Urgent legal help: where to start

If time is short, use the route that fits your situation. Here4Legal is a directory. We do not provide emergency help or advice on a case. Do not wait for a reply through our website contact form.

Where this applies: 999 is the UK emergency number. The police-station and housing-loss routes below are for England and Wales.

By Here4Legal · Updated · About 2 minutes to read

Someone is in immediate danger

Call 999. For domestic abuse support, the government guide lists help and explains how to contact the police if you cannot speak.

Official emergency and domestic abuse routes

You are being questioned at a police station

In England and Wales, ask the police for free legal advice or the duty solicitor. The advice is independent of the police. You do not need to find a private firm through this directory first.

Your right to police-station legal advice

You may lose your home

If you have written notice that someone is seeking possession of your home, check the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service. It offers free help in England and Wales. Mention any hearing date when you contact an adviser.

Find housing-loss advice

You have court papers or another deadline

Keep the papers and ask a suitable adviser to check the deadline promptly. Tell them the date at the start of the call. For a work problem, check the current Acas guidance. Different claims and dates can have different rules.

Acas guidance on work-related time limits

Find the kind of legal help you need →

Sources and further help

We used the sources below when updating this guide. Follow them for the latest details. This is general information, not advice on your case.