Catholic Charities Legal Services
Catholic Charities Legal Services assists people residing within the Roman Catholic Charities Diocese of Springfield in Illinois with little to no income in obtaining Pro bono legal assistance from area attorneys in specialized fields while also providing compassion, empathy, and a listening ear to all who come seeking help. Through the CCLS program, our program director matches a client's legal case with an area lawyer who has agreed to represent him/her.
Catholic Charities Legal Services believes that regardless of a person's ability to pay, every human being has a right to competent legal counsel. Through CCLS, the program director matches a client's legal case with an area lawyer who has agreed to represent the client. This community-based, quality legal services program provides qualifying clients with the best legal service area lawyers can offer, with compassion, empathy, and a listening ear to all the clients who come seeking help.
CCLS provides assistance in these areas:
To learn more about adoptions, your rights, and how to start the process of adoption, click here.
CCLS refers many creditor/debtor cases to Legal Advocates for Seniors and People with Disabilities.
If you are curious about filing for bankruptcy, we suggest that you read about the steps involved and what kind of bankruptcy would best suit you. Visit IL Legal Aid.
You must be heard in court for Guardianship cases. To learn more about guardianships, visit Illinois Legal Aid Online.
To obtain a State Guardianship, visit GAC IL
Another useful site for general questions is Law Depot.
Visit "The Immigration Project", for more information and additional resources. CCLS refers the majority of immigration cases to "The Immigration Project."
Here are a few questions to expect to be asked if you have a landlord-tenant issue:
- Do you have a lease?
- How long have you lived there?
- Have you ever received an eviction notice?
If you have a lease, please send it to legalservices@cc.dio.org following your initial call.
To learn more about your rights as a renter/landlord, visit Illinois Legal Aid Online.
To see a list of Government Benefits and Services in the Sangamon Co. area (and other surrounding counties), click here.
If you believe that you qualify for our services, begin filling out the intake form from the link below. Once it has been completed, our legal assistant will begin working to find a volunteer attorney for you or our legal director may be able to assist you.
CCLS Intake Form
Do you have a will? If you do not, select ‘Free Will’ below and follow the instructions. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at 217-523-9201.
Free Will
Contact Information:
Phone Number: 217-523-9201, Ext. 317
Email: legalservices@cc.dio.org
Resources
- Madison County Legal Self-Help Center (618-296-4472)
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Legal Advocates for Seniors and People with Disabilities
- Land of Lincoln Legal Services
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
- IL Courts
- IL Court Forms
- IL Legal Aid Online
- The Immigration Project
- Law Depot
Click here for a full list of approved standardized statewide forms.
- Springfield Community Resources
- Children's Home and Aid Society (618-334-4246)
- Sojourn Crisis Shelter (217-726-5100)
- Oasis Women's Center (618-465-1978)
- Mercy Communities
- Catholic Charities Springfield (217-523-4551)
- Catholic Charities Carlinville (217-854-4511)
- Catholic Charities Decatur (217-428-3458)
- Catholic Charities STL (314-367-5500)
- Mason Co. Meals on Wheels (217-428-3459)
- Equip for Equality
- Catholic Charities Granite City (618-877-1184)
- Catholic Charities Belleville (618-235-9601)
- NAMI (217-522-1403)
Click here for a full list of Governmental Resources/Services.
- Helping Hands of Springfield (1023 E. Washington, Springfield, IL)
- Contact Ministries (1100 E. Adams, Springfield, IL)
- The Salvation Army, Springfield, IL (1600 E. Clearlake Ave., Springfield, IL)
- Kumler Outreach Ministries (303 N. Grand Ave., Springfield, IL)
- Washington Street Mission (408 N. 4th St., Springfield, IL)
- Fifth Street Renaissance (1315 N. 5th St., Springfield, IL)
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