Free Legal Help for Probate in Every State (2026 Guide)

When You Need a Lawyer (and How to Afford One)

Most probate work is administrative — filing paperwork, gathering documents, notifying creditors, distributing assets. A lot of it you can do yourself with good information, which is what SwiftProbate is built to provide.

But some situations genuinely need a lawyer. Common ones:

Disputes among heirs or beneficiaries — anyone challenging the will, contesting an executor, or fighting over distribution
Ambiguous or potentially invalid wills — handwritten wills, missing pages, outdated provisions, suspected undue influence
Out-of-state real property — ancillary probate in another state often needs local counsel
Trust issues — trustee disputes, suspected misappropriation, trusts that conflict with the will
Significant debts or creditor claims — especially when the estate may be insolvent
Tax complexity — large estates, business interests, or unusual asset types
Suspected financial abuse — anyone taking money from accounts, "gifts" that may be estate funds, undue influence on the deceased before death

If any of these describe your situation, please do not try to navigate it alone, and please do not rely on a tool like SwiftProbate as your only resource. The good news: every state has free or low-cost legal help. You almost certainly qualify for something. The catch is that these resources are fragmented, often understaffed, and each has its own eligibility rules — so it can take a few phone calls to find the right one.

This guide is a starting point. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Phone numbers, URLs, and eligibility rules change — please verify before relying on anything below.

Three Types of Resources to Know

Across the country, you'll see roughly the same three categories of help. Knowing which one fits your situation will save you time on the phone.

1. Lawyer Referral Services (LRS). Almost every state bar association runs one. You call, describe your issue, and they match you with an attorney who handles your kind of case. The initial consult is usually free or capped at around $25–$50 for the first 30 minutes. After that, you pay the attorney's regular rates. This is the right channel if your income is above legal-aid limits but you'd benefit from one or two paid hours of advice.

2. Legal Aid. Federally and state-funded organizations that provide free representation to people below an income threshold (commonly 125–200% of the Federal Poverty Level). Honest caveat: most Legal Aid offices prioritize housing, family, and public benefits cases. Probate is often a lower priority or excluded entirely. Call anyway — many take simple wills, small estates, or probate that protects a low-income heir's home.

3. Volunteer / Pro Bono Programs and Senior Legal Hotlines. Often the best fit for probate. These pair income-eligible clients with volunteer attorneys, or they offer free advice to anyone 60 and older regardless of income. Many states have a dedicated senior legal hotline that explicitly handles wills, probate, and estate questions.

National Resources (Start Here If You're in a Rush)

Before the state list, three national tools that work for everyone:

LawHelp.org — directory of free legal services by state and topic. The fastest way to find local Legal Aid: lawhelp.org
ABA Free Legal Answers — post a civil legal question and get a written response from a volunteer attorney in your state, for free. Income-eligible only. abafreelegalanswers.org
Eldercare Locator — federal service that connects callers with local senior legal services and Adult Protective Services. Phone: 1-800-677-1116 (Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm ET). eldercare.acl.gov

If you suspect financial abuse — someone taking from accounts, pressuring the deceased before death, or offering you "gifts" that may be estate funds — also contact your state's Adult Protective Services office. Search "[your state] APS" or call the Eldercare Locator above.

State-by-State Directory

Resources are grouped by state, alphabetically. For each, we list the State Bar Lawyer Referral Service first, then Legal Aid, then any volunteer or senior-specific program that explicitly handles probate or estate matters.

Jump to Your State

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Alabama

State Bar Referral: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 800-392-5660 or 334-269-1515 — alabar.org/programs/lawyer-referral-service (reduced-fee initial consult)
Legal Aid: Legal Services Alabama — 866-456-4995 (English) / 888-835-3505 (Spanish) — legalservicesalabama.org — income ≤125% FPL; elder grants for 60+ are not income-based
Volunteer Legal Services: Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program — alabar.org/programs/volunteer-lawyers-program — covers simple wills and small estate administration

Alaska

State Bar Referral: Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 907-272-0352 or 800-770-9999 — alaskabar.org — $35 for an initial 30-minute consult
Legal Aid: Alaska Legal Services Corporation — 888-478-2572 — alsc-law.org — income ≤125% FPL; explicitly handles wills, estates, probate, and guardianship
Other: Alaska Law Help self-help portal — alaskalawhelp.org

Arizona

State Bar Referral: Use county bar services. Maricopa County Bar LRS — 602-257-4434 — maricopabar.org ($50 / 30 min). Pima County Bar LRS — 520-623-4625 — pimacountybar.org ($35 / 30 min)
Legal Aid: Community Legal Services (CLSAZ) — 602-258-3434 or 800-852-9075 — clsaz.org
Volunteer Legal Services: Southern Arizona Legal Aid — 520-623-9461 or 800-248-6789 — sazlegalaid.org — wills, probate, guardianship via volunteer attorneys
Other: Probate Lawyers Assistance Project (PLAP) — 602-732-2834 — free pro bono probate advice for low-income Maricopa County residents

Arkansas

State Bar Referral: Arkansas Bar Find-A-Lawyer directory (no traditional referral line) — arkbar.com — main line 501-375-4606
Legal Aid: Center for Arkansas Legal Services (south/central, 44 counties) — 800-950-5817 — arkansaslegal.org — handles wills and estates; helpline Mon–Thu 9–11am and 1–3pm
Other: Legal Aid of Arkansas (northern half) — 800-952-9243 — arlegalaid.org

California

State Bar Referral: State Bar of California Certified Lawyer Referral Services directory — 866-442-2529 (in CA) or 415-538-2250 — calbar.ca.gov — routes to county-certified LRS programs
Legal Aid: Statewide portal at LawHelpCA.org. Be aware: many urban legal aid organizations (including Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles) do not handle probate and will refer you out.
Other: Senior Legal Hotline (Legal Services of Northern California) — 800-222-1753 — free phone advice on estate planning and probate for CA residents 60+
Volunteer Legal Services: OneJustice — onejustice.org — coordinates pro bono and rural justice clinics

Colorado

State Bar Referral: Metropolitan Lawyer Referral Service (Denver metro) — 303-831-8000 or 877-283-8145 — mlrs.org ($50 / 30 min). El Paso County Bar LRS — 719-636-1532
Legal Aid: Colorado Legal Services — 303-837-1313 — coloradolegalservices.org — Senior Law Project handles probate for clients 60+
Volunteer Legal Services: Metro Volunteer Lawyers (Denver Bar) — 303-860-1115 — denbar.org/mvl — pro bono probate clinics

Connecticut

State Bar Referral: Connecticut Bar Association directs callers to county services. Hartford County Bar LRS — 860-525-6052 — hartfordbar.org/lawyer-referral
Legal Aid: Statewide Legal Services of CT (intake hub) — 800-453-3320 — slsct.org — income ≤125% FPL; routes callers to CT Legal Services and partners
Volunteer Legal Services: Connecticut Free Legal Answers — ct.freelegalanswers.org — online Q&A with volunteer attorneys

Delaware

State Bar Referral: Delaware Legal Help Link (run by Delaware Volunteer Legal Services) — 302-478-8850 — delegalhelplink.org
Legal Aid: Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI) — 302-575-0660 or 800-292-7980 — declasi.org — does not generally handle probate; refer to DVLS below
Volunteer Legal Services: Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS) — 302-478-8680 — dvls.org — handles wills and basic estate matters via volunteer attorneys

District of Columbia

State Bar Referral: D.C. Bar Lawyer Referral Service (MyDCLawyer) — 202-737-4700 — dcbar.org/for-lawyers/mydclawyer
Legal Aid: Legal Aid DC — 202-628-1161 — legalaiddc.org — limited estate work
Volunteer Legal Services: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center — Future Planning & Probate Program — Legal Information Help Line 202-626-3499 — dcbar.org — walk-in help at the D.C. Superior Court Probate Division Self-Help Center on Tues/Wed mornings
Other: Legal Counsel for the Elderly (AARP) — 202-434-2120 — aarp.org/legal-counsel-for-elderly — free legal help for DC residents 60+, including wills, POAs, and small-estate probate

Florida

State Bar Referral: The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 800-342-8011 — floridabar.org/public/lrs — $25 for an initial 30-minute consult
Legal Aid: Florida Law Help statewide portal — floridalawhelp.org/find-provider — no single statewide org. Bay Area Legal Services (Tampa Bay) — 800-625-2257 — bals.org — explicitly accepts probate cases
Volunteer Legal Services: Florida Pro Bono Matters — floridaprobono.org — statewide clearinghouse for volunteer attorneys on wills/estates

