Protect your rights or get the help you need, without a lawyer.
Sometimes you can fix your legal problem yourself. Here are forms, on-line applications, and information that may help you handle your problem. Some legal problems have deadlines which must be met or you lose your rights. You might need Adobe Acrobat reader for some information. To download this free software, click here.
There are 12 resources
Lawyer Referral and Information
(Separate Website)
Lawyer Referral Numbers
New Orleans area:
504-561-8828
Baton Rouge area:
225-344-9926
Lafayette area:
www.lafayettebar.org
Lake Charles area:
337-436-2914
Shreveport area:
www.shreveportbar.com
By: Louisiana State Bar Association
Applying for SBA Disaster Business Loans
(Separate Website)
Link to SBA loans applications and instructions.
By: Small Business Administration (SBA)
Don't Be a Victim of Loan Fraud
(Separate Website)
Tips on how to protect yourself from predatory lenders, and how to help yourself if it happens to you.
By: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
FEMA Self-Help Guide Help for working with FEMA on your issues and claims.
By: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Help Line for Legal Information
Anyone with a legal problem in Louisiana is welcome to call the Louisiana Civil Justice Center (LCJC), the help line for legal information. The LCJC does not assist with criminal matters and some services require screening for financial eligibility. The phone number is (504) 355-0970 or (800) 310-7029, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By: Louisiana Civil Justice Center
Home and Personal Property Disaster Loans
(Separate Website)
From the site:
If you are in a declared disaster area and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration - even if you don't own a business. As a homeowner, renter and/or personal-property owner, you may apply to the SBA for a loan to help you recover from a disaster.
By: U.S. Small Business Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Home Improvement and Repair
(Separate Website)
With most home improvements, federal law gives you three business days to cancel without penalty. Of course you would be liable for any benefit already received. But avoid problems - tips on what to do when selecting a contractor.
By: Consumer Action Website-Federal Citizen Information Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
HUD Hurricane Katrina Resources
(Separate Website)
Gateway to HUD legal information and self-help resources.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Internet Sites for Legal Information
(Separate Website)
List of online legal research and information resources, from the Law Library of Louisiana.
By: Law Library of Louisiana
Louisiana Housing Financing Agency
(Separate Website)
This agency develops programs to help finance safe and affordable housing for low and moderate income Louisianans.
By: State of Louisiana
Soft Second Morgtage -- Orleans Parish Housing Opportunity Zones
(Separate Website)
See this information about a soft second mortgage program to make it easier for lower-income people to buy a home. Up to $65,000 for a second mortgage and up to $10,000 in closing cost assistance is available.
By: Louisiana Recovery Authority and others
St. Landry Parish Bar Association Pro Bono Clinic
Find out more here about the legal clinic of the St. Landry Parish Bar Association.
By: St. Landry Parish Bar Association
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Learn how to use this site: click here to hear and see a slide show. En Espanol: oprima aqui.
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