“I put off calling for months because I thought it would cost thousands. They told me my fee on the first visit, and it was a number I could live with.”
Denise W.Divorce client
Safe Harbor Legal Clinic, Durham
Start by finding out what usually happens
Safe Harbor is a nonprofit family law clinic. Tell us what’s going on at home, and a lawyer will explain in plain words what a judge tends to do about your kids, your house and your money. You pay what your income allows.
Worries we hear every day
Which worry is loudest tonight?
Pick the one that keeps you up. Each page was written for people in your spot, not for other lawyers.
What happens to my kids?
Who they live with, when the other parent sees them, and what a judge looks at first.
Read about the kidsWhat happens to my house?
Staying put, selling, or buying out a spouse, and what a mortgage in both names means.
Read about the houseWhat happens to my car?
Who keeps it, who keeps paying for it, and what to do when the loan is in your spouse’s name.
Read about the carHow will I pay the bills?
Child support, spousal support, and what changes when one of you loses a job.
Read about supportWhat if I’m not safe at home?
How a protective order works, how to ask for one, and how to leave this site in a hurry.
Read about safetyWhat if my stepchild isn’t legally mine?
Stepparent and grandparent adoption, and who has to agree to it.
Read about adoption
Your first call
A conversation, not an intake exam
We ask what’s happening, who’s involved and roughly what the household earns, so we can tell you whether the clinic can take your case. If we can’t, we tell you who can.
If you can come in, we meet at the clinic on Holloway Street. If you can’t, we talk by phone or video. Either way, you leave with the next steps in writing.
No papers needed for the first call
A lawyer, not a call center, decides what we can take
Interpreters on request
Nothing you say is passed to the other side
What we take
The cases we take, and the ones we don’t
Family court only. For criminal charges, immigration or landlord disputes, we’ll point you to another clinic that handles them.
Parenting time and support
A schedule the kids can live with and a support amount you can pay.
Parenting time and support
Protective orders
Asking a judge for distance, or answering an order you were served.
Protective orders
After the hearing
What families say once it’s over
“The lawyer drew me a calendar of how the school year would work. I walked into court knowing what I was going to ask for.”
Marcus T.Parenting time client
“I was scared to even open the website at home. The button that closes it fast made me brave enough to read the whole thing.”
Priya S.Protective order client
Sample testimonials. Each client’s case is different, and a good experience here doesn’t predict the outcome of yours.
Before you call
The questions we hear most
Who can the clinic help?
Parents and spouses with a family law problem whose household income is too high for free legal aid and too low to hire a private lawyer. We screen on the first call, and if we can’t take you, we’ll tell you who might.
What will it cost?
Our fee is set by your income and household size and agreed in writing before any work starts. Court filing fees are separate; we help you ask the court to waive them if you qualify.
Will the other side know I called?
No. What you tell us is confidential, and we don’t contact anyone on your behalf until you ask us to.
Can you represent both of us?
No. A lawyer can’t advise two people on opposite sides of a case. If you and your spouse agree on everything, we can help you each find the right next step.
What if I’m afraid of being found on this site?
Use the Leave this site button at the top of every page. It closes this page and opens a weather site. It’s also wise to clear your browser history afterward.
Tell us what’s going on. We’ll tell you what to expect.
Send a few lines, or call. We answer the phone during office hours and write back as soon as we can.