Georgia

State Bar Referral: State Bar of Georgia main line — 404-527-8700. Atlanta Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 404-521-0777 — atlantabar.org
Legal Aid: Georgia Legal Services Program — 833-457-7529 — glsp.org — serves 154 counties outside metro Atlanta; income ≤200% FPL or 60+; handles probate and wills
Other: Georgia Senior Legal Hotline — 404-389-9992 — for residents 60+

Hawaii

State Bar Referral: Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 808-537-9140 — hawaiilawyerreferral.com
Legal Aid: Legal Aid Society of Hawaii — 808-536-4302 or 800-499-4302 — legalaidhawaii.org — handles probate and estate matters for income-eligible clients
Volunteer Legal Services: Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii — 808-528-7046 — vlsh.org — pro bono including wills and probate

Idaho

State Bar Referral: Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 208-334-4500 or 800-221-3295 — isb.idaho.gov/lawyer-referral-service ($35 / 30 min)
Legal Aid: Idaho Legal Aid Services — 208-746-7541 — idaholegalaid.org — senior advocacy unit drafts wills, estate planning documents, and assists with probate (priority for 60+)

Illinois

State Bar Referral: Illinois Lawyer Finder (ISBA) — 217-525-5297 or 800-922-8757 — isba.org/public/phonereferral
Legal Aid: Illinois Legal Aid Online (statewide info, forms, and provider locator) — illinoislegalaid.org — includes small-estate (under $150K) forms and probate self-help
Volunteer Legal Services: Legal Aid Chicago — 312-341-1070 — legalaidchicago.org (probate not a stated priority — call to check)
Other: Center for Disability & Elder Law (Chicago); county senior legal services via Area Agencies on Aging

Indiana

State Bar Referral: No statewide service. Indianapolis Bar Association LRS — 317-269-2222. Allen County (Fort Wayne) — 260-423-2358. State Bar main line — 317-639-5465 — inbar.org/page/getlegalhelp
Legal Aid: Indiana Legal Services — 844-243-8570 — indianalegalservices.org/applyonline — income ≤125–200% FPL
Volunteer Legal Services: Pro Bono Indiana (11-district network) — probonoindiana.org — explicitly covers estate planning and small estate administration. Indianapolis intake via Indianapolis Legal Aid Society — 317-635-9538

Iowa

State Bar Referral: Iowa Find-A-Lawyer (Iowa State Bar Association) — 800-532-1108 or 515-243-3179 — iowafindalawyer.com — $25 / 30 min
Legal Aid: Iowa Legal Aid — 800-532-1275 (Mon–Fri 9–4) — iowalegalaid.org — ≤200% FPL; income waived for ages 60+
Other: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans (Iowa Legal Aid program for 60+) — 800-992-8161 — takes wills and probate questions

Kansas

State Bar Referral: Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 800-928-3111 — ksbar.org
Legal Aid: Kansas Legal Services — kansaslegalservices.org — provides probate and estate assistance per their published FAQ
Other: Kansas Elder Law Hotline (Kansas Legal Services) — 888-353-5337 — free advice for Kansans 60+ on wills and probate, regardless of income

Kentucky

State Bar Referral: Kentucky Bar uses three local programs. Louisville Bar — 502-583-1801. Central KY (Lexington) — 859-225-8644. Northern KY — 859-781-1525. Listed at kybar.org
Legal Aid: Kentucky Legal Aid (KLAID, 35 western/south-central counties) — 866-452-9243 — klaid.org. Legal Aid Society (Louisville region) — 800-292-1862 — yourlegalaid.org. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass — 859-431-8200
Volunteer Legal Services: Legal Aid Society Pro Bono — yourlegalaid.org — coordinates volunteer attorneys for wills and probate clinics

Louisiana

State Bar Referral: Louisiana State Bar Association — 800-421-5722 or 504-566-1600 — lsba.org
Legal Aid: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (22 SE parishes including New Orleans and Baton Rouge) — 877-521-6242 — slls.org — handles successions for eligible clients. Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (north, central, southwest) — 866-275-2572 — la-law.org
Volunteer Legal Services: Pro Bono Project (New Orleans) — 504-581-4043 — probono-no.org — successions and wills focus

Maine

State Bar Referral: Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 207-622-1460 or 800-860-1460 — mainebar.org — $25 / 30 min; modest-means panel
Legal Aid: Pine Tree Legal Assistance — 207-774-8211 — ptla.org — primarily housing, family, public benefits (estate not a core area)
Other: Legal Services for Maine Elders — 800-750-5353 — mainelse.org — free legal help for Mainers 60+; routinely handles wills, probate, and estate questions

