How to Get Legal Help - For Minors (Under 18) and Adults (18 and Over)

If you are under 18 and have to appear in court in the future, you might be entitled to a lawyer to represent you in the criminal matter, depending on the seriousness of the charges brought by the police and the amount of income or money your parents or guardians have in your household.  Since you are under 18, it is likely that you will be appearing in Juvenile Court, and the first thing you should do is call the clerk of the court where you will be appearing and ask how you can get a public defender to represent you. You either call 2-1-1 to get this information, or you can find a list of juvenile court clerk offices by going here. If your family does not qualify for a public defender to represent you, you should work with your parents to find a qualified criminal defense attorney in your area that is experienced in working with juvenile cases.

There are attorneys in Connecticut who work with youth under the age of 18, but it very much depends on the type of legal assistance you are seeking. Here are some issues that might come up where a lawyer can help you with your legal questions.

• DCF Matters
  
  If you are in DCF care (in a foster home, group home or residential placement), you already have a lawyer assigned to your case. This lawyer is there for your questions and should be able to answer your questions. If you do not know who your lawyer is, call your DCF social worker immediately and ask them for the number and email of your lawyer! 
   
• Educational/School Issues
  
  Remember that until you are 18 you are cannot make legal decisions for yourself, but the school should take into consideration your wishes and requests. Tell your parents or guardians that you would like to participate in the educational decision making process and that you want to attend the school meetings (PPT meeting or “504 Meetings”) and be part of the planning for your educational success. If you are in DCF care (foster care, group home etc.) and you receive special education services or accommodations from your school, you should have an “Educational Surrogate Parent” appointed to make educational decisions for and with you. If you do not know who your Educational Surrogate Parent is, contact your DCF worker and ask for that person’s telephone number and email contact information. 
   
• Divorce and Child Custody
  
  If you are under 18 and your parents file for divorce and cannot agree on a child custody plan, you may qualify for an attorney to assist the court (the judge) in making a decision on how to create a custody plan. Your input is very important, and you should make every effort to work with a court ordered attorney or advocate (sometimes called a guardian ad litem) to express your viewpoints and opinions on the custody decision. 
   
  • What if my divorced parents cannot make a joint decision on important medical care for me … is there something I can do about that? 
    Typically divorced parents have to both agree on medical treatment for a minor in order for a doctor or a hospital to proceed ahead with a particular course of treatment. If your parents can’t agree with each other on how your treatment or care should proceed, you can ask one of your parents to inform the court that you would like a lawyer, or guardian ad litem (usually a lawyer who acts on your behalf) appointed for you so that a court can help your parents decide on a course of medical treatment. 
     
• Other Legal Issues  
  
  There might be other legal issues that you’d like to speak to a lawyer about. Some legal resources and organizations that might be helpful are the Center for Children’s Advocacy, the Children’s Law Center (for custody cases), and one of the legal aid programs in Connecticut.  You can find out more about Connecticut’s legal aid programs by going here, or by calling the statewide legal services hotline at 1-800-453-3320. 
  
  If you are interested in finding out more about your options to make healthcare decisions in sensitive areas, such as reproductive healthcare, behavioral health, and gender affirming care, specialty clinics such as Planned Parenthood, and many of the state’s federally qualified health centers (FQHC). You can find a list of all of the FQHC’s by going here, or by calling 2-1-1 to find a health center in your local area. 

If you are charged with a crime by a police department, you might be entitled to a free public defender, depending on the charges brought and your household income. The easiest way to find out if you are entitled to a free public defender is to call the clerk’s office where the charges are pending and ask!  You can find a listing of all of the state’s courthouses and the telephone numbers for the clerks’ offices here. If the clerk’s office tells you that you do not qualify for a public defender based on your household income, you can find a criminal defense attorney by getting a referral from a friend or family member, or looking at the resources offered by organizations such as the Connecticut Bar Association. Private attorneys will charge you for legal representation, so be sure to ask how much the lawyer will charge you and if you need to pay a retainer (money up front) to hire the lawyer.

Depending on the type of legal issue you are facing, you might be eligible for an attorney in a case where attorneys are provided through an insurance policy. For example, if you are involved in a car accident and someone sues you as a result of that accident, it is very likely that the insurance company that provides insurance coverage for the care will also pay for a lawyer to represent you.

If you are injured in an accident, you have the right to find and hire a lawyer to represent you. Ask family members or friends to refer you to a reputable and experienced personal injury attorney who can take a look at your case and give you advice on how to proceed. If you are not able to get a referral for a reputable personal injury attorney, the Connecticut Bar Association, and local attorney referral services can provide you with a list of attorneys who specialize in personal injury law.

If you are sued by a landlord in an eviction action (whether for non-payment of rent or for other reasons), you do not automatically have the legal right to an attorney. You may qualify for an attorney under the state’s “Right to Counsel” law, but that all depends on where you live. If you receive court papers that require you to appear in housing court for an eviction action, please go here to see if you may be eligible for a free attorney.

If you want to speak to an attorney about a housing issue (other than an eviction case), you can call one of the legal aid programs in the state (1-800-453-3320), explore options based on housing discrimination with a fair housing organization (such as the Connecticut Fair Housing Center). If your legal issue involves housing conditions that a landlord or building owner won't fix, you have the right to take your landlord to court. You can find out more about how to start the legal process when a landlord won't make repairs or address serious conditions, by going here.

If you are a parent and the Department of Children’s and Families begins an investigation based on a report that your child may have been abused or neglected, you do not have the right to an attorney appointed by a court, but you do have the right to speak to attorney. If DCF goes to court and files a Neglect Petition (the legal paperwork that starts a child protection case), or if DCF removes your child and you have to appear in court because of allegations of abuse or neglect, then you have the right to a court appointed attorney if you qualify financially. Your child (or children) will also have a separate attorney appointed to represent them during the entire course that DCF stays involved with you and your family.