Free legal information, aid organizations, and court resources for residents of Texas. Know your rights and find help.
Provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in Southwest Texas, covering 68 counties with housing, immigration, family, and employment law assistance.
Visit Website →Offers free legal help to low-income individuals in 72 counties of east and southeast Texas in housing, family, consumer, and public benefits matters.
Visit Website →Provides free civil legal services to low-income residents across 114 counties in north and west Texas covering housing, family, and consumer issues.
Visit Website →Provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking across Texas, including protective orders and family law.
Visit Website →Defends civil liberties through litigation and advocacy on issues including immigrants' rights, criminal justice reform, and voting rights.
Visit Website →Non-profit legal advocacy organization working on systemic issues including school discipline, disaster recovery, and financial access for low-income Texans.
Visit Website →Texas has a unique dual supreme court system: the Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil and juvenile cases (nine justices), while the Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal cases (nine judges). Fourteen Courts of Appeals handle intermediate appeals. District Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. County Courts handle lesser matters. Justice Courts and Municipal Courts handle minor civil and criminal cases.
Texas has a unique bifurcated supreme court system. The Supreme Court of Texas (civil) sits in Austin with nine justices. The Court of Criminal Appeals (criminal) also has nine judges. The 14 Courts of Appeals cover different regions, with the largest being the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals in Houston. There are over 450 District Courts statewide. County Courts at Law supplement the constitutional County Courts in more populated areas.
Governs rental relationships under Texas Property Code Chapter 92, covering security deposits, habitability, lock changes for domestic violence victims, and eviction procedures.
Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, and age through the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division.
One of the strongest consumer protection laws in the nation under Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 17, providing for treble damages and attorney fees.
One of the strongest homestead protections in the U.S., protecting unlimited equity in up to 10 urban acres or 200 rural acres from most creditors under the Texas Constitution.
Protects employees from retaliation for reporting workplace violations, filing discrimination complaints, or participating in investigations.
Provides consumers with tools to prevent and respond to identity theft, including security freezes on credit reports at no cost.
Establishes guidelines for child support calculations based on net resources, with provisions for medical support and college expense sharing.
24/7 confidential support for domestic violence victims
1-800-799-7233
Report child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of people with disabilities
1-800-252-5400
Texas Tenant Advisor helpline for housing emergencies
1-888-995-4673
Call or text 988 for immediate mental health crisis support
988
Expanded homestead exemptions and new property tax caps provide significant relief for Texas homeowners following the 2023 constitutional amendment implementation.
New comprehensive data privacy law gives Texans rights to access, correct, and delete personal data held by businesses, effective July 2025.
Justice Courts can now handle civil disputes up to $20,000, increased from $10,000, making legal resolution more accessible for small claims.
Statute of Limitations: 2 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 4 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 2 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 2 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 4 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Typical filing fee: $54-$107 (claims up to $20,000 in Justice Court)
Small claims court is designed for individuals to resolve minor disputes quickly and affordably without an attorney.
Typical filing fee: $250-$400
Civil court handles larger disputes including personal injury, contract breaches, and property claims. Attorney representation is common.
Typical filing fee: $250-$350
Family court handles divorce, custody, child support, adoption, and domestic violence matters. Fee waivers are often available for low-income filers.
Free civil legal services in 68 Southwest Texas counties for housing, immigration, family, and employment matters.
Visit Website →Free legal help in 72 east and southeast Texas counties for housing, family, consumer, and benefits matters.
Visit Website →Free civil legal services in 114 north and west Texas counties for housing, family, and consumer issues.
Visit Website →Free legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking across Texas.
Visit Website →The highest court for civil matters in Texas, with nine justices. Reviews decisions from the Courts of Appeals on civil and juvenile cases.
Visit Court Website →The highest court for criminal matters in Texas, with nine judges. The final appellate authority for all criminal cases in the state.
Visit Court Website →Fourteen intermediate appellate courts handling appeals from District and County Courts. Find your regional court and case information.
Visit Court Website →Over 450 District Courts (general jurisdiction) and County Courts handling trial-level matters. Access court locator and case search tools.
Find Your Court →Residential Tenancies. Governs security deposits, landlord's duty to repair, tenant remedies, lock changes for DV victims, and utility cutoff protections.
Deceptive Trade Practices Act. One of the strongest consumer protection statutes in the U.S., providing for actual damages, treble damages for knowing violations, and attorney fees.
Texas Commission on Human Rights Act. Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, and age. Enforced through the Texas Workforce Commission.
Family Violence Protection. Authorizes protective orders for victims of family violence, including emergency orders, temporary ex parte orders, and permanent protective orders up to two years.
Homestead Protections. Constitutional provision protecting homestead property from forced sale by most creditors, with unlimited value on up to 10 urban acres or 200 rural acres.
Statewide online resource providing free legal information, forms, and self-help tools for Texans who cannot afford an attorney.
Visit Website →Provides free civil legal services in the Austin metropolitan area covering housing, family, immigration, and consumer matters.
Visit Website →Pro bono legal services program connecting low-income Houston residents with volunteer attorneys for family, consumer, and housing issues.
Visit Website →The Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles complaints about scams, deceptive business practices, identity theft, and violations of the DTPA. Consumers can file complaints online, by mail, or by phone.
Phone: (800) 621-0508
Online Complaints: File at texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint
Visit AG Consumer Protection →The TWC Civil Rights Division enforces the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, investigating complaints of employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability. It also handles housing discrimination complaints as a HUD-certified agency.
Phone: (512) 463-2642 or (888) 452-4778
Filing Deadline: 180 days from the discriminatory act (300 days if cross-filed with EEOC)
Visit TWC Civil Rights →