help with getting health care.

Languages: Spanish, Portuguese

Planned Parenthood

Greater Boston Health Center: (800) 258-4448

Office: (617) 616-1660

Patient Services: (617) 616-1600

Hotline: (617) 616-1616

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-

parenthood-massachusetts

Referrals for reproductive health services and

information.

Health Insurance and Governmental

Assistance

Healthy Start

(888) 488-9161

Healthy Start is a free health insurance program for

pregnant uninsured low-income women. The program

offers early, complete prenatal care to pregnant women

and their unborn children.

MassHealth Customer Service Center

(800) 841-2900

E-mail: providersuppor[email protected]

Medicaid/MassHealth

(800) 682-1062

(800) 841-2900

TTY: (800) 497-4648

Health insurance for eligible families.

Languages: Spanish, Chinese, Khmer, Portuguese,

Vietnamese, Russian

 CHAPTER 20: RESOURCES

622 Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 3rd Edition 2018

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

(800) 772-1213

Financial assistance for eligible children and adults

with disabilities.

Parenting and Family Support

Children’s Trust Fund

(617) 727-8957

Fax: (617) 727-8997

http://childrenstrustma.org

Referrals to parent education programs and support

groups.

Early Intervention Services Program

(617) 624-5975

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/progr

ams/family-health/early-intervention/

Developmental assessment, intervention and family

support services for children under three.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

(617) 748-2454

http://www.massgrg.com/web/index.html

Referrals to support groups for grandparents raising

their grandchildren; free resource directory.

Language: Spanish

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty

to Children

(617) 983-5800

http://www.mspcc.org

Information and referrals to child abuse prevention and

home visiting services.

Parental Stress Line

(800) 632-8188

E-mail: info@parentshelpingparents.org

Toll-free 24/7 confidential helpline including

counseling, support and information for parents.

Translator services available.

Confidential counseling, support and information for

parents.

The author acknowledges Christine A. Makuwa, a fourth-year student at Tufts University, and Rita K. Donohoe,

with AmeriCorps Legal Advocates of Massachusetts, for their assistance in updating this chapter for the 2018

Edition.