Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in Washington

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in Washington, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.

Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases

Statewide: Yes, statewide (2021 c 115). Subject to appropriated funds, the court must appoint an attorney for an indigent tenant in an unlawful detainer case under chapters 59.18, 59.12 and 59.20 RCW, administered by the Office of Civil Legal Aid. Indigent means receiving specified public assistance (e.g., TANF, SSI, Medicaid, food assistance) or having after-tax income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. RCW 59.18.640

King County (Seattle): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. King County appointed-counsel provider: King County Bar Association Housing Justice Project (per OCLA oversight report listing). Source
Pierce County (Tacoma): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Pierce County appointed-counsel provider: Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers' Housing Justice Project (per OCLA oversight report listing and HJP's own site). Source
Snohomish County (Everett): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Snohomish County: the court's eviction page names Northwest Justice Project and Snohomish County Legal Services (Appointed Counsel Program) as resources for indigent defense. Source
Spokane County (Spokane): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Spokane County: OCLA lists an oversight site-visit report for the Spokane County appointed-counsel program; the specific contracted provider was not confirmed on a loaded page. Source
Clark County (Vancouver): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Clark County: the court's ACES page directs low-income renters to the screening line (1-855-657-8387 / nwjustice.org/eviction-help); the contracted local provider was not confirmed. Source
Thurston County (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Thurston County Superior Court has certified that appointed counsel is available and has entered an administrative order on right to counsel in unlawful detainer cases; the contracted local provider was not confirmed on a loaded page. Source
Whatcom County (Bellingham): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Whatcom County: the local appointed-counsel provider was not confirmed on a loaded page. Source
Yakima County (Yakima): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Yakima County Superior Court has a standing order on appointment of counsel for indigent defendants in unlawful detainers; the court refers tenants to the Eviction Defense Screening Line. Source
Kitsap County (Bremerton, Port Orchard): Statewide right to appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases (RCW 59.18.640), administered and funded by the Washington Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) through contracted legal aid providers. The court must advise unrepresented tenants of the right. Kitsap County: tenants screen through Kitsap Legal Aid Services (360-479-6125) or the statewide Eviction Defense line (1-855-657-8387), per the Superior Court's Eviction Resources page. Source
Benton County: Right to counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer cases has been provisionally operational in Benton and Franklin Counties since January 3, 2022; the court has a Standing Order re Appointment of Counsel in Unlawful Detainer Proceedings. Source
Skagit County: Skagit Legal Aid's Housing Justice Project represents eligible tenants in Skagit County Superior Court unlawful detainer cases under the Washington Right to Counsel Law. Source
Spokane: Yes, statewide: Washington provides appointed counsel to eligible low-income tenants in eviction cases. See the Washington state page.
Tacoma: Yes, statewide: Washington tenants in eviction cases with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level qualify for free appointed counsel (Eviction Defense line 1-855-657-8387). Source

Free legal aid organizations

King County Bar Association - Housing Justice Project (HJP) — Free legal help for renters facing eviction in King County; OCLA's appointed-counsel provider for King County. Walk-in at King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Room W314.
Serves: King County (Seattle)
Eviction Defense Screening Line (statewide, Northwest Justice Project) — 1-855-657-8387 or apply online. Screens tenants for appointed counsel under RCW 59.18.640; tenants qualify if income is under 200% of the federal poverty level or they receive public assistance (TANF, SSI, food assistance, Apple Health, etc.).
Serves: King County (Seattle), Pierce County (Tacoma), Snohomish County (Everett), Spokane County (Spokane), Clark County (Vancouver), Thurston County (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater)
Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers - Housing Justice Project — Appointed Counsel Team represents low-income tenants served with an unlawful detainer summons and complaint in Pierce County; attend your show cause hearing so counsel can be appointed.
Serves: Pierce County (Tacoma)
Snohomish County Legal Services - Housing Justice Project / Appointed Counsel Program — Full representation through its Appointed Counsel Program; walk-up clinic at the Snohomish County Superior Courthouse, Room 1-537, Mon-Fri 9-11 am; phone (425) 258-9283 ext. 0. Low-income Snohomish County residents.
Serves: Snohomish County (Everett)
Community Mediation Services — Landlord-tenant mediation (listed by the Clark County Law Library).
Serves: Clark County (Vancouver)
Kitsap Legal Aid Services — Listed by the Superior Court for appointed-counsel screening: EvictionDefense@KitsapLegalAid.org or 360-479-6125.
Serves: Kitsap County (Bremerton, Port Orchard)
Skagit Legal Aid - Housing Justice Project — Represents eligible low-income tenants in unlawful detainer cases under Washington's right-to-counsel law in Skagit, San Juan, Island and Whatcom County Superior Courts; also advises on evictions and helps with rent-assistance applications. Call or text (360) 230-8100 or email HJP@skagitvlp.org. Monthly clinic at Burlington Library, first Wednesday 5-7 p.m.
Serves: Skagit County
Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR hotline — Statewide legal aid hotline linked from the Skagit County Clerk's Landlord Tenant Resources page.
Serves: Skagit County

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in Washington

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.

King County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (Seattle / King County area) — 206-267-7100
Referral is free; the referred attorney offers a short initial meeting at no charge (no document review), then regular hourly rates apply.

Official court and state resources

Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.