Maryland

State Bar Referral: Maryland uses county services. Bar Association of Baltimore City LRS — 410-539-5936 x111 — baltimorebar.org. Montgomery County — 301-279-9100. Anne Arundel — 410-280-6961. Prince George's — 301-952-1440
Legal Aid: Maryland Legal Aid — 888-465-2468 — mdlab.org — ≤125% FPL; explicitly handles wills, estates, and probate
Volunteer Legal Services: Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) — 410-539-6800 or 800-510-0050 — mvlslaw.org — runs a dedicated Estate Administration / Decedent's Estate project
Other: Maryland Senior Legal Helpline — 410-525-1700 or 866-635-2948 — peoples-law.org/maryland-senior-legal-helpline — free advice for Marylanders 60+ including probate

Massachusetts

State Bar Referral: Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 617-654-0400 or 866-627-7577 — masslawhelp.com
Legal Aid: Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation network — apply at mlac.org/help — income ≤125% FPL (estate work is limited)
Volunteer Legal Services: Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association — Eastern Region Legal Intake 617-603-1700 — vlpnet.org — includes a Probate & Family Court / estates component
Other: MetroWest Legal Services elder law project — 508-620-1830 — metrowestlegal.org — handles estate planning and probate for elders

Michigan

State Bar Referral: State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service — 800-968-0738 — lrs.michbar.org — $25 admin fee for up to a 25-minute consult
Legal Aid: Michigan Advocacy Program — Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (CALL) — 888-783-8190 — michiganlegalhelp.org — ≤200% FPL
Other: Legal Assistance Center (Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor) — legalassistancecenter.org/get-help/estates — well-known walk-in probate help. Michigan Free Legal Answers — mi.freelegalanswers.org

Minnesota

State Bar Referral: Minnesota Lawyer Referral & Information Service (Hennepin/Ramsey Bar joint program) — 612-752-6699 — mnlawyerreferral.org
Legal Aid: Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid — 612-334-5970 — mylegalaid.org — low-income or 60+/disabled (probate administration is not a core service)
Other: Minnesota State Law Library Probate Clinic — brief telephone advice on the probate process, statewide, no income limit — mncourts.libguides.com/probate/help. Senior LinkAge Line — 800-333-2433

Mississippi

State Bar Referral: The Mississippi Bar Find-A-Lawyer — msbar.reliaguide.com — main line 601-948-4471
Legal Aid: Mississippi Center for Legal Services (southern 43 counties) — 800-498-1804 — mscenterforlegalservices.org. North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (northern 39 counties) — 800-898-8731 — nmrls.com
Volunteer Legal Services: Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project — 601-960-9577 — mvlp.org — explicitly handles wills, estates, and conservatorships

Missouri

State Bar Referral: The Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 573-636-3635 — missourilawyershelp.org — $50 referral fee for up to a 30-minute consult
Legal Aid: Four regional LSC grantees. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (St. Louis) — 314-534-4200 — lsem.org — takes "limited probate matters" to prevent homelessness. Legal Aid of Western Missouri (KC) — 816-474-6750 — lawmo.org
Volunteer Legal Services: Missouri Free Legal Answers — missouri.freelegalanswers.org

Montana

State Bar Referral: State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral & Information Service — 406-449-6577 — montanabar.org/For-the-Public
Legal Aid: Montana Legal Services Association — 800-666-6899 (HelpLine Tue–Thu 9am–1pm) — mtlsa.org — "What's Next" probate text line at 406-430-5078 (text START)
Other: State Law Library of Montana probate self-help — courts.mt.gov/library

Nebraska

State Bar Referral: Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 800-927-0117 or 402-475-7091 — nefindalawyer.com. Omaha Bar (Douglas/Sarpy) — 402-280-3603
Legal Aid: Legal Aid of Nebraska — 877-250-2016 statewide AccessLine — legalaidofnebraska.org — ≤125% FPL. Elder AccessLine (60+, income-waived) — 800-527-7249
Volunteer Legal Services: Nebraska State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Project — nevlp.org

