The Domestic Relations Self-Help Desk offers free legal consultations to pro se, or self-represented, litigants on family matters including divorce, custody, visitation and child support. The Desk is a joint project of CARPLS (Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services) and the Circuit Court of Cook County .

To qualify for a free legal consultation, clients must meet all of the following criteria:

• they are low income and able to demonstrate that they cannot afford to hire an attorney;
• their legal problem involves a simple family law matter within the Domestic Relations Division;
• they are not currently represented by an attorney; and
• they are willing to represent themselves in court.

All clients will be served on a first come first serve basis. No appointment is necessary.

Services at the Domestic Relations Self-Help Desk are limited to the following:

• Referrals to available legal aid and social service providers.
• Information and Advice on the legal principles, court procedures and rules of evidence governing a client's case as well as an assessment of the appropriateness of proceeding pro se.
• Document Preparation on a limited number of pleadings for simple and/or uncontested family law matters including petitions, judgements, motions and orders.

The CARPLS Self-Help attorney WILL NOT represent clients in court. The Desk is designed to help clients help themselves. Many family law matters are too complicated for clients to proceed on their own, and the CARPLS Self-Help attorney may determine certain clients cannot proceed in court without an attorney.