Get Legal Help
Children & Education
Legal Aid
Helps at-risk children succeed in school and assists patients and their families at Cincinnati Children's Hospital primary pediatric clinics resolve obstacles that impact their health and stability. https://lascinti.org/what-we-do/practice-groups/children-education/
Call (513) 241-9400 or 1-800-582-2682
Children’s Law Center
Assisting youth and young adults with:
Juvenile or Criminal Justice system (due process, incarceration issues, civil rights),
Family Court (protection from harm, custody),
Child Welfare system (homelessness, lack access to education and other services),
Child Victims (legal representation in criminal proceedings and family court matters in which the child is the victim/witness),
Mental Health system (unmet mental health needs),
Education systems that do not meet needs (enrollment, attendance, disability rights, discipline),
Youth in Transition (helping youth transition back into their communities after being in out of home placements)
Call 859-431-3313 or visit https://www.childrenslawky.org/
Domestic Violence & Protection Orders
Women Helping Women
Support services to help plan for safety, answer legal questions, connect with services like housing, and advocate by your side as you recover from dating violence. domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Call 513-381-5610 or visit https://www.womenhelpingwomen.org/
Criminal Records & Court Costs
Criminal Records Expungement
Some criminal convictions and non-convictions can be sealed or expunged, depending on eligibility. Sealing a criminal case record does not destroy or erase the record, but does make it unavailable for public access like in some types of background checks. Expungement permanently destroys the record. It will no longer come up in background checks.
Fees
Free for dismissals, no bills, and other non-conviction cases
$50 per application for convictions (can request to have multiple records bundled into one application as long as the cases are from that court)
"Example: If you apply to seal three misdemeanors and two felonies in Hamilton County, you would need to file an application in the Hamilton County Municipal Court for the three misdemeanors with a $50 non-refundable fee and file an application in the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court for the two felonies with the $50 non-refundable fee." (total cost: $100)
Can't afford the fee(s)? File an Affidavit of Indigency to ask the Court to find you indigent.
Find Case Information
Or visit the Sheriff’s Office at the Hamilton County Justice Center (cost is $5.00) to get the list of cases
For a Midemeanor
Print off the form and fill it out ahead of time: Municipal Sealing/Expungement Form > or get them at the Justice Center.
File your form(s) at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Room 112 (1000 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202), (513) 946-6021 Monday – Friday 8AM – 3PM
For a Felony
Print off the form and fill it out ahead of time: Common Pleas Sealing/Expungement Form > or get them at the Justice Center.
File your form(s) at the Hamilton County Court House, Room 315 (1000 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202), (513) 946-5697 Monday – Friday 8AM – 4PM
Free legal clinics give clients an opportunity to explore options available to people with criminal records and outstanding court costs with a team of people from OJPC ready to help you.
Get Help With:
Record sealing or expungement
A Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE)
Collateral sanctions of a conviction and how they will effect job, housing, and education prospects
Court fines and fees mitigation
Register for a Virtual Legal Clinic: bit.ly/secondchanceclinic
Questions? Email the team at secondchance@ohiojpc.org
Hamilton County Municipal Court Help Center
Provides people with education, information, and limited legal advice. https://cincyhelpcenter.org/
Call 513-946-5650
Location: Hamilton County Courthouse, Room 113
Address: 1000 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Walk-in Visits Available: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Housing & Discrimination
HOME offers a variety of services to help eliminate illegal housing discrimination, prevent homelessness, and educate tenants and landlords about their fair housing rights and responsibilities.
Call 513- 721-4663 or visit https://homecincy.org/
Legal Aid works to keep low-income clients threatened with foreclosure or eviction affordably and fairly in their homes or apartments.
Call (513) 241-9400 or 1-800-582-2682 (toll free)
IDs & Birth Certificates
Hamilton County 513Relief Bus
Get your Ohio birth certificate on-demand and free of charge at the 513Relief Bus. Check their calendar for stops near you: https://513relief.org/bus/
Hamilton County Public Health
https://www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org/services/for-residents/certificateordering/
Birth Certificates
The fee is $24 per certificate; cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card (see their website for transaction fees).
