Last updated: July 14, 2026
Bottom line
If you need civil legal help in Delaware, start with Legal Help Link. It is a free public service that asks about your problem and points you to a legal aid group, court resource, or other next step. Help is not promised. A group may look at your income, case type, location, deadlines, conflicts, and staff time.
Legal Help Link does not handle criminal cases, traffic tickets, or personal injury matters. If you face a criminal charge and cannot afford a lawyer, use the criminal defense intake from Delaware’s Office of Defense Services.
This guide covers custody, child support, protection orders, eviction, public benefits, work problems, disability rights, and other common civil issues. Our national legal help guide explains the main types of legal support.
This article gives general information, not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. A lawyer must review the facts of your case before giving advice.
If you need help today
Call 911 if you or a child is in immediate danger. If abuse, stalking, or threats may be involved, use a safer phone or computer when possible. Delaware’s 24-hour hotline list has confidential county hotlines. Services are available for people who need language help or Delaware Relay at 711.
- Eviction papers: Note the hearing date and contact legal aid now. Delaware tenants who are formally served have 15 days to begin the court’s eviction diversion process. Waiting for rent help does not stop the court case.
- Custody, support, or protection papers: Read the case number, court location, hearing date, and filing deadline. Call the Family Court listed on the papers.
- Benefits cut or denied: Read the notice and follow its appeal directions. A fair hearing request must be made in writing.
- Food, shelter, or bill crisis: Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Delaware 211 help is free and can connect you with local services.
Our Delaware emergency guide lists more help for urgent food, housing, and bill needs.
Where to start
Start with the problem that has the closest deadline. A court date, eviction case, agency appeal, wage claim, or protection request may have a short time limit. Write each date on one page and save a photo of every notice.
I have court papers
Find the court name, case number, hearing date, and response date. Call the court and legal aid. Do not rely only on a message left with one office.
I need a lawyer
Use Legal Help Link for civil matters. Use the Office of Defense Services for a criminal charge when jail may be a possible penalty and you cannot afford counsel.
I need forms
Use Delaware Courts forms and instruction packets. Court staff can explain filing steps, but they cannot tell you which legal choice is best.
I need practical help
Call 211 for shelter, food, child care, transportation, or bill help while the legal issue is being handled.
Quick legal help table
| Problem | First place to try | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil legal issue | Legal Help Link | Intake, brief advice, referral, or representation | Not every case is accepted. |
| Criminal charge | Office of Defense Services | Eligibility interview and appointed counsel | Adult eligibility depends on charge and finances. |
| Custody or visitation | Family Court | Required forms, filing steps, and legal aid | Forms are not legal advice. |
| Child support | DCSS and Family Court | Application, order, payment, or enforcement help | Support is not instant emergency cash. |
| Abuse or threats | Hotline and Family Court | Advocacy, shelter, and PFA information | A court order cannot promise safety. |
| Eviction case | JP Court and legal aid | Defense help and eviction diversion | Do not miss the hearing. |
| Benefits denied | DSS and legal aid | Written fair hearing request | Use the deadline on your notice. |
Free and low-cost civil legal help
Delaware has three main nonprofit civil legal aid groups. They work together through Legal Help Link. One intake may lead to advice, forms, a referral, or possible representation. The result depends on your facts and each group’s rules.
| Organization | Common help areas | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| CLASI legal services | Public benefits, disability rights, housing, family issues, domestic violence, and some immigration matters | Programs and eligibility differ by issue. |
| LSCD legal services | Housing, consumer debt, bankruptcy, foreclosure, unemployment, and financial stability | Call the county intake office to be screened. |
| DVLS legal help | Some family, domestic violence, guardianship, housing, and other civil matters | Volunteer lawyer space is limited. |
The Delaware court assistance page also lists lawyer referral options and a Limited Legal Assistance Program. That program may offer a one-time 15-minute meeting to an eligible person who represents herself. Availability and case types can change.
Make intake easier
Start with the deadline and problem. Say, “My hearing is on [date], my case is in [court], and I need help with [issue].” Then answer the intake questions. Long background details can come after the urgent facts.
Court forms, filing, and interpreters
Delaware Courts has one court forms page for forms from each court. Use the packet for your case type and read every instruction. A missing required form can delay filing.
Family Court says required papers may be filed in any Delaware county and then moved to the county that has authority over the case. The Family Court filing page explains in-person, mail, and email filing options. Resource Centers are available in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Family Court buildings.
