Legal Aid Society of Hawaii HOME

The Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i provides help in the area of FAMILY LAW to families and individuals who are struggling with a variety of different issues, including:

Child custody, visitation, and child support;
Divorce;
Paternity;
Spouse and child abuse;
Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs);
Adoptions, Guardianships, or Powers of Attorney;
Advance Health Care Directives and simple wills; and other legal issues

Legal Aid’s staff of attorneys and paralegals provide assistance with these issues through a variety of different methods, including: legal advice, help in filling out paperwork, making phone calls, document preparation, classes on how to complete an uncontested divorce or how to modify child support or child custody orders, and full representation in limited cases.

To download information about FAMILY LAW

SELF-HELP MATERIALS

To access over 120 self-help resource materials

to assist you with your non-criminal legal needs,

primarily in the areas of Housing, Family, Consumer,

and Public Benefits Law.

DISCLAIMER:
This website is designed to provide general information and should not
be utilized as a substitute for professional legal advice.

FAMILY LAW BROCHURES

Legal Advocacy for Families & Children

Family Courthouse Assistance Project

Kids' Supplemental Security Program

Foster Kids' Supplemental Security Program

Domestic Violence Advocacy Program

The purpose of the intake Hotline is to provide easy access to services at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. Primarily, our clients can apply for services through our toll-fee state-wide phone service, which operates during the following times:

MONDAY - FRIDAY

9:00am to 11:30am in the morning, and

1:00pm to 3:30pm in the afternoon

HOTLINE NUMBERS:

536-4302 on OAHU, or

1-800-499-4302 on the NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

To see if you QUALIFY for Legal Aid services

EXCEPTIONS TO INCOME & ASSET ELIGIBILITY

Legal Aid is allowed to waive the financial tests for certain clients contingent on funding from other sources.

• Big Island or Maui Seniors: Any Income

Change the funding code to: BIG ISLAND: Hawaii County Title III; MAUI: Maui County Title III
Legal Aid has several federal grants to help the elderly (60+). Maui and the Big Island have Title III grants which pay them to do legal work for seniors. (UHELP has the Title III grant for Oahu.)

• Foreclosure/Reverse mortgage or Pre-purchase counseling: Any Income

Legal Aid has a federal grant from HUD to operate a housing counseling program. Anyone facing foreclosure should be routed to the HUD Housing counseling unit. You may call the general intake hotline during hotline hours.

• HUD Homeless – Oahu Only: Any Income

Callers who are homeless (being evicted within a week with no where to go; living on the beach, street, park or place not meant for human habitation; fleeing a domestic violence housing situation; living in an emergency shelter; living in transitional housing; or in a hospital or institution for a short stay or being discharged with no where to go) are eligible for legal services under this program.

• IRS Grant: Income up to 250% FPL

Callers are eligible for assistance with a tax dispute (this means pretty much any problem they are having with the IRS) regardless of their income. This is a statewide program, but all dockets should be forwarded to Honolulu.

• Housing Discrimination Grant: Any Income

Callers who are experiencing discrimination in any housing situation (renting a unit, financing a housing purchase, applying for subsidized housing, etc) can call our Fair Housing Enforcement Program 808-527-8024 on Oahu or 1-866-527-FAIR (3247) on the Neighbor Islands.

• KID’s 200 Grant: Income up to 200% FPL

Caller’s are eligible if they have children in the house or are a child themselves and meet one of the following six criteria: 1) There are legal barriers preventing self sufficiency, 2) There are children in the household confirmed by CPS for child abuse and neglect, 3) The children are in a violent household, 4) There are runaway or homeless children, 5) the children are being denied educational access, or 6) There are teenage parents involved. Eligibility forms need to be completed.

• Affordable Lawyers: Gap Group Income
(between 125% FPL and 250% FPL)

Legal Aid's Affordable Lawyers Project offers legal services for a below market rate fee. Give applicants who are eligible for this program the number of the Affordable Lawyers Project on their island to call themselves. Do not open a docket. NOTE: Honolulu handles affordable lawyers cases for Oahu; Maui, Kauai, Kona and Hilo each handle their own cases.