Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are a single mother in Michigan and need legal help, start with Guide to Legal Help. It asks about your county, income, and legal problem, then points you to legal aid, forms, lawyer referrals, or self-help tools.
For court forms and simple steps, use Michigan Legal Help. For a court date, eviction notice, custody papers, benefit denial, or safety issue, act quickly. Deadlines can be short.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. A lawyer, legal aid office, court, or official agency should review your exact facts.
Urgent help in Michigan
Call 911 if you or your child is in immediate danger. If abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or trafficking is involved and it is safe to reach out, contact the VOICES4 hotline or the national hotline. Use a safer phone or device if someone monitors you.
If you have an eviction summons, PPO hearing, custody hearing, child support hearing, or benefits hearing, call legal aid the same day. You can also ask Michigan 2-1-1 for shelter, food, transportation, and emergency rent resources.
For related help beyond legal aid, see ASMOM’s Michigan emergency help, Michigan housing help, and Michigan safety guide.
Where to start
If you need a lawyer
Use Guide to Legal Help first. It can point you to legal aid or a lawyer referral.
If you have court papers
Find the court name, hearing date, case number, and deadline. Use official court forms.
If safety is involved
Talk with an advocate before filing if the other person may react dangerously.
Quick legal help table
| Problem | First place to try | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Need free legal aid | Guide to Legal Help | Ask who serves your county and issue. | Screening may include income and case type. |
| Custody or parenting time | Friend of the Court or court clerk | Ask what form fits your case. | The clerk cannot give strategy. |
| Child support | Michigan child support | Ask how to open or enforce a case. | Changes usually need a court order. |
| Domestic violence or stalking | Hotline, advocate, or PPO office | Ask about safety help and PPO options. | A PPO is not a full safety plan. |
| Food, Medicaid, cash, or child care denial | MDHHS hearing request | Ask how to appeal. | Save the notice. |
Free and low-cost legal help
Most free legal aid in Michigan handles civil legal problems, such as eviction, custody, divorce, child support, benefits, debt, consumer issues, and protection orders. Criminal cases are different. If you face jail or prison, ask the court how to request appointed counsel.
Use the State Bar of Michigan’s legal aid by county search to look by county and service type. If free help is not available, the State Bar’s lawyer referral service can connect you with a private lawyer. Confirm any fee before you pay.
You may also use MI Free Legal Answers for some civil legal questions.
| Resource | Best for | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| CALL intake | Phone screening, brief advice, and referrals. | Apply online or call 1-888-783-8190. |
| Lakeshore Legal Aid | Free civil legal services in its area. | Use its intake steps. |
| LSSCM | Civil legal help in south central counties. | Use online intake or call. |
| Eastern Michigan legal aid | Civil legal aid in eastern counties. | Ask if your county is covered. |
| Legal Aid Western Michigan | Civil legal aid in west Michigan. | Start with its intake instructions. |
| Michigan Indian Legal Services | Help for eligible Native people and Tribes. | Apply online or call. |
Custody, child support, and family court
Family law may include custody, parenting time, child support, divorce, paternity, relocation, or enforcement of an order. If you already have a case, your county Friend of the Court may be involved.
The Friend of the Court helps with many custody, parenting time, and support orders. Read this FOC overview before calling. You can also use MiChildSupport to find local child support office information.
ASMOM also has more focused pages on Michigan child support, national child support basics, and custody after divorce.
Practical tip
Do not rely on a text message agreement if there is already a court order. If you need to change support, custody, or parenting time, ask the court or Friend of the Court what form or motion is needed.
Safety, domestic violence, and PPOs
Michigan has Personal Protection Orders, often called PPOs. A PPO can tell another person to stop certain conduct. The right form depends on the facts.
Michigan Legal Help has a free PPO tool. Michigan Courts also lists official PPO court forms. If filing could make things more dangerous, talk with a domestic violence advocate first.
If you are leaving an unsafe situation, legal help may connect with housing, benefits, child care, and phone safety. You may also need food or cash help while a case is pending. ASMOM has guides for Michigan SNAP guide, Michigan TANF guide, and Michigan child care.
