From Houston to El Paso, when you're arrested, served an eviction at a Justice of the Peace court, or CPS shows up at the door, you can't wait for Monday at 8:30am. Call the Legal Hotline free, 24/7, at 1-844-690-0555. You'll speak with our AI legal assistant, trained on Texas and federal law — plain-language legal information, in English or Spanish. Need a lawyer? We can book you a paid consultation with one licensed in Texas.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Texas.
If you need help in Texas tonight, pick up the phone and call 1-844-690-0555 — it's free and answered any hour. Tell our AI legal assistant what's happening: a DWI arrest in Harris County, an eviction notice on your door in Dallas, a custody order, a CPS visit. You'll get clear legal information on how Texas law works and what your options are — not legal advice on your specific case, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by calling. If you decide you want representation, we can book you a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in Texas. If you've been arrested, say less to police, ask for a lawyer, and call us — we'll walk you through what comes next.
Texas has no duty to retreat. Under Penal Code Chapter 9, deadly force is legally presumed reasonable when someone unlawfully and forcibly enters your occupied home, vehicle, or workplace, and since 2007 Stand Your Ground extends that to anywhere you're lawfully present. People call this the 'Castle Doctrine,' though no statute carries that name. Here's what TV won't tell you: the presumption doesn't protect an initial aggressor, a provoker, or someone committing a crime, and prosecutors still scrutinize every detail. If you've used force to defend yourself, what you say next can decide whether you walk free or face charges. Call 1-844-690-0555 first — free information on how Chapter 9 actually works, then a Texas attorney if you need one.
Texas has a strong network of free and low-cost legal help, but most of it runs on business hours and income tests (legal-aid groups generally serve households at or below 125% of the federal poverty level). These organizations are excellent for civil matters like eviction, family, and benefits — just know they can be slow and eligibility-gated. The Legal Hotline is different: instant, 24/7, free legal information with no income test, in English or Spanish. Use both. Here are the genuine Texas resources worth knowing.
Wherever you are in Texas, the line is free and answered 24/7 — including:
Is there a free legal hotline in Texas I can call right now?
Yes. Call the Legal Hotline at 1-844-690-0555 — it's free, answered 24/7, and there's no form or income test. You'll speak with our AI legal assistant, trained on Texas and federal law, and get clear legal information about your situation in English or Spanish. Unlike the State Bar referral line at (800) 252-9690 or legal-aid offices like Lone Star Legal Aid, we don't close at 4:30pm and we don't screen you by income first. We give legal information, not legal advice, and if you want a lawyer, we can book a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in Texas.
I was just arrested in Texas. What should I do tonight?
Stay calm, say as little as possible to police beyond identifying yourself, and clearly ask for a lawyer — then stop talking. Anything you say can be used against you, whether you're in the Harris County jail in Houston or a small-county lockup. You have the right to remain silent under both Texas law and the U.S. Constitution. Call the Legal Hotline at 1-844-690-0555 as soon as you can; we'll explain how Texas criminal procedure works, what arraignment and bail look like, and your options — that's legal information, not advice on your case. If you want representation, we can connect you with a Texas-licensed criminal defense attorney.
Is a DWI different from a DUI in Texas?
Yes, and it matters. Texas charges 'Driving While Intoxicated' (DWI) under Penal Code § 49.04 — the legal limit is 0.08 BAC, and a first offense is a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 180 days in jail, a fine up to $2,000, and a driver's license suspension. 'DUI' in Texas is reserved for minors under the Alcoholic Beverage Code. DWI cases move quickly and the license consequences can start before your criminal case is over. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on how the process works in your county, then book a Texas attorney if you want one to fight the charge.
I got an eviction notice in Texas — how much time do I have?
