Know Your Rights. Get Free Legal Help.

Federal law requiring employers to rehire returning service members in their prior position with full seniority and benefits. Many veterans don't know their employer is legally required to take them back — or that violations can be prosecuted.

Nonprofit providing free legal representation to veterans appealing denied VA benefits claims. Trains attorneys and VSOs nationwide and publishes the Veterans Benefits Manual.

Matches veterans appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims with free pro bono attorneys. One of the largest pro bono programs in the country.

Online legal resource hub connecting active duty, veterans, and military families with free legal aid organizations by state. Covers family law, housing, consumer debt, and more.

Connects active duty service members and their families with free civil legal assistance through a network of volunteer attorneys across the country.

Many state-level Volunteer Lawyers Projects offer free civil legal services to low-income veterans. Search your state bar association for a local chapter.

Free legal services for veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area covering VA benefits, discharge upgrades, housing, and employment discrimination.

Step-by-step guide to applying for a military discharge upgrade through the Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military Records. A better discharge can unlock VA benefits.

Legal advocacy and resources for homeless veterans facing eviction, criminalization of homelessness, and barriers to housing. Connects veterans with local legal aid.

Free legal services for homeless and at-risk veterans in Southern California, including VA benefits, housing, family law, and criminal record expungement.

Free legal assistance for low-income veterans in Massachusetts covering VA benefits, housing stability, family law, and consumer debt.

DAV National Service Officers provide free, expert assistance filing VA disability claims, appeals, and benefits applications. Over 260 offices nationwide. No membership required to use the service.

VFW Service Officers provide free assistance with VA claims, appeals, pension, and survivor benefits at no cost. Available at posts nationwide and by phone.

Accredited Service Officers help veterans file and appeal VA claims at no charge. The Legion also provides legal referrals and advocacy for veterans' rights.

Free legal referrals and crisis support for veterans. Connects veterans with attorneys for VA claims, discharge upgrades, housing, and family law matters.

Assists veterans in obtaining military records needed for VA claims, discharge upgrades, and benefits applications. Free service through the National Archives.

Legal resources and advocacy for survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), including discharge upgrade assistance and VA benefits claims related to MST.

Free legal assistance for survivors of military sexual assault seeking discharge upgrades, VA benefits, and accountability. Connects survivors with pro bono attorneys.

Network of law school clinics across the country providing free legal representation to veterans on VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and civil legal matters. Students supervised by licensed attorneys.

Free benefits counseling and legal assistance for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. National Service Officers help with VA claims, appeals, and benefits.

Free VA benefits counseling and claims assistance for post-9/11 combat-wounded veterans. WWP Benefits Services team helps navigate the VA system.

Statewide network of free legal clinics for California veterans covering VA benefits, discharge upgrades, housing, and family law. Operated through the State Bar of California.

Free civil legal services for low-income veterans in Los Angeles County including VA benefits, housing, consumer debt, and elder law.

Free legal assistance for Texas veterans through the Texas Veterans Commission. Covers VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and referrals to pro bono attorneys statewide.

Free civil legal services for low-income veterans in East and Southeast Texas including housing, family law, consumer debt, and VA benefits.

Free legal services for veterans in Florida through the Florida Bar Foundation. Covers VA benefits, discharge upgrades, housing, and family law.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Central Florida including housing stability, family law, consumer issues, and benefits access.

Free civil legal services for low-income veterans in New York City covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and VA benefits.

Free legal help for veterans in New York City with housing, benefits, family law, immigration, and consumer debt matters.

Connects Illinois veterans with free legal aid organizations statewide for VA benefits, housing, family law, and discharge upgrades.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Northern and Central Illinois covering housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits.

Statewide network of free legal aid for Pennsylvania veterans covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Ohio including housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits access.

Free civil legal services for veterans in rural Georgia covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Connects North Carolina veterans with free pro bono legal services for VA benefits, housing, family law, and discharge upgrades.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Central Virginia including housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Washington State covering housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Colorado covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Maricopa County, Arizona covering housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits.

Free legal services for veterans in Michigan through the State Bar of Michigan. Covers VA benefits, discharge upgrades, housing, and family law.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Central Minnesota covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Eastern Missouri including housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits.

Connects Tennessee veterans with free legal aid statewide for housing, family law, consumer debt, and VA benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Maryland covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in New Jersey covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Greater Boston covering housing, family law, consumer debt, immigration, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in rural Oregon covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Southern Wisconsin covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Indiana covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in South Carolina covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Alabama covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Southeast Louisiana including housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Oklahoma covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Arkansas covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Mississippi through the Mississippi Bar's pro bono program covering housing, family law, and consumer issues.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Iowa covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Kansas covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Nebraska covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Eastern South Dakota covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in North Dakota covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Montana covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Idaho covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Nevada covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in New Mexico covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Utah covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Hawaii covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Alaska covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free legal services for homeless and at-risk veterans in Connecticut covering VA benefits, housing, discharge upgrades, and civil legal matters.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Rhode Island covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Vermont covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in New Hampshire covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Maine covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Delaware covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in West Virginia covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Washington DC covering housing, family law, consumer debt, VA benefits, and discharge upgrades.

