Legal Aid Nebraska Kinship Care for Grandparents

Raising a grandchild or a relative's child often brings legal questions that no amount of internet searching can settle. Do you need formal guardianship to apply for benefits? What happens if the parents want the child back? Can you consent to surgery without a court order? Nebraska has free legal organizations that can answer these questions and represent you in court — if you qualify.

Legal Aid of Nebraska

Legal Aid of Nebraska is the primary free legal services provider for low-income Nebraskans. They handle guardianship petitions, custody matters, public benefit appeals, and other civil cases for kinship caregivers who meet their income guidelines.

How to reach them:

• Statewide AccessLine: 1-877-250-2016
• ElderAccessLine (age 60+): 1-800-527-7249
• Native American AccessLine: 1-800-729-9908

Call the intake line to apply. A staff member will screen your household income and the nature of your legal issue. If you qualify, Legal Aid can assign an attorney to your case at no cost.

What they help with:

• Filing guardianship petitions in County Court (the legal paperwork, court appearances, and follow-up)
• Responding to custody disputes when a biological parent challenges the placement
• Appealing DHHS benefit denials (when your ADC, Medicaid, or SNAP application was wrongly rejected)
• Advising on temporary delegation of parental powers under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2603

What they cannot do: Legal Aid does not provide representation for criminal matters, and their capacity is limited. High caseloads mean they often prioritize contested court matters — custody disputes where the child's safety is at risk — over routine benefit applications that a caregiver can file without a lawyer.

Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP)

The Nebraska State Bar Association runs the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which pairs low-income individuals with private attorneys who donate their time. VLP attorneys handle many of the same issues as Legal Aid — guardianship filings, probate matters, and family law questions.

To seek VLP assistance, start with Legal Aid's Statewide AccessLine (1-877-250-2016); VLP does not accept direct requests from individuals seeking pro bono help.

Court Self-Help Resources

If you cannot get a Legal Aid appointment or do not meet their income guidelines, Nebraska's court self-help resources can help you navigate forms and procedures. The Volunteer Lawyers Project offers pop-up legal clinics in Omaha and Lincoln and a virtual self-help center accessible statewide. These resources provide legal information, forms, and referrals, but they are not a substitute for advice about an individual case.

Key forms for kinship caregivers:

• Form CC 16:2.4 — Guardian/Conservator General Information Sheet (mandatory confidential filing)
• Form CC 16:2.2.9 — Acceptance of Appointment for a Minor Guardian

When You Need a Lawyer vs. When You Do Not

You do not need a lawyer to apply for ADC child-only grants, Medicaid, or SNAP through the iServe Nebraska Portal. These are administrative applications through DHHS.

You likely need a lawyer when:

• You want to petition for legal guardianship in County Court
• A parent is contesting your caregiving arrangement
• DHHS has denied your benefits and you want to file a Fair Hearing appeal (Form DA-6, due within 90 days of the denial notice)
• The child's safety is at immediate risk

For the benefits side — understanding which programs to apply for, what documents to bring, and how to track your renewals — our Nebraska Financial Help Guide covers the entire DHHS application process so you can handle the administrative work before or alongside any legal representation.

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