Find practical starting points for legal help, parenting, and everyday support. United States resources open by default; switch to the world view for reviewed international sources.
Child-welfare support
Understand the process. Find the right questions.
These federal information resources focus on child-welfare agency involvement. They do not replace advice about your case, current state law, a safety plan, or a court order.
Primary guide · U.S.
Navigating the Child Welfare System as a Father
Child Welfare Information Gateway · Children’s Bureau, ACF, HHS · October 2024
A practical guide for fathers involved with child welfare, including fathers who live apart from their children. It covers case planning, court involvement, services, support networks, and questions to ask a caseworker or attorney.
Important limits: Educational guidance—not legal advice or a custody determination. Laws, safety needs, agency practice, and court orders vary.
A referral hub for child-welfare support, state complaint contacts, parent legal information, and family services.
Important limits: The Gateway cannot intervene in an individual case or provide crisis counseling. Its links to outside providers do not mean that the U.S. government endorses those providers.
Case Planning for Families Involved With Child Welfare Agencies
Child Welfare Information Gateway · State Statutes Series · Current through April 2018
A five-page historical overview of state requirements for child-welