Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are a single mother in Colorado and you cannot afford a lawyer, start with Colorado Legal Services for civil legal aid and the Colorado court help pages for forms and self-help information. Civil legal aid may help with eviction, protection orders, custody, child support, consumer debt, public benefits, and some immigration-related safety issues. It is not the same as a public defender.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Court staff, legal-aid workers, and advocates can explain steps and forms, but only a lawyer who knows your case can give legal advice.
Urgent help if you may lose housing, safety, or court rights
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If abuse, stalking, sexual violence, or threats are part of your legal problem, contact a local advocate before taking steps that could put you at more risk. You can use Violence Free Colorado to find community-based domestic violence programs. The Colorado DV Program also explains that Colorado funds no-cost, voluntary, confidential advocacy programs across the state.
If you have an eviction summons, do not wait for a callback from one office. Contact Colorado Legal Services, check the court date on your papers, and use eviction court help for court forms and hearing steps. For rent help tied to eviction risk, check Colorado rental help and call Colorado Housing Connects at 844-926-6632 through housing navigation.
Where to start
Start with the problem that has the fastest deadline. Court papers, protection order hearings, eviction dates, wage deadlines, and child support notices can move faster than benefit programs. Keep every paper you get. Take pictures of notices, envelopes, texts, emails, receipts, and court papers.
If you need a free civil lawyer
Apply or call through Colorado Legal Services. They screen for income, issue type, conflict checks, and available staff. Help may be advice, document help, a clinic, or full representation.
If you need court forms
Use the official Colorado court forms page. The court updates forms, so avoid old copies from third-party sites.
If you need a private lawyer
Use the Colorado Bar Association lawyer directory. Ask about a short paid consult, payment plans, or limited-scope help.
Quick legal help table
| Problem | Start here | What to have ready | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eviction notice or summons | CLS, court self-help, housing navigator | Lease, notice, summons, rent ledger, proof of payments | Go to court even if you are waiting for legal aid. |
| Protection order | Court forms and local advocate | Incident notes, police reports if any, child details, safe contact method | A temporary order is not the final hearing. Read every court date. |
| Custody or parenting time | Court family forms and CLS intake | Child information, current orders, school records, proposed schedule | Court staff can explain forms, not strategy. |
| Child support | Colorado Child Support Services | Parent names, child information, income, existing orders | Changing support usually needs a real change, not just frustration. |
| Debt, garnishment, or scams | CLS consumer help, court forms, Attorney General | Court papers, debt letters, pay stubs, bank records | Do not ignore a debt lawsuit because it looks wrong. |
Free civil legal aid in Colorado
Colorado Legal Services is the main statewide nonprofit legal-aid program for low-income Coloradans. CLS says help may include attorney advice, help filing your own case, or full representation if you qualify and resources are available. Its practice areas include housing, family law, protection orders, economic justice, public benefits, tax, and other civil legal issues through what CLS does.
Apply online or call your nearest office through the CLS get-help page. Denver-area callers can use 303-837-1313, but the right office depends on your county. If English is not your strongest language, ask for language help when you contact them.
What CLS may not be able to do
Legal aid has limits. They may not take your case if you are over income, the office has a conflict, your issue is outside their work, or they do not have staff. Still apply early. If they cannot represent you, ask whether they know a clinic, self-help center, pro bono project, or limited-scope lawyer.
Court self-help, forms, and fee waivers
The Colorado Judicial Branch has self-help pages by topic, including family cases, housing cases, garnishments, protection orders, small claims, and filing fees. Use court self-help when you need to understand the process and court forms when you need the current form packet.
Do not use old forms from a random site if an official Colorado form exists. Court forms can change, and the Judicial Branch posts form updates. If you cannot afford court fees, read the fee waiver page. Some people who receive public benefits such as TANF, SNAP, or SSI may have a simpler way to show need on the fee waiver form.
If you need help understanding forms, ask the clerk where the self-help center or self-represented litigant coordinator is for your court. Court staff can explain process and point you to forms. They cannot tell you what to say, what evidence to use, or whether your case will win.
Custody, parenting time, child support, and divorce
Family law is one of the most common reasons single mothers need legal help. Colorado courts call child custody “allocation of parental responsibilities,” or APR. If you were not married and need to start or respond to a parenting plan case, use the official parenting plan forms. If you are married or in a civil union and need divorce or legal separation forms, use the court’s family case pages instead of guessing which packet fits.
For child support services, Colorado has an online state application. The state says parents and caretakers can apply through child support services. County child support offices can help establish parentage, set up support and medical orders, collect and distribute payments, locate parents, and work on enforcement. This is not the same as having a private lawyer for custody.
If a child support order already exists and circumstances changed, the court’s change support page explains that a change generally must be substantial and continuing. The court page says a substantial change is one that would change the child support amount by at least 10 percent when recalculated. Do not stop paying or stop following an order because you filed a motion. Keep following the current order unless the court changes it.
Safety and child support
If contacting the other parent or opening a child support case could put you or your children in danger, talk to a domestic violence advocate or legal aid before you act. Ask about safe contact information, confidentiality, and whether any public-benefit rules apply to your case.
Protection orders and safety-aware legal help
A protection order can be an urgent legal tool, but it is not a full safety plan. If you need one, start with the Colorado court page on getting protection orders. The court page explains temporary orders, service on the restrained person, and the later permanent protection order hearing. If domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking is involved, the court lists no filing fee for those cases.
Survivor advocates can help you think through safety, shelter, documents, and court accompaniment. Project Safeguard provides legal advocacy and court support for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in parts of the Denver metro area. Violence Free Colorado can help you find a local community program outside the metro area.
If you are worried that court or public records could expose your address, ask an advocate about Colorado’s Address Confidentiality Program. The address confidentiality page from Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center explains that eligible victims may be able to use a legal substitute address for mail, driver’s license, and voter registration.
Eviction, rent problems, and housing legal help
If you receive a demand, notice, summons, or court paper from your landlord, act the same day. Read the paper for the court, date, case number, and what the landlord is asking for. The Colorado Judicial Branch eviction help page tells renters to be early or on time for court and bring lease papers, notices, rent receipts, emails, photos, and other proof.
Apply for legal help through CLS and ask whether your county has an eviction clinic on your court date. Also call Colorado Housing Connects for housing navigation and legal referrals. If you are behind on rent and at risk of eviction, check DOLA’s rental assistance updates. Funding and selection rules can change, so confirm the current process before relying on it.
Keep moving even if a rent application is pending. Rental help does not automatically stop a court case. If you miss the hearing, you may lose rights you still had. If you get payment proof, a case number, or an appointment with a housing navigator, bring that proof to court.
Debt, wage problems, scams, and discrimination
If you are sued for debt, served with garnishment papers, or facing a bank freeze, do not ignore the papers. CLS has consumer rights help for topics such as garnishment and debt disputes. The Colorado court forms page also has forms for money cases and garnishments.
For unpaid wages, missed paid sick leave, meal or rest break issues, or worker misclassification concerns, the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics may be able to help. Start with the state’s worker rights page. It explains wage complaints and misclassification complaints.
For scams, unfair business conduct, debt collection concerns, and consumer complaints, use the Colorado Attorney General complaint page. A complaint to the Attorney General is not the same as hiring a lawyer for your personal case, but it can help the state track patterns and may point you to the right agency.
If the problem is discrimination in housing, work, or public places, the Colorado Civil Rights Division handles complaints under state civil rights laws. Start with the state civil rights page. Deadlines can matter, so do not wait until the problem is months old before asking for help.
Criminal charges and public defenders
Civil legal aid does not replace a public defender. If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford a lawyer, use the Colorado court page on how to apply for defender. The court says adults use JDF 208 and juveniles use JDF 219, and there is no filing fee for the application.
Do not skip court because you have not finished the public defender paperwork. If you are confused about a criminal court date, call the court clerk or the public defender office listed for your area. If you have both a criminal case and a custody or protection order case, tell any lawyer or advocate about both, because one case can affect the other.
