Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee: Free Help for Kinship Custody Cases

What the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee Does for Kinship Caregivers

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents across 48 counties in Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau. For grandparents and relatives raising a child who need a guardianship or custody order, LAS attorneys can review paperwork, explain court procedures, and sometimes represent caregivers in court.

Their toll-free intake line is 1-800-238-1443. The Cookeville office can be reached at 931-528-7436 and the Tullahoma office at 931-455-7000.

LAS handles cases including minor guardianship petitions under T.C.A. Title 34, non-parent custody matters in juvenile court, and Power of Attorney for Care of a Minor Child questions. They do not handle criminal matters or cases where a fee-paying attorney has already been retained.

Who Qualifies for Free Legal Aid in Tennessee

Eligibility is based on household income, generally capped at 125% to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. A single grandparent raising one grandchild on Social Security alone will typically qualify. You'll need to provide income documentation during the intake screening — benefit award letters, pay stubs, or bank statements.

If you're above the income threshold, LAS can still refer you to other resources or point you toward self-help filing guides.

Other Free Legal Help Across Tennessee

LAS covers Middle Tennessee, but the state has a full network of legal aid providers:

• HELP4TN Hotline: 1-844-435-7486 — statewide civil legal resources; callers who cannot afford a lawyer can schedule an appointment with a licensed Tennessee attorney
• West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS): 1-800-372-8346 — serves 21 counties in West Tennessee
• Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS): 901-523-8822 — serves Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale, and Tipton counties
• Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET): 865-637-0484 (Knoxville) or 423-756-4013 (Chattanooga) — serves 26 East Tennessee counties

Their service areas and case priorities differ. MALS lists guardianship and custody assistance; call each provider to confirm whether it can help with your case.

What to Do If You're Waitlisted

Legal aid organizations operate under tight staffing constraints, and high demand means some qualified applicants get placed on waiting lists. If that happens:

1. Ask about priority intake — emergencies involving child safety or school enrollment deadlines may be moved up.
2. Call HELP4TN to find civil legal resources and schedule an appointment to speak with a licensed Tennessee lawyer while you wait.
3. File your own petition pro se — Tennessee courts allow self-represented litigants to file guardianship and custody petitions directly at the clerk's counter. Court clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can accept your paperwork.
4. Contact the Relative Caregiver Program — DCS-contracted agencies across Tennessee provide non-legal support including help understanding your options and connecting to community resources.

A free Tennessee Guardianship Filing Checklist covers the basic forms, fees, and court steps for a relative's guardianship or custody petition — enough to get started while waiting for a legal aid appointment.

How Legal Aid Fits into the Guardianship Process

Filing for guardianship or custody in Tennessee involves selecting the right court, serving notice on all required parties, completing any checks the court orders, and attending a hearing. Legal aid attorneys can guide you through each step or, if capacity allows, represent you in court.

Even a single consultation can be valuable. An attorney can confirm whether you need a guardianship, a custody order, or just a properly executed Power of Attorney — a distinction that saves time, money, and the stress of filing in the wrong court.

For the full step-by-step court process, the Guardianship and Custody for Grandparents and Relatives in Tennessee guide walks through every stage from petition to final order.

See more Tennessee guides →