Mississippi Center for Legal Services (South Mississippi Legal Aid)
Last updated August 2026
Mississippi Center for Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income people and seniors in southern Mississippi. Reach it through the intake hotline at 1-800-519-2915. Online intake may be closed, so the hotline is the way in. If housing papers arrive, call right away, because Mississippi's eviction deadlines are short.
Start with the rule that catches people off guard. For nonpayment of rent, Mississippi law lets a landlord give written notice that the rental agreement ends if the rent is not paid within just three days. There is no long grace period.
The 30-day notice many people expect is a myth here. For a material lease violation other than nonpayment, the landlord must give at least 14 days' written notice specifying the breach, and you can cure it within a reasonable time up to 14 days. But nonpayment is the fast three-day track.
The help goes well beyond eviction. Mississippi Center for Legal Services handles family law like divorce, custody, and child support, plus consumer issues, public benefits, disability rights, and disaster assistance. A benefits denial or a debt problem is worth a call too.
Eligibility is income-based. As a federally funded program, income eligibility is generally at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, so if money is tight, apply rather than assume you earn too much.
Move fast. Call the hotline the day papers arrive, and dial 2-1-1 for local rent funds that might pay the balance within the three days.
Phone 1-800-519-2915
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Low-income residents of the southern Mississippi counties this office serves, on a civil, noncriminal legal problem; each program sets its own income guidelines
- The self-help legal information at mslegalservices.org is free for everyone, with no income screen
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Call the intake hotline at 1-800-519-2915; online intake may be closed.
- 2
If rent is due, act within the three-day window; call 2-1-1 about emergency rent funds.
- 3
For a lease violation other than nonpayment, note the 14-day cure window.
- 4
Ask about family law, benefits, and consumer help too, not just eviction.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much time do I get for unpaid rent in Mississippi?
Just three days to pay after written notice. There is no long grace period for nonpayment.
Isn't there a 30-day notice?
Not for nonpayment. For a lease violation other than nonpayment, the landlord must give at least 14 days' notice with a chance to cure, not 30.
Is Mississippi Center for Legal Services free?
Yes, for low-income people and seniors, generally at or below 125 percent of poverty. It covers eviction, family law, benefits, consumer, and disability issues.
How do I get help?
Call the intake hotline at 1-800-519-2915. It serves southern Mississippi; northern counties are served by North Mississippi Rural Legal Services.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
See all Mississippi programs →Free · Private · No account needed