LEGAL AID (Santa Barbara, Lompoc & Santa Maria)

Legal assistance is provided free to low-income people and senior citizens in the following areas of law:

• Domestic Violence
• Landlord/Tenant Law
• Income Maintenance (SS, SSI, etc.)
• Limited Family Law
• Elder Abuse 
• Consumer Law

Additional Assistance is offered outside of our main offices and normal business hours via the Legal Resource Center, Project Outreach, Senior Outreach and Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinic.

Please see our Contact & Locations page for the locations, hours & contact information for our Legal Aid Offices.

LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER (Santa Barbara, Lompoc & Santa Maria)

The Legal Resource Center of Santa Barbara County is staffed by a California licensed attorney, and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Assistance is offered in the completion of legal and court documents for various civil matters and infractions, and in properly presenting your case to the court.

• General Civil
• Small Claims Court
• Collecting a Judgment
• Unlawful Detainer
• Guardianship
• Adoption
• Domestic Violence Restraining Orders & Responses
• Civil Anti-Harassment Restraining Orders & Responses
• Landlord/Tenant
• Collections
• Name Changes
• Expungements

For more information, visit www.sbcourts.org/srl.

Please see our Contact & Locations page for the locations, hours & contact information for our Legal Resource Centers.

PROJECT OUTREACH (Santa Barbara & Goleta)

Volunteer lawyers provide “advice only” outreach at various community centers, offer pro bono representation in certain types of cases, and assist at Legal Aid’s offices. Clients are seen on a “first-come, first served” basis, so please arrive before 4pm to sign up. Doors close at promptly at 4pm. Please call the community center ahead of time to ensure an attorney will be present. The current hours of operation and locations are:

Tuesdays, 4–6pm:
Franklin Neighborhood Center
1136 E. Montecito Street
Santa Barbara, CA
805-897-2582

Thursdays, 4–6pm:
Westside Community Center
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA
805-897-2560

SENIOR OUTREACH (Santa Barbara)

For clients 60 years of age or older, an attorney is available for advice and information during a 30-minute consultation by appointment only on:

Tuesdays: 10am, 10:30am and 11am
1st & 3rd Thursdays: 10am, 10:30am and 11am

Please call 805-963-6754 to schedule.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER CLINIC

We assist survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse in obtaining Restraining Orders to protect them from their abusers. We assist all people regardless of income in these cases. Quite often, we also assist domestic violence survivors in obtaining appropriate child custody and visitation orders. In non-Domestic Violence cases, where there are credible allegations of harm to a child, we also assist low-income persons with custody and visitation problems. Appointments are necessary. Please contact your local Legal Aid office for more information or to make an appointment.