Nevada

State Bar Referral: State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral & Information Service — 702-382-0504 or 800-789-5747 — nvbar.org — free referral; estate planning and probate is a listed category
Legal Aid: Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — 702-386-1070 — lacsn.org — Ask-A-Lawyer probate/estates telephone clinics second Tuesday monthly (sign up at 702-455-1505)
Other: Washoe Legal Services (northern NV) — 775-329-2727 — washoelegalservices.org — guardianship and elder law

New Hampshire

State Bar Referral: New Hampshire Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 603-229-0002 — nhbar.org/lawyer-referral-service — full-fee and Modest Means programs (sliding-scale up to 300% FPL)
Legal Aid: 603 Legal Aid — 800-639-5290 or 603-224-3333 — 603legalaid.org — runs a Probate Court self-help project. Probate Court intake line: 855-212-1234

New Jersey

State Bar Referral: NJSBA refers callers to county Lawyer Referral Services — directory at njsba.com. Bergen County — 201-488-0044. Essex County — 973-533-6775. Ocean County — 732-240-3666. Most charge ~$35 for 30 min
Legal Aid: Legal Services of New Jersey — LSNJLAW Hotline 888-576-5529 — lsnjlaw.org — ≤200% FPL (probate is not a primary practice)
Volunteer Legal Services: Volunteer Lawyers for Justice — 973-645-1955 — vljnj.org — includes a Wills for Heroes / estate planning component

New Mexico

State Bar Referral: State Bar of New Mexico Lawyer Referral Service — 505-797-6066 — sbnm.org
Legal Aid: New Mexico Legal Aid — 833-545-4357 (1-833-LGL-HELP), Mon–Thu 9:30am–4pm — newmexicolegalaid.org — Modest Means Helpline serves up to 500% FPL and covers probate
Other: Legal Resources for the Elderly Program (LREP) — 800-876-6657 or 505-797-6005 — free helpline for NM residents 55+; covers wills and probate

New York

State Bar Referral: New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service — 800-342-3661 — nysba.org — $35 for 30 min. In NYC, use NYC Bar LRS — 212-626-7373 — nycbar.org/get-legal-help
Legal Aid: Legal Services NYC Access Line — 917-661-4500 — legalservicesnyc.org. Outside NYC: Legal Aid Society of Mid-NY (877-777-6152), Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY (833-628-0087)
Volunteer Legal Services: The Legal Aid Society (NYC) — Surrogate's Court (probate, administration, small estates) information at legalaidnyc.org

North Carolina

State Bar Referral: NC Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 919-677-8574 or 800-662-7660 — ncbar.org — $50 / 30 min
Legal Aid: Legal Aid of North Carolina — 866-219-5262 — legalaidnc.org — ≤200% FPL (estate not a stated priority but limited senior wills assistance via pro bono volunteers)
Volunteer Legal Services: NC Pro Bono Resource Center — ncprobono.org — clearinghouse; NCBA's 4ALL Statewide Service Day takes estate planning questions

North Dakota

State Bar Referral: State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service — 866-450-9579 — sband.org — $30 / 30 min
Legal Aid: Legal Services of North Dakota — 866-621-9886 (under 60) / 800-634-5263 (60+) — lsnd.org — elder hotline more likely to advise on probate
Volunteer Legal Services: SBAND Volunteer Lawyers Program — sband.org/page/volunteer_lawyer
Other: Dakota Plains Legal Services — 800-658-2297 — dpls.org — serves tribal members and 33 western ND/SD counties

Ohio

State Bar Referral: Ohio State Bar Association referral portal — 800-282-6556 — ohiobar.org. Columbus — 614-221-0754. Cleveland Metro — 216-696-3525. Cincinnati — 513-381-8359. Akron — 866-687-5297
Legal Aid: Alliance of Ohio Legal Aids (6 regional programs) — find your local intake at ohiolegalaids.org/find-your-legal-aid. Statewide self-help: ohiolegalhelp.org
Other: Pro Seniors Legal Hotline — 800-488-6070 — proseniors.org/legal-services/legal-hotline — free advice for Ohioans 60+ statewide, no income limit; explicitly covers wills, probate administration, summary release, certificates of transfer, transfer-on-death

Oklahoma

State Bar Referral: Oklahoma Bar directory only — okbar.org/findalawyer. Tulsa County Bar LRS — 918-587-6014 — tulsabar.com — $25 / 30 min
Legal Aid: Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma — 888-534-5243 or 800-725-5681 — legalaidok.org — handles wills and probate as life-planning services
Other: Oklahoma Sixty-Plus Legal Aid Services Helpline (OK-SPLASH) — 855-488-6814 — free probate and estate assistance for seniors 60+