Documents to gather before you call
You do not need every document to ask for help. Still, having the basics ready can make intake easier and reduce delays.
| Issue | Helpful documents | Do not wait for |
|---|---|---|
| Custody or support | Current orders, child birth certificates, school or daycare records, income proof, messages about parenting time | Perfect notes. Start with what you have. |
| Protection order | Incident timeline, police report number if any, medical photos if safe, threatening messages, child information | Police charges. A civil protection order can be separate. |
| Eviction | Lease, notices, summons, rent ledger, receipts, repair requests, photos, payment proof | Rental aid approval. Court may still move. |
| Debt or garnishment | Court papers, debt letters, pay stubs, bank notices, proof of benefits income | Collector promises by phone. Get things in writing. |
| Work or discrimination | Pay stubs, schedule, texts, emails, written policies, names of witnesses, dates | A signed statement from everyone. Your own records matter. |
Use 211 when you need more than legal help
Many legal problems are tied to rent, food, child care, transportation, or safety. Use 211 Colorado to look for local shelter, rent help, food, child care, and other referrals. 211 is not a lawyer, but it can help you find local support while your legal issue is pending.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
If one legal-aid office cannot help, ask why. The reason matters. If it is income, ask about low-cost or limited-scope attorneys. If it is a conflict, ask for other referrals. If it is lack of staff, ask about clinics, courthouse help, or written guides.
If you cannot get a lawyer before court, still use official forms, attend the hearing, and ask the court what options exist for people without lawyers. Bring your documents in order. Write a one-page timeline with dates. Make copies for yourself and the other side when required.
If your case involves benefits, housing, food, or health coverage, use related assistance while the legal problem is open. For Colorado benefit paths, ASMOM also has guides to Colorado grants guide, Colorado SNAP help, Colorado TANF help, and Colorado health coverage.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing court. Go to the hearing even if you are scared, waiting for a lawyer, or trying to get rent help.
- Using old forms. Download forms from the official court site the same week you file.
- Ignoring service rules. Filing a paper is not always enough. Many cases require proper service on the other party.
- Sharing unsafe contact information. If safety is a concern, ask an advocate about safer ways to receive mail and court notices.
- Relying on a phone promise. Ask agencies, landlords, collectors, and employers to put important agreements in writing.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling Colorado Legal Services
“Hi, I am a single mother in Colorado. I need help with [custody/eviction/protection order/debt]. My next deadline is [date]. Can I complete intake, and is there a clinic or urgent referral if your office cannot take the case?”
Calling the court self-help center
“Hi, I am representing myself. I have a case about [topic]. Can you tell me which official forms page applies, how to ask for a fee waiver, and whether your court has self-help hours?”
Calling a housing navigator
“Hi, I have an eviction notice or summons and I am behind on rent. My court date is [date]. Can you help me find rental assistance, tenant legal referrals, and what proof I should bring to court?”
Calling a domestic violence advocate
“Hi, I need help thinking through safety and court options. I may need a protection order, but I am worried about my address and my children. Can I talk with an advocate confidentially?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda legal en Colorado, empiece con Colorado Legal Services para casos civiles como desalojo, custodia, manutención infantil, deudas y órdenes de protección. Use las páginas oficiales de la corte de Colorado para formularios actuales y ayuda de autoayuda. Si hay violencia doméstica, acoso o peligro, hable con una defensora antes de dar pasos que puedan aumentar el riesgo. Si tiene una fecha de corte, no falte aunque esté esperando una llamada.
FAQ
Can single mothers get a free lawyer in Colorado?
Some can, but it depends on income, case type, conflicts, and staff availability. Start with Colorado Legal Services. If they cannot take the case, ask for clinics, self-help centers, pro bono programs, or low-cost lawyer referrals.
Can court staff tell me what to file?
Court staff can point you to forms and explain court process. They cannot give legal advice, choose your strategy, or predict what the judge will do.
What should I do if I have an eviction court date?
Go to court on time, bring your lease, notices, rent proof, photos, and all papers. Contact legal aid and housing navigators before the hearing, but do not miss court because you are waiting for help.
Can I change child support if my income changed?
Maybe. Colorado courts generally require a substantial and continuing change. Use the official change-child-support forms and keep following the current order unless the court changes it.
Where can I get help with a protection order?
Use the Colorado Judicial Branch protection order page for forms and process. If abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or safety concerns are involved, contact a local advocate through Violence Free Colorado or another trusted domestic violence program.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.