Neighborhood Legal Services

I currently live out of state, but my child support case has always been in New York State. I have never filed a child support case in my current state; my case has always been handled in my hometown in New York. I contacted this office seeking assistance and initially spoke with someone who seemed willing to help. I was asked to send all of my child support documents, which I did. Afterward, I received a text telling me that I needed to contact Legal Aid in my current state and request an LSC referral. I followed those instructions. After spending approximately 4–6 hours on the phone trying to reach someone, Legal Aid in my current state explained that they could not provide me with the referral because my child support case is in New York State and that I needed to seek legal assistance in New York. I called this office back and explained exactly what I had been told. Then, only a few days before my next court date, I received a phone call from Neighborhood Legal Services around 3:30–4:00 p.m. telling me that I needed to contact Legal Aid in my current state AGAIN, this time to request a denial letter. By that time, offices were closing, Legal Aid in my current state does not operate on Fridays, and I had a full day of appointments the following day. Considering I had already spent 4–6 hours trying to reach them the first time, I could not simply sit on the phone for several more hours with only a few days' notice before court. When I was finally able to reach Legal Aid in my current state again, they told me they do not issue denial letters and there was nothing they could provide me. They were also confused as to why I continued to be sent back to them when I have never had a child support filing in this state and my case is entirely in New York. I even called legal aid in my current state again today 8/25/26, just to make sure I wasn’t receiving the wrong information even though I was told the same thing twice. Low and behold, the person on the phone today stated the same exact thing the last two representatives told me. They cannot help me and I need to seek assistance in New York State. What was most frustrating was that I had already explained this situation to Neighborhood Legal Services, yet I was contacted only days before court and told to obtain a document from an office that had already explained it could not assist with my New York case. I was then essentially told in a “oh well” type of tone that without this letter, there was nothing Neighborhood Legal Services could do for me. The entire experience consisted of being sent back and forth between two states, spending hours on the phone, following the instructions I was given, and still receiving no assistance. At this point, I am better off continuing to represent myself, as I have been doing.

Signed up for a lawyer filled out and handed in paperwork they said they would call never did. Went to court they said I wasn't there client and refused to represent me. I don't understand how I filled out paperwork talked to someone had a conversation about the date and now suddenly. They have no idea who am I have no record of me. When I went to go solve the issue they were no help, and when I walked away laughed and said what was that about. I would not recommend this company ridiculous just playing with people

Very helpful. They helped me against a landlord during a difficult time.

This is the worst service you can provide for anyone in need of assistance.. you never get a call back.. you have to leave a million messages and keep getting passed around like a football,,