Oregon

State Bar Referral: Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 503-684-3763 or 800-452-7636 — osbar.org/public/ris — $50 cap on first 30 min. Modest Means Program for qualified income clients ($35 first visit, $60–$100/hr thereafter)
Legal Aid: Legal Aid Services of Oregon — 800-383-1222 — lasoregon.org — standard intake does not cover probate, but the Senior Law Project (Multnomah County, 60+) does, regardless of income
Other: The Commons Law Center (Portland metro) — thecommonslawcenter.org — sliding-scale probate help

Pennsylvania

State Bar Referral: Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 800-692-7375 — pabar.org — $30 / 30 min; covers 47 of 67 counties. Philadelphia Bar LRIS — 215-238-6333 — lris.philadelphiabar.org
Legal Aid: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) — 800-322-7572 — palegalaid.net — routes to 8 regional programs; affiliates handle tangled-title and intestate-probate cases tied to housing preservation
Volunteer Legal Services: Philadelphia VIP — 215-523-9550 — phillyvip.org — dedicated Tangled Title / probate project
Other: SeniorLAW Center — PA SeniorLAW Helpline 877-727-7529 — seniorlawcenter.org — free help for PA residents 60+, including wills and probate

Rhode Island

State Bar Referral: Rhode Island Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 401-421-7799 — ribar.com. Separate Elderly LRS (age 60+): 401-521-5040
Legal Aid: Rhode Island Legal Services — 800-733-5332 or 401-274-2652 — rils.org (probate not a stated core service; refers to volunteer program)
Volunteer Legal Services: RI Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Program — 401-421-7758 — ribar.com/?pg=VLP

South Carolina

State Bar Referral: SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 803-799-7100 or 800-868-2284 — lrs.scbar.org — first 30 min capped at $50
Legal Aid: South Carolina Legal Services — 888-346-5592 — sclegal.org — probate listed as a service priority
Volunteer Legal Services: SC Access to Justice Commission Probate Project — scaccesstojustice.org/probate-cases — coordinates pro bono for probate cases

South Dakota

State Bar Referral: State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service — 800-952-2333 — findalawyerinsd.com
Legal Aid: East River Legal Services (33 eastern SD counties) — 800-952-3015 or 605-336-9230 — erlservices.org. Dakota Plains Legal Services (western SD and tribal reservations) — 800-658-2297 — dpls.org
Volunteer Legal Services: Access to Justice (SD State Bar) — sdaccesstojustice.org

Tennessee

State Bar Referral: TN Bar uses local programs. Nashville Bar — 615-242-6546. Memphis Bar — 901-527-3573. Knoxville Bar — 865-522-7501. Chattanooga (CLIPS) — 423-756-3222. Listed at tbpr.org
Legal Aid: Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (48 counties) — 800-238-1443 — las.org. West Tennessee Legal Services — 731-423-0616 — wtls.org. Memphis Area Legal Services — 901-523-8822
Volunteer Legal Services: LAS Volunteer Lawyers Program Wills Clinic — las.org/volunteer/volunteer-lawyers-program — pre-registered clients leave with executed wills, POAs, advance directives

Texas

State Bar Referral: State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service — 800-252-9690 — texasbar.com/lris — $20 / 30 min
Legal Aid: Three regional LSC grantees split the state. Lone Star Legal Aid (east/SE TX) — 800-733-8394 — lonestarlegal.org. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (south/west/central) — 888-988-9996 — trla.org. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas — 888-529-5277 — lanwt.org
Other: Legal Hotline for Older Texans (60+ or Medicare) — 800-622-2520 — tlsc.org/seniors — wills, POAs, advance directives, Transfer-on-Death Deeds. TexasLawHelp.org — statewide probate self-help and form templates

Utah

State Bar Referral: Utah State Bar uses the Licensed Lawyer referral platform — 801-531-9077 — licensedlawyer.org/ut
Legal Aid: Utah Legal Services — 801-328-8891 or 800-662-4245 — utahlegalservices.org — handles limited probate/estate matters, primarily for seniors and survivors
Volunteer Legal Services: "and Justice for all" (AJFA) — andjusticeforall.org — umbrella for Utah Legal Services, Disability Law Center, and Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake

Vermont

State Bar Referral: Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 800-639-7036 — vtbar.org/find-a-lawyer — up to $25 / 30 min; modest-means panel available
Legal Aid: Vermont Legal Aid / Legal Services Vermont — Vermont Law Help Line 800-889-2047 — vtlawhelp.org — hotline MWF 8:30am–1:30pm, TuTh 11:30am–4pm
Other: Vermont Senior Citizens Law Project (Vermont Legal Aid) — 800-889-2047 — free legal help for Vermonters 60+, including wills and probate

Virginia

State Bar Referral: Virginia Lawyer Referral Service (Virginia State Bar) — 800-552-7977 or 804-775-0808 — vsb.org — $35 prepaid for 30 min
Legal Aid: Virginia Legal Aid Society — 866-534-5243 — vlas.org. Statewide portal: valegalaid.org — ≤125–200% FPL
Other: Virginia Statewide Senior Legal Helpline (Virginia Poverty Law Center) — 844-802-5910 — selfhelp.vacourts.gov — free advice for Virginians 60+ including wills, probate, and estate administration

Washington

State Bar Referral: WSBA Moderate Means Program — 855-741-6930 — wsba.org/for-the-public/find-legal-help (NOTE: program scope is housing, consumer, and family law — it does not cover probate). For probate, use a county LRS: King County Bar — 206-267-7010. Snohomish County Bar — 425-388-3018
Legal Aid: Northwest Justice Project CLEAR Hotline — 888-201-1014 (outside King County) / dial 211 in King County — nwjustice.org — covers some estate planning and probate for eligible clients
Other: CLEAR*Sr — 888-387-7111 — seniors 60+ statewide, no income test; handles wills, probate, advance directives. King County Bar Pro Bono Services — 206-267-7100 — free probate clinics for low-income clients

West Virginia

State Bar Referral: WV State Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 866-989-8227 or 304-553-7220 — wvlawyerreferral.org — $25 or less / 30 min
Legal Aid: Legal Aid of West Virginia — 866-255-4370 — legalaidwv.org — must be low-income or a DV survivor (probate not core, but publishes self-help on the WV Small Estate Act at legalaidwv.org/legal-information/probate-the-west-virginia-small-estate-act)

Wisconsin

State Bar Referral: State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral & Information Service — 800-362-9082 (608-257-4666 in Dane County) — wisbar.org
Legal Aid: Legal Action of Wisconsin (statewide as of Jan 2026, merged with Wisconsin Judicare) — 855-947-2529 — legalaction.org/get-help — ≤125% FPL; wills are within scope, probate handled selectively
Other: Wisconsin Free Legal Answers — wi.freelegalanswers.org

Wyoming

State Bar Referral: Wyoming State Bar Lawyer Referral Service — 855-445-8058 (toll-free) — wyomingbar.org — online request form; Modest Means Program available
Legal Aid: Legal Aid of Wyoming — 877-432-9955 — lawyoming.org — focuses on guardianship, simple wills, advance directives
Other: Equal Justice Wyoming — 307-777-8383 — legalhelpwy.org — free legal aid clinics statewide including probate/wills advice. University of Wyoming Estate Planning and Probate Clinic — 307-766-6416 — free simple wills and estate planning for low-income Wyomingites

What to Ask When You Call

When you reach one of these organizations, the first conversation usually goes faster if you can answer:

Where you live and where the deceased lived (legal aid eligibility is often county-based; probate happens in the deceased's home county)
Your relationship to the deceased (heir, named executor, beneficiary, surviving spouse)
Whether there is a will, and where it is
Your gross household income (most legal aid programs are 125–200% of the Federal Poverty Level)
A one-sentence description of your problem — for example, "I'm a named executor and another heir is refusing to return property they took before death."

If the first organization can't help, ask: "Can you tell me which organization in this state does handle probate for someone in my situation?" The people answering these phones know the local landscape and will often point you to the right place even if their own program can't take your case.

A Note on Cost

Probate attorneys are not cheap, but most situations don't require a full retainer. Many of the lawyer referral services above will connect you with attorneys who will do a one-hour or "unbundled" consultation for a flat fee — often $50–$200. For a confused executor, an hour with a probate lawyer to ask "is what I'm doing right?" is frequently the single highest-value purchase in the entire estate settlement process.

If you're handling the probate yourself with help from a tool like SwiftProbate, an unbundled consultation is the best of both worlds: you keep doing the administrative work yourself and only pay an attorney for the questions that actually need legal judgment.