If you need a spoken-language interpreter, American Sign Language, or Communication Access Realtime Translation, contact the court where the hearing will happen. The interpreter request page asks for 14 days’ notice when possible. Ask even if the hearing is sooner.
Filing fees depend on the court and case. If you cannot pay, ask the clerk whether a fee waiver form is available for your filing. Do not assume the fee is waived until the court approves it.
Custody, visitation, and child support
Delaware Family Court handles custody and visitation cases. The official custody forms page separates required forms from forms used only in certain cases. File only the forms that fit your situation and follow the service rules in the packet.
Custody and child support are separate issues. A parent may need orders for both. A custody order deals with care, decision-making, and time with a child. A support order deals with financial support.
The Delaware Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) helps with locating a parent, establishing paternity, creating or changing a support order, collecting payments, and enforcement. Use the child support portal to apply or manage a case. The customer service unit is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 302-577-7171.
The Family Court’s support forms page has court forms and directs people who are unsure to the Family Court Resource Center or an attorney. Our Delaware support guide explains the state process in more detail.
Child support cases can take time. If food, child care, or cash is the urgent need, also check Delaware child care and Delaware TANF help.
Protection orders and family safety
A Protection From Abuse order, often called a PFA, is a Family Court order that tells a person to stop abuse. It may include no-contact, stay-away, temporary child-related terms, or other relief allowed by the court. The PFA court guide explains the process and links to forms.
A PFA may be one part of a safety plan, but no order can promise safety. Talk with a trained advocate about court support, shelter, children, pets, transportation, and safe ways to receive calls or mail. Do not use a shared device if that could put you at risk.
The Delaware Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program may help eligible crime victims with some covered costs. Its victim compensation page lists expenses such as medical care, counseling, lost wages, and funeral costs. Approval and payment are not guaranteed.
For more state-specific support, use our Delaware safety guide or the broader domestic violence guide.
Eviction, rent, and unsafe housing
Most residential eviction cases are handled by Delaware’s Justice of the Peace Court. The court’s landlord-tenant page explains complaints, responses, hearings, appeals, and eviction diversion.
Eviction diversion is a required step for a landlord after filing a residential eviction case. A tenant may begin after the complaint is filed. Once formally served, the tenant has 15 days to register, log in, and take part. If the tenant does not act within that period, the landlord may be excused from taking part. The court hearing can still go forward.
The program offers direct online talks, help from a trained mediator, and mediation meetings. It does not provide a lawyer or force either side to agree. Get legal advice before signing an agreement when you can.
Delaware Legal Help Link has a separate eviction help page for tenants facing eviction or loss of a housing voucher or public housing. For rent, shelter, or subsidy programs, also use our Delaware housing guide.
Do not skip court
Do not miss a hearing because you are waiting for rental aid, mediation, or a legal aid call. Keep working on the court case and the money problem at the same time.
Benefits appeals and work problems
If SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, child care, or another state benefit is denied, reduced, delayed, or closed, read the notice. It should explain the reason, appeal method, and deadline. Delaware’s Division of Social Services says a fair hearing request must be in writing.
The DSS contact page gives the current fair hearing email and customer service details. Save the sent email, delivery proof, notice, and any papers you submit. Ask whether benefits can continue during the appeal, because that rule may depend on the program and when you ask.
Our benefits problem guide shows how to track notices, calls, records, and appeal steps.
For unpaid wages, job discrimination, unemployment, workplace injury, or pregnancy discrimination, use the Delaware worker resources page. Save schedules, pay stubs, time records, emails, texts, and names of witnesses. Our workplace rights guide explains common protections and where to ask for help.
Disability, school, immigration, and criminal issues
Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. has programs for public benefits and disability rights. A disability issue may involve access, housing, health benefits, services, or school support. Our disability help guide lists related benefit and advocacy paths.
School disputes may involve special education, discipline, enrollment, or records. Start with the school notice, ask for the policy or decision in writing, and keep copies of the child’s education records. Legal aid can tell you whether it handles that type of case.
Immigration rules can affect safety, work, and some benefits. Do not rely on social media or unlicensed helpers. Use Legal Help Link to find a qualified immigration legal service or licensed attorney. Ask about privacy before sharing documents.
If you face a criminal charge, the Office of Defense Services may appoint counsel after an intake interview when an adult is indigent and incarceration may be imposed. Its representation request does not by itself prove eligibility. Bring pay stubs or proof of public benefits when asked.