Eviction in Texas is a 'forcible detainer' case heard in a Justice of the Peace court, and it moves fast. A landlord usually must give a written notice to vacate (commonly three days, unless your lease says otherwise) before filing, and once filed you typically have only a few days before the hearing. Do not ignore the papers — missing the date usually means you lose by default. Texas also has strong homestead protections under Property Code Chapter 41, though those don't stop a landlord eviction. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for information on your deadlines and options; Lone Star Legal Aid may also help if you qualify.
CPS took my child or is investigating me in Texas. Can you help?
Yes — call 1-844-690-0555 right away. CPS (the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services) cases run through the District Courts and move on tight legal timelines, with early hearings that shape everything that follows. You generally have the right to a lawyer, and in removal cases the court may appoint one if you can't afford it. We'll give you clear legal information about how the Texas CPS process works, what to expect at the adversary hearing, and your rights as a parent — that's information, not advice on your specific case. If you want representation, we can book you a consultation with a Texas family-law attorney.
Hablan español? ¿Puedo recibir información legal gratis en español?
Sí. La Legal Hotline contesta en español las 24 horas, gratis, al 1-844-690-0555. Aproximadamente uno de cada tres tejanos habla un idioma distinto del inglés en casa, la mayoría español, y nuestro asistente legal con inteligencia artificial, entrenado en la ley de Texas y la ley federal, le da información legal clara — no asesoría legal sobre su caso específico, y llamar no crea una relación abogado-cliente. Si necesita un abogado, podemos conectarlo con uno con licencia en Texas (ese es un servicio pagado por separado). Llame ahora, a cualquier hora, sin formulario y sin prueba de ingresos.
Are my partner and I common-law married in Texas?
Possibly. Texas is one of the few states that still recognizes informal (common-law) marriage under Family Code § 2.401. You're legally married if you (1) agreed to be married, (2) lived together in Texas as spouses, and (3) held yourselves out to others as married — no ceremony or license required. That carries real consequences for divorce, property division, and inheritance. Note that if no one starts a case within two years of the couple separating, the law rebuttably presumes there was no agreement to be married. If you're separating or sorting out an estate, this can change everything. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for information, then book a Texas attorney if you need one.
How does the Legal Hotline differ from a lawyer or legal aid?
We're a fast first step, not a law firm. Call 1-844-690-0555 and our AI legal assistant gives you general legal information about Texas and federal law instantly, 24/7 — but it does not give legal advice on your specific case, is not a substitute for a licensed attorney, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by calling. Legal-aid groups like TRLA or LANWT offer free representation but screen by income and operate in business hours. If you decide you want a lawyer, we offer a separate paid service: booking a consultation with an attorney licensed in Texas. You get answers now, plus a clear path to representation if you want it.
How do I get a lawyer in Texas if I have no money?
Start with the free options. In criminal cases, if you can't afford counsel you can apply for a court-appointed attorney or public defender — tell the court at your first appearance and complete the financial affidavit. For civil matters, TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid ((833) 329-8752), Lone Star Legal Aid, and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas ((888) 529-5277) help eligible low-income Texans, generally at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. For instant, free information any hour with no income test, call the Legal Hotline at 1-844-690-0555 — and if you ultimately need to hire someone, we can book a Texas-licensed attorney.
Is it legal to shoot an intruder in Texas?
Texas law is protective but not unlimited. Under Penal Code Chapter 9, there's a legal presumption that deadly force was reasonable when someone unlawfully and forcibly enters your occupied home, vehicle, or workplace, and Texas imposes no duty to retreat anywhere you're lawfully present. But that presumption does not protect an initial aggressor, a provoker, or someone committing a crime, and prosecutors examine every fact. This is exactly the kind of high-stakes situation where what you say afterward matters enormously. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on how Chapter 9 self-defense law works — that's legal information, not advice — and we can connect you with a Texas criminal attorney.
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General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Whether you're in Houston, El Paso, the I-35 corridor, or a small town along the border, legal trouble doesn't keep business hours — and neither do we. Call the Legal Hotline free at 1-844-690-0555, any hour, in English or Spanish. Get clear legal information now, and book a Texas-licensed attorney if you need one.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.