Pro Bono FAQs

Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. is a non-profit (501C-3) agency, which provides legal services in civil matters without charge to indigent persons in Brevard County, Florida. The free legal services are provided by BCLA staff or local attorneys who volunteer their time and expertise to assist low-income persons with civil legal problems.

Who Is Eligible?

Any low-income person whose non-criminal civil law case falls within the jurisdiction of the Brevard County Courts may apply. Only those persons who meet the case and financial eligibility guidelines will be accepted for services. To be financially eligible, applicants must have a gross income not exceeding 125% of the poverty level established by the U.S. Department of Labor

What Type of Cases Will Be Accepted?

Civil Matters in:

     Family Law*
     Domestic Violence
     Guardianships
     Consumer cases that exceed small claims
     Landlord/Tenant with meritorious defense in dispute with
     private landlord
     Loss of money or property with meritorious defense
     Advice Clinic
     Will Clinic

Also:
     Legal services, as needed, by persons over 60 years of age
     or by persons diagnosed terminally ill.

In addition to offering direct legal services to persons unable to afford an attorney, BCLA also coordinates and collaborates with other agencies on projects that will benefit the community and its less fortunate residents. Those projects include, but are not limited to, community education, adopt an agency, victims of domestic violence and volunteer lawyer mentoring.

*Since financially eligible applicants exceed, by far, the available attorney resources, specific criteria is applied for case acceptance in the area of Family Law. Priority is given to victims of domestic violence that have children residing in their home and to respondents in dissolution of marriage cases that have children's issues to be resolved.

How Do You Apply?

You may call or visit the BCLA office at 1038 Harvin Way, Suite 100, Rockledge, FL 32955, (321) 631-2500. You will be pre-screened for eligibility. If it appears that you are eligible for services, an intake appointment will be set to complete an application and be interviewed by a staff member. (If you are homebound or hospitalized, alternative intake provisions can be made).

If your case is accepted for representation, you will be required to sign an affidavit, under oath, that your statements on your application are true and correct. This affidavit will be notarized and you must have an appropriate photo I.D. for the notarization. Your case will then be referred to either a staff attorney or a volunteer attorney who has agreed to waive his or her fees. However, there may be court costs, filing fees and other miscellaneous expenses connected with your case that cannot be waived.

If BCLA is unable to accept your case for representation by an attorney or you are not in need of full representation, you may be referred to an appropriate agency or scheduled for the free advice clinic. The clinic is held once a week and is staffed with volunteer attorneys who are qualified to give legal advice or provide a brief legal service. Additionally, a will clinic is available for seniors and financially eligible applicant seeking assistance with basic estate planning matters.