These are four different things wearing similar badges: marketplaces that pass your case to lawyers, directories you browse yourself, firms that sell fixed-price stages, and free legal aid. Check the free options first.
Worth knowing: Free and income-qualified help exists in every state. Check legal aid and bar referral options before paying for a match. Ratings and verified badges on directories are the platform's own systems, not government or bar approval, so always check a lawyer's licence with the state bar.
A public information service linking to lawyer referral services, free legal help, military and veteran resources, and the licensing records that let you check a lawyer is real.
What you get
Referral service links
Free legal help
Licensing lookups
Pros
Free
Routes to both free help and local referral services
Links to lawyer licensing lookups
Cons
It points you onward rather than solving anything itself
Family law service listed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York and Texas
A tech-forward law firm offering flat-fee family law representation with a client portal and payment plans, aimed at people who want a real lawyer without an open-ended retainer.
A matching network for unbundled (limited scope) representation: pay a family lawyer to review your agreement, coach you for a hearing, or draft one document, rather than hand over the entire case.
A locator for the 129 independent nonprofit legal aid organisations funded across every state, DC and the US territories, plus LawHelp's free legal information and forms.
What you get
Search by address or city
Nonprofit legal aid
Free legal information
Pros
Genuinely free for people who qualify
Nationwide coverage
Family stability, domestic violence, support and custody are core work
Post a civil legal question online and have it answered by a volunteer attorney, if you meet the programme's eligibility rules. Family, divorce and custody questions are commonly covered.
A large directory with peer ratings, client reviews and free Q&A. Not a service in itself, but the fastest way to sanity-check a local family lawyer before a consultation.
A case-posting marketplace. You describe the matter for free and lawyers in your area and practice area are notified, then interested ones respond with their profile and terms.
What you get
Case posting
Lawyer responses
Profiles and fees
Pros
Free to post
Lawyers come to you
Saves the shortlisting work
Cons
Your case details are shared with participating lawyers