Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in Wisconsin
Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in Wisconsin, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.
Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases
Statewide: No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. Wis. Stat. ch. 799
- Madison: No right to counsel. Free representation may be available through EDDP partner attorneys for Dane County households at or below 50% of area median income. Source
- Milwaukee: County-level program. On June 24, 2021 the Milwaukee County Board adopted a measure declaring a right to counsel for residents facing eviction or foreclosure and funding an 18-month pilot. Eviction Free MKE, with Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, provides it. Current eligibility rules (ZIP code and income) and whether it is legally enforceable were not verified. Source
Free legal aid organizations
- Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee — Listed by the court: (414) 727-5300, 728 N. James Lovell St.Serves: Milwaukee County (Milwaukee)
- Tenant Resource Center - Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership (EDDP) — Eviction services 608-257-0006 ext 7.Serves: Dane County (Madison)
- Legal Action of Wisconsin — Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents statewide, including evictions; offices include Green Bay and Milwaukee. Intake (855) 947-2529.Serves: Waukesha County (Waukesha), Brown County (Green Bay), Racine County, Kenosha County, Outagamie County, La Crosse County
- Legal Action of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Area Office — 300 Ohio Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902. Serves Winnebago and nine other counties. Apply online or call (855) 947-2529; no walk-in intakes; the local office line (920) 233-6521 is for current clients only.Serves: Winnebago County
Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in Wisconsin
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.
- State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service — 1-800-362-9082Talking with a legal assistant by phone is free; the online referral system charges a non-refundable $30 fee.
Official court and state resources
- DATCP – Tenants' Rights and Responsibilities
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 – Security deposits
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09 – Prohibited practices
- Wis. Stat. ch. 704 – Landlord and Tenant (PDF)
- Wis. Stat. ch. 799 – Small Claims / Eviction (PDF)
Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.
← Wisconsin landlord-tenant law · Legal help in other states
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.