Find a Lawyer & State Resources.

Eligible if income at or below 125% of federal poverty level or receiving MassHealth, SNAP, TAFDC, or SSI.

• MA Legal Resource Finder — search for free/low-cost help by location (start here)
• Greater Boston Legal Services — (617) 371-1234 / (800) 323-3205
• Community Legal Aid — (855) 252-5342 — Central & Western MA
• Northeast Legal Aid — (978) 458-1465 — North Shore, Merrimack Valley
• South Coastal Counties Legal Services — (800) 244-9023 — Bristol, South Coast, Cape Cod
• MetroWest Legal Services — (508) 620-1830 / (800) 696-1501
• Volunteer Lawyers Project — (617) 603-1700 — Greater Boston pro bono
• MA Free Legal Answers — post a question online, get a pro bono answer

Get a 30-minute consultation for ~$25 with a screened family law attorney.

• MA Bar Association Lawyer Referral — (617) 654-0400 / (866) 627-7577 — $25 for 30-min consult
• MBA Dial-A-Lawyer — (617) 338-0610 — free phone advice, first Wednesday of each month
• Boston Bar Association — screened, malpractice-insured attorneys
• Essex County Bar — (978) 741-7888 — free referral + 30-min consult
• Middlesex County Bar — (781) 939-2797
• Norfolk County Bar — (617) 471-9693
• Plymouth County Bar — (774) 257-4488
• Worcester County Bar — (508) 752-1311 / (800) 622-9700
• Hampden County Bar — (413) 732-4660

Official Mass.gov — Finding Legal Help (all counties)

Massachusetts officially supports Limited Assistance Representation (LAR) — hire a lawyer for just one hearing, one motion, or one part of your case. Dramatically cheaper than full representation.

• Official Mass.gov — LAR Information for the Public
• Next Phase Legal LLC — flat-fee LAR packages, Norfolk MA
• Infinity Law Group — fixed-fee (not hourly) for all matters
• Bentley Law Group — (508) 655-4546 — flat-fee divorce, Framingham/Natick

• Hourly rate (family law): $300–$850/hour
• Typical divorce retainer: $5,000–$15,000 (deposit, drawn down as attorney bills hours)
• Uncontested divorce total: $4,500–$10,000+
• Contested divorce total: $15,000–$40,000+ per side
• LAR / unbundled: a few hundred to a few thousand for specific tasks
• Free consultation: many firms offer free 30–60 min initial consults

What to look for:

• Verify the attorney is in good standing — MA Board of Bar Overseers
• Primary focus on family law (divorce, custody, child support, paternity)
• Clear, written fee agreement — explains hourly rate, retainer, and billing upfront
• Doesn't guarantee specific outcomes — discusses both strengths and weaknesses

Red flags: Guarantees you'll "win" · Pressures you to sign immediately · Can't explain fees · Takes days to return calls during consultation · Badmouths opposing counsel · Encourages unnecessary litigation

• Probate & Family Court — (617) 788-6600 — main page, all custody/support matters
• Court Service Centers — free help filling out forms (9 locations: 8 physical + 1 virtual)
• All Probate & Family Court Forms
• Courts Self-Help (Mass.gov) — custody, parenting time, forms, abuse prevention
• MassCourts Portal — search court dockets & case info
• MassLegalHelp.org — free plain-English legal info for MA

• DOR Child Support Services — (800) 332-2733
• DOR Case Manager Portal — online case management
• Apply for child support services

• Court-Approved ADR Programs — 31 approved programs, some free, all must offer fee waivers
• MA Council on Family Mediation — directory of family mediators
• MA Parent Mediation Program (UMass Boston) — resolves parenting plan disputes

• Children's Trust Fatherhood Initiative — (617) 727-8957 — state program, Nurturing Fathers curriculum
• Mass.gov Fatherhood Engagement — state resources for fathers
• MA Family Resource Centers — statewide network, parenting programs, support groups
• The Fatherhood Project (Mass General) — research-based fatherhood resources
• The Fathers' Rights Movement — national organization, MA chapters

SafeLink (MA Statewide DV Hotline): 1-877-785-2020 — 24/7, toll-free, 130+ languages

National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7

• DV Services by County (Mass.gov) — comprehensive county directory
• Casa Myrna — Boston/Suffolk County
• HAWC — (800) 547-1649 — North Shore
• REACH Beyond DV — (800) 899-4000 — Norfolk/MetroWest

Per Standing Order 3-23, all parents without an agreed custody arrangement must complete the 4-hour online "Two Families Now" co-parenting course within 30 days of service.

• Two Families Now — $49, online, self-paced, instant certificate
• Official Mass.gov — Parent Education
• Waiver possible via Motion CJD 444