Free civil legal services for veterans in Wyoming covering housing, family law, consumer debt, and public benefits statewide.

The American Bar Association's lawyer referral network. Many state bar referral services offer a free or low-cost initial consultation (typically 30 min) and attorneys who accept reduced fees for veterans. Specifically ask for attorneys with military/veteran experience in family law. Income limits do NOT apply — this serves the middle-income gap.

Military OneSource provides free legal consultations and referrals for family law matters including divorce, custody, and child support. Active duty, Guard, and Reserve members (and their families) get 12 free counseling sessions and legal referrals at no cost. Separating veterans retain access for 180 days post-separation.

Judge Advocate General (JAG) offices provide FREE family law legal assistance including divorce, custody, child support, and separation agreements. Active duty, activated Guard/Reserve, and RETIRED veterans with a valid military ID are eligible. Many veterans don't know retirees qualify. Walk-in or appointment — call your nearest installation's legal assistance office.

Unbundled legal services (also called 'limited scope representation') let you hire an attorney for only specific tasks — drafting documents, reviewing agreements, coaching you for court — instead of full representation. Costs 50-80% less than traditional representation. UnbundledLegalHelp.com and your state bar's 'modest means' program connect veterans with attorneys who offer this model for family law cases.

Nonprofit connecting veterans with family law attorneys who understand military-specific issues: PTSD/TBI impacts on custody evaluations, deployment and custody modifications, military pension division (USFSPA), and VA disability in divorce proceedings. Offers sliding-scale fees and pro bono matching. Specifically addresses how combat-related conditions are misused against veterans in custody battles.

The Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA) governs how military retirement pay is divided in divorce. Critical: VA disability compensation CANNOT be divided as marital property (Howell v. Howell, 2017 Supreme Court). Many veterans don't know this and lose disability pay in settlements. DFAS provides direct payment to former spouses under the 10/10 rule. Understanding this before negotiating a settlement can protect thousands per month.

The SCRA protects servicemembers and recently separated veterans from default judgments in divorce and custody cases during deployment. Courts must delay proceedings if military service materially affects the ability to appear. Also caps interest rates on pre-service debts. Many veterans don't know SCRA protections can apply to custody modifications filed while they were deployed.

The Kentucky Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service connects residents with licensed Kentucky attorneys. Initial consultations are typically $50 or less. Many KBA attorneys offer reduced fees for veterans and sliding-scale arrangements. No income limits — specifically useful for veterans who earn too much for legal aid but need affordable family law representation.

NKU Chase College of Law operates a Veterans Legal Clinic providing free legal services to Kentucky veterans. Covers VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and family law matters. Law students supervised by licensed attorneys handle cases. Located in Highland Heights, KY — serves Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area veterans.

UK Law's Veterans Clinic provides free legal representation to Kentucky veterans. Supervised law students handle VA benefits appeals, discharge upgrades, and civil legal matters including family law. Located in Lexington — serves Central and Eastern Kentucky veterans.

Jefferson County (Louisville) Veterans Treatment Court connects veterans involved in legal proceedings with legal advocates, treatment resources, and case managers. The court's legal advocates can refer veterans to family law attorneys and reduced-fee services. Even if not in the court system, the program's resource coordinators can connect veterans to family law help.

The Kentucky Justice Association (trial lawyers association) maintains a referral network including attorneys who offer reduced fees and payment plans for veterans in family law cases. Many plaintiff-side family law attorneys in Kentucky will do free initial consultations and work on modified fee arrangements for veterans.

NMFA maintains a directory of legal resources specifically for military families navigating divorce, custody, and family law. Includes referrals to attorneys familiar with military-specific issues: deployment custody orders, SCRA protections, USFSPA pension division, and how VA disability ratings interact with divorce proceedings. No income limits.

Many state Volunteer Lawyers Projects have dedicated veterans initiatives that serve veterans above legal aid income thresholds through 'modest means' programs — reduced fees (typically $75–$150/hr vs. $250–$400/hr market rate) rather than free. Search your state bar's VLP or call the national line for a referral to your state's program.

LawHelp.org is a nationwide directory of legal aid and reduced-fee legal services organized by state. Filter by 'family law' and 'veterans' to find programs in your state. Includes both income-based free services AND moderate-means programs with reduced fees. Many listed programs serve veterans above standard legal aid income limits.

During divorce proceedings, VA pension and disability compensation have specific protections veterans must know: (1) VA disability is NOT divisible as marital property, (2) VA pension CAN be considered income for support calculations, (3) apportionment of VA benefits to dependents is possible but requires a specific VA process — not a court order. The VBA's Pension Management Centers can clarify how benefits interact with divorce proceedings.