Documents to gather
You do not need every paper before making the first call. Start intake even if something is missing. Use our documents checklist to organize copies.
| What to save | Examples | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Court papers | Summons, petition, complaint, order, hearing notice | Shows the case number, court, and deadlines. |
| Agency notices | Benefit denial, closure, wage decision, school notice | Shows the reason and appeal rights. |
| Identity and household | ID, birth records, school records, benefit letters | Helps confirm people involved in the case. |
| Income records | Pay stubs, tax records, benefit letters, bank records | May be needed for legal aid or fee review. |
| Housing records | Lease, ledger, notices, photos, repair messages | Helps explain an eviction or repair dispute. |
| Family records | Custody orders, support records, messages, calendars | Shows past orders and important events. |
| Work records | Schedules, time sheets, pay stubs, emails | Helps with wage or discrimination claims. |
| Safety records | Reports, photos, messages, medical papers | May help an advocate or lawyer understand risk. |
Keep originals in a safe place. Give copies unless a court or agency clearly asks for the original. Write the date, time, person, and result after every call.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting too long. Call as soon as you see a deadline.
- Ignoring mail or email. Open notices from courts, agencies, landlords, schools, and employers.
- Missing a hearing. Call the court before the date if you have a serious problem attending.
- Sending away originals. Keep copies or clear photos of everything.
- Signing under pressure. Ask what an agreement means before signing when possible.
- Using unsafe contact methods. Tell an advocate if calls, mail, or shared accounts may put you at risk.
If legal aid cannot take your case
Ask why the office cannot help. It may be the wrong type of case, income rules, a conflict of interest, missing facts, or no staff time. A denial from one group does not always mean every option is closed.
- Ask for another legal aid or lawyer referral.
- Ask whether brief advice or a clinic is available.
- Ask for the correct court packet and self-help page.
- Ask what must be done before the next deadline.
- Call 211 for non-legal help tied to the crisis.
Use the main Delaware help guide for food, cash, housing, health, and other programs that may ease the problem while you handle the legal case.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling legal aid
“Hi, I live in Delaware and need help with [custody, eviction, benefits, safety, debt, or work]. My deadline or hearing is [date]. Can you screen me for help or tell me the right next step?”
Calling Family Court
“I am not asking for legal advice. I need the filing steps and required forms for [custody, support, or PFA]. My case number is [number]. Can you tell me which Resource Center or form page to use?”
Calling about benefits
“I received a notice dated [date] about [benefit]. I disagree with the decision. What is my fair hearing deadline, where must I send the written request, and how can I get my case record?”
Calling after eviction papers
“I was served with an eviction complaint on [date]. My hearing is [date]. I need legal help and want to start eviction diversion. What should I do today?”
Resumen en español
Para ayuda legal civil en Delaware, empiece con Legal Help Link. Puede conectarle con una organización de ayuda legal, formularios de la corte u otro recurso. La ayuda depende del tipo de caso, sus ingresos, las fechas límite y la capacidad de la organización.
Si recibe papeles de la corte, escriba la fecha de la audiencia y el número del caso. Si recibe una demanda de desalojo, comuníquese con ayuda legal de inmediato y empiece el programa de desalojo dentro del plazo indicado. Si está en peligro, llame al 911 y use un teléfono seguro si es posible.
Esta guía es información general. No es consejo legal.
FAQs about Delaware legal help
Can single mothers get a free lawyer in Delaware?
Sometimes. Free civil legal help depends on income, case type, location, conflicts, deadlines, and staff capacity. Start with Legal Help Link for screening.
Does Legal Help Link handle criminal cases?
No. It does not handle criminal cases, traffic tickets, or personal injury matters. For a criminal charge, contact Delaware’s Office of Defense Services.
What should I do after receiving eviction papers?
Note the hearing date, contact legal aid, and begin eviction diversion. A formally served tenant has 15 days to start the diversion process.
Where do I file for custody in Delaware?
Custody cases are filed in Family Court. Use the official custody forms and ask a Family Court Resource Center about filing steps.
How do I apply for child support services?
Use the Delaware Division of Child Support Services portal or call its customer service unit. The agency can help with orders, payments, and enforcement.
What if Delaware cuts or denies my benefits?
Read the notice and request a fair hearing in writing before its deadline. Save the notice, your request, and proof that you sent it.
Can I get a court interpreter?
Yes. Contact the court where the hearing will happen. Delaware Courts asks for 14 days’ notice when possible, but you should still ask if less time remains.
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 July 14, 2026, next review October 14, 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.