Site Help
Using this website
What Is OKLaw?
OKLaw is a one-stop web site sponsored by Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. It's a place for low-income Oklahomans and Senior citizens to find information about their legal rights and free legal assistance.
If you have access to a printer, it may be helpful to print a copy of this page so you can refer to it as you go.
Questions about:
- How do I find Legal Help?
- How do I find Legal Information?
- How do I "Search"?
- Type of help from organizations
- Income Guidelines
- Can I get help if my income is more than the guidelines?
- Special Groups
How do I find Legal Help?
If you are looking for free or low-cost legal services, start by clicking " Find Legal Help" on the blue bar that runs across the top of each page. This will take you to a "Search" page, to help you locate what you need:
- Enter your city, county or zip code: Type your city, county or zip code in this box.
- Choose your legal issue: First select a topic from the drop-down menu. This will make a list of "sub-topics" appear underneath. For example, you could choose "Housing" from drop-down list. Then choose a sub-topic such as "Foreclosure & Foreclosure Prevention," "Landlord and Tenant Problems," or "Fair Housing" from the list underneath.
- Click GO
This will bring up a list of legal aid offices and community organizations that provide the services your county. Click on any name in the list for information about how to contact them.
How do I find legal information?
From the OKLaw.org Homepage, you will see columns full of legal topics, like "Housing,"Family Law," Consumer and Debt," and "Disability." There are a total of 17 topics, and you will have to scroll down the page to see them all.
When you find the topic that best describes your legal problem, click on it. This will bring you to a list of "sub-topics" that should describe your legal problem more closely. So, for example, if you are being evicted from an apartment, you would start by:
- Clicking on the "Family Law" topic, then
- Clicking on the word "Divorce" in the sub-topics section.
This will bring you to a list of printable resources and websites. Click on any of the titles for information about your rights.
How do I use the "Search" feature?
You can also find information by using a "Search." The search feature is located in the light blue box at the upper right hand side of the OKLaw Homepage. To use the search, just type in a few words to describe the information you need, and click on the GO button.
This will bring up a few articles related to your search. If you don't get any results, try again with less specific terms, and double-check to make sure all the words are spelled correctly. It also helps to use all lowercase letters (ex: "divorce" instead of "Divorce") and to avoid using any punctuation.
Type of Help
There are several different ways in which an organization can provide help:
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Full Representation - by a lawyer or a legal advocate in court or at a hearing at a government agency.
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Brief Advice - in person or over the telephone.
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Legal Clinic - where you can briefly talk to an attorney about your legal proble.
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Pro Se Clinics - where you are shown how you can "help yourself" with a particular legal problem
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Self-Help - educational materials such as factsheets and brochures
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Other - workshops, referrals to private attorneys, and other services.
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Note: Not all organizations provide all the services listed.
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Income Guidelines
Some organizations cannot serve people with incomes higher than these, or some percentage of these, guidelines. We cannot guarantee assistance from an organization even if you meet its income guidelines.
Many legal services groups use the chart below to decide who can receive help. The chart shows you how much your household income must be to meet 125% or 200% of what the Federal government considers to be the poverty level. "Family Size" is the total number of people in the household.
2024 Federal (HHS) Poverty Guidelines
48 Contiguous states and D.C.
Family |
125%(2) |
200%(3) |
|
1 |
$18,825 |
$30,120 |
|
2 |
$20,550 |
$40,880 |
|
3 |
$32,275 |
$51,640 |
|
4 |
$39,000 |
$62,400 |
|
5 |
$45,725 |
$73,160 |
|
6 |
$52,450 |
$83,920 |
|
7 |
$59,175 |
$94,680 |
|
8 |
$65,900 |
$105,440 |
(2) For families of more than 8 people, add $6,725 for each additional family member.
(3) For families of more than 8 people, add $10,760 for each additional family member.
Can I get help if my income is larger than the guidelines?
Some organizationscannot serve people with incomes higher than their guidelines. OKLaw does not guarantee assistance from an organization even if you meet its income guidelines.
Many legal aid organizations use percentages of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to decide who can receive help. Assets also affect eligibility for services and are determined on a case by case basis by each legal services program.
Some organizations may make exceptions for seniors, people experiencing domestic violence or other specific programs based on the kind of legal problem. Also, some organizations take into account expenses such as childcare, medical bills and debts.
Special Groups
Some organizations only serve special groups such as:
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Children
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Seniors
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People who are HIV positive or related to those with HIV.
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People experiencing domestic violence.
Be sure to look at these other requirements carefully before contacting an organization.