Resources

Our Helpful Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online

Illinois Legal Aid Online provides Illinois residents with user-friendly legal information, educational materials and forms, self-help resources, and other related materials. There, you can find information about your legal rights and responsibilities, referrals to free and low cost legal aid offices, and forms and instructions for representing yourself.

Please visit illinoislegalaid.org for more information.

Self-Help Centers In Illinois

Many courts have “Self-Help Centers,” where the public can get free accurate and current legal information they need. Some of these have navigators or other staff who can help your find the right information. By having access to this information, people without attorneys are able to explain their case more effectively to a judge and resolve their legal problems on their own. Many self-help centers are located in the courthouse, but some are in libraries – click the link below to find the self-help center in your area.

Click here to view a list of Self-Help Centers.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a publicly funded, 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation established by the United States Congress. It seeks to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing funding for civil legal aid to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. The LSC was created in 1974 with bipartisan congressional sponsorship and is funded through the congressional appropriations process.

Please visit lsc.gov/what-legal-aid/find-legal-aid to find your local legal aid.

National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)

NLADA is America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. They provide advocacy, guidance, information, training and technical assistance for members of the equal justice community, especially those working in public defense and civil legal aid.

Please visit nlada.org/about-nlada to learn more

Covid-19 Resources

EVICTION RESOURCES

Below are resources to help you understand your legal rights when facing eviction during COVID-19.

LEGAL INFORMATION

ENGLISH:

Evictions During COVID-19

Renters Handbook 2021

ESPAÑOL:

COMING SOON

TOOL KITS FOR PERSONS REPRESENTING THEMSELVES

ENGLISH:

Eviction Tool Kit All Counties

Eviction Tool Kit (Rock Island County)

Eviction Tool Kit (Kane County)

OTHER RESOURCES

To find other providers of rental assistance, click here (Please note Prairie State Legal Services is listed because we provide legal services. We do not provide rental assistance.)

llinois Legal Aid Online provides a range of legal information about other laws in place in response to COVID-19 here.

COVID H.E.L.P. Illinois is a free tool to help anyone in Illinois with legal problems related to the pandemic. You can find this tool here. Prairie State Legal Services does not serve Cook County. If you live in Cook County and need legal help, you may be able to find a provider here.

FORECLOSURE RESOURCES

Below are resources to help you understand your legal rights when facing foreclosure during COVID-19. Be aware that some of the programs, timeframes, and deadlines described in these resources have recently changed. We will update them as soon as possible. If you want to apply to CARES Act Mortgage Forbearance, you must apply through your mortgage company by June 30, 2021.