Eviction, debt, and benefits appeals
If you get eviction papers, a debt lawsuit, or a notice that benefits were denied or cut, save the envelope and notice. Courts and agencies often count deadlines from the mailing date, hearing date, or service date.
For eviction or debt court, use official court forms, search your court with the court directory, and ask legal aid about options. If filing fees are a problem, ask about a fee waiver.
If MDHHS denies, reduces, closes, or delays food, Medicaid, cash, State Emergency Relief, or child care benefits, ask for a hearing. MDHHS has a MDHHS hearing form, and Michigan Legal Help has a free hearing tool. For health coverage, see ASMOM’s Michigan health coverage. For WIC, use the Michigan WIC guide.
Self-help centers and court forms
A Legal Self-Help Center can help you find forms and understand filing steps. Staff can explain information, but they cannot act as your lawyer. Use the Michigan Legal Help self-help centers page to search by county. You can also use courts and agencies to find local offices.
Documents to gather before you call
You do not need every paper before asking for help, but main papers can speed up screening.
| Issue | Helpful documents | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Custody or support | Court orders, case number, notices, pay stubs, child care costs, insurance costs. | These show what order exists and what changed. |
| Eviction | Lease, notices, summons, complaint, rent ledger, receipts, repair photos. | Deadlines and defenses depend on the papers. |
| Benefits appeal | MDHHS notice, application date, messages, proof uploaded, income proof. | The notice tells you the reason and appeal deadline. |
| PPO or safety | Incident dates, police reports, messages, photos, witness names, prior orders. | The court needs clear facts, not just general fear. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing court dates. If you cannot attend, contact the court before the hearing.
- Ignoring mail. Open mail from the court, MDHHS, landlord, or child support office right away.
- Filing the wrong form. Ask the clerk, self-help center, or legal aid which form fits.
- Changing custody by agreement only. The court order usually controls until changed.
- Posting case details online. Screenshots can be used in court.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
If legal aid cannot take your case, ask why. The reason may be county, income, conflict of interest, case type, or lack of staff. Ask about another office, clinic, pro bono program, or limited-scope lawyer.
If a benefits office is delayed, keep proof that you applied, uploaded documents, and called. If benefits were denied or closed, ask about appeal rights. For other help, see ASMOM’s Michigan help guide and local resource guide.
Phone scripts
Calling legal aid
“Hi, I am a single mother in [county]. I have a legal problem about [custody, eviction, benefits, PPO, debt]. My deadline or hearing date is [date]. Can you screen me for help or tell me the right intake office?”
Calling the court clerk
“Hi, I have case number [number]. I am not asking for legal advice. I need to know the filing steps, filing fee or fee waiver, and how to confirm my hearing date.”
Calling Friend of the Court
“Hi, I need help understanding my custody, parenting time, or child support order. Can you tell me what forms or process your office uses for enforcement or a change request?”
Calling MDHHS about an appeal
“Hi, I received a notice dated [date] about [food, Medicaid, cash, child care, SER]. I want to ask for a hearing or understand my appeal rights. What is the deadline and how do I submit the request?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda legal en Michigan, empiece con Guide to Legal Help. Si tiene audiencia, desalojo, custodia, manutención, beneficios negados o violencia doméstica, no espere.
Guarde papeles, mensajes y fechas. Si hay peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Use una línea de ayuda desde un teléfono seguro.
FAQ
Can single mothers get a free lawyer in Michigan?
Sometimes. Free civil legal aid depends on your income, county, legal issue, conflicts, and office capacity. Start with Guide to Legal Help or your local legal aid intake.
Can legal aid help with custody and child support?
Some legal aid offices help with custody, parenting time, child support, divorce, and PPO issues, but not every office can take every case. Ask for screening and referrals.
What should I do if I get eviction papers?
Read the papers for the hearing date and court name. Call legal aid right away, gather your lease and notices, and ask the court clerk about filing steps or fee waivers.
Where can I get Michigan court forms?
Use Michigan Courts SCAO forms or Michigan Legal Help forms. Make sure the form fits your case type and county filing rules.
Can I appeal an MDHHS benefits denial?
Yes, many MDHHS notices include hearing rights. Save the notice and ask for a hearing before the deadline. Food assistance has some special hearing rules, so ask MDHHS or legal aid if you are unsure.
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.