Louisiana Legal Aid (LouisianaLawHelp / SLLS / Acadiana)
Last updated August 2026
Free civil legal aid in Louisiana comes from regional programs: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services covers the southeast, with Acadiana Legal Service Corporation and Legal Services of North Louisiana covering the rest. The easiest way in is Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org, which lets you search by parish and connects you to the program for your area.
Louisiana evictions move fast, so read this carefully. Before an eviction, a landlord must give a written notice to vacate, and a tenant behind on rent then has five days to pay the overdue rent and stay. That notice is your chance to fix it.
There is a catch that surprises people: a Louisiana lease can waive the notice-to-vacate requirement. So check your lease now, before there is a problem, because you may not get a separate warning.
After the five days, the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit called a Rule for Possession. You have the right to appear in court and present your case at that hearing before any judgment, so do not skip it.
The end of the process is quick. If the judge rules for the landlord, an eviction order issues and you usually have only about 24 hours to leave before the sheriff removes you. That short window is exactly why acting early, at the notice stage, matters so much.
Beyond housing, Louisiana legal aid covers family law, public benefits, consumer and debt issues, wills and estates, and disaster-related problems. Move fast: apply through Louisiana Law Help the day papers arrive, and dial 2-1-1 for local rent funds that can pay the balance within the five days.
Phone 1-844-244-7871
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Low-income Louisiana residents with a civil, noncriminal legal problem; each legal aid program sets its own income guidelines
- The self-help legal information at louisianalawhelp.org is free for everyone, with no income screen
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Check your lease now; a Louisiana lease can waive the notice-to-vacate requirement.
- 2
If rent is due, act within the five-day pay window; call 2-1-1 about emergency rent funds.
- 3
Apply for free legal help through Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org, searchable by parish.
- 4
If sued, appear at the Rule for Possession hearing; after a judgment you may have only about 24 hours.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much time do I get for unpaid rent?
After a written notice to vacate, a tenant behind on rent has five days to pay the overdue rent and stay. But a lease can waive the notice requirement.
How fast can an eviction happen?
Fast. After the five days, the landlord files a Rule for Possession; if the judge rules for the landlord, you usually have only about 24 hours to leave before the sheriff removes you.
Can I fight the eviction?
Yes. You have the right to appear in court and present your case at the Rule for Possession hearing before any judgment.
How do I get free legal help?
Apply through Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org, searchable by parish, which connects you to the legal aid program for your area.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
See all Louisiana programs →Free · Private · No account needed