Family Division Client Services Center and Legal Advice Clinic

Who We Are

Client Services Center and Legal Advice Clinic assist eligible unrepresented litigants in the preparation of motions and petitions to be presented to a Family Court judge.

All Self-Represented Litigants–parties choosing to access the court on their own or without an attorney–may utilize the services of the Client Services Center (CSC). The CSC is located on the first floor of the Family Law Center and is open every day court is open beginning at 8:00 a.m. The last client is seen at 2:00 p.m. The CSC will NOT be open on Court Holidays.

The CSC offers options counseling with a court-employed Domestic Relations Officer and referral to the Legal Advice Clinic. Domestic Relations Officers will provide a party with procedural information in order to allow the party to determine how the party would like to proceed. Domestic Relations Officers will not provide legal advice or instruct a party as to what they should do. Any Self-Represented Litigant may use the services of the Domestic Relations Officers regardless of income.

The Legal Advice Clinic is staffed by volunteer attorneys from the Allegheny County Bar Association and law students and professors from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Duquesne University School of Law. The Legal Advice Clinic offers legal counseling and advice to parties who meet financial eligibility guidelines and are referred by the Client Services Center. Parties who do not meet the financial eligibility guidelines may still use the services of the Domestic Relations Officers.

Who We Serve

Area(s): Allegheny County

Is this organization accessible by wheelchair?: Yes

Does this organization provide access for the hearing impaired?: Yes

Eligibility Restrictions

Everyone seeking assistance through the Client Services Center and Legal Advice Clinic must provide the following information to the court:

Proof of household income (pay stub, bank statement, benefits statement including Department of Public Welfare benefits, unemployment benefits, worker’s compensation benefits and social security benefits), tax returns, W-2 statements, or any other document showing income;

All pertinent court documents or court orders regarding their case;

The address of the opposing party or parties; and

Information regarding involvement, if any, with the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF).

Type of Help

This group provides the following types of services based on your legal needs and its resources:

• Pro Se Legal Clinic
• Other