Order by:
Phone: 513-946-7800
Mail: Print and fill out their application form. Mail to address on the form: https://www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/birth_cert_app.pdf
Office: 250 William Howard Taft Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45219 (* Same day service available in-office)
Make a correction to your birth certificate or your child’s birth certificate:
Email Vitals@hamilton-co.org or call (513) 946-7800
Add a Father (Paternity Affadavit Required from Ohio Dept Job and Family Services) >
St Vincent de Paul
Get Ohio state IDs anytime at the SVDP Neyer Outreach Center (1125 Bank St, Cincinnati, OH 45214) Monday - Friday 8:30AM- 4:30PM or Saturday 8:30AM - 12PM. Limit of 2 Ohio state IDs 2 per household.
Free Birth Certificates can be requested through your local SVDP Conference or, if your area isn't being served by a local conference, on the 1st Thursday of each month from 9AM - 12PM at the SVDP Neyer Outreach Center (1125 Bank St, Cincinnati, OH 45214). Limit 2 birth certificates per household per lifetime.
Eligibility
Must have been born in Ohio
Must be requesting for yourself or a minor dependent
Must be able to pick up the birth certificate at the Elm Street Clinic within 30 days of the request
Must not already have a copy of the birth certificate being requested
Must not have previously received 2 birth certificates for your household from SVDP
Questions? Contact your local SVDP Conference, call SVDP Cincinnati at (513) 421-0602, or visit the SVDP Neyer Outreach Center (1125 Bank St, Cincinnati, OH 45214)
Freestore Food Bank
Get Ohio state IDs and/or birth certificates at the Freestore's Liberty Street Market (112 E Liberty St, Cincinnati, OH 45202) the first 2 Mondays of each month (8AM - 4PM). Bring proof of address.
Questions? Call (513) 357-4822 or visit the Freestore's Liberty Street Market (112 E Liberty St, Cincinnati, OH 45202)
Immigrants & Refugees
Provides pro bono legal services across a spectrum of humanitarian needs for low-income immigrant and refugee families. Their lawyers leverage a network of valued and trusted partner services that provides holistic support for families including clothing, housing, food, financial assistance, trauma counseling, early childhood education, English classes, and much more. All of our services are provided free of charge.
Call 513-828-0577
Assists immigrants who have been victims of family violence, human trafficking or other crimes, obtain stable immigration status.
Call (513) 241-9400 or 1-800-582-2682 (toll free)
Income, Work and Health
Legal Aid
We help low-income clients overcome a wide range of barriers to obtaining and retaining employment, serve those who have served our country, and help families obtain medical and benefit coverage. https://lascinti.org/what-we-do/practice-groups/income-work-health/
Call (513) 241-9400 or 1-800-582-2682 (toll free)
United Way (211)
Speak to a trained professional who can connect you to essential community services — 24/7, 365 days a year. Translation services available.
Their certified information and referral specialists are trained to listen, engage, ask questions, assess your needs and connect you to a community resource from our large database of local providers in the tristate.
How to Contact Them
Dial 211 or 513-721-7900
Text "211CARES" to 51555
Online Request - https://www.uwgc.org/get-help/united-way-211/intake-form
What Can 211 Help With?
The 211 service can help you find and access a number of resources (kind of like a Google search specifically for finding assistance for your situation). Below are just a few of the things they can help you find:
BASIC NEEDS: Food, Clothing, Cleaning Supplies, Low-Income Help, Transportation, Community Meals, Fresh Food, Housing, Child Care, Baby Supplies (Food, Diapers, etc.)
HOUSING: Tenant Rights, Public Housing, Rent Assistance, Mortgage Help, Homelessness, Relocation, Section 8, Care Shelters (Abuse, Youth, Elderly, Homeless, Women, Families), Senior Housing, Housing Complaints, Emergency Assistance
UTILITIES: We can help if you're struggling to pay bills or deposits for Electric/Power, Gas, Heat, Sewer, Water, Telecommunications (including Internet Access) and more.
MENTAL SERVICES: Support Groups, Therapy Referrals, Care Providers, Family Counseling, Counseling Providers, Adult and Child Behavioral Health Programs and Support, Bereavement and Grief Support, Identifying Mental Health Support Providers, Psychiatric Support Services, Specialized Support Hotlines.
HEALTH CARE: Health Screenings, Diagnostic Services, Substance Abuse Services, Immunization, Disability Information, New Parent and Expectant Parent Servies, Vaccinations, Prescription Medication Discounts, and more.
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Job Training, Career Fairs, Continuing Education, Employment Agencies, General Employment Resources and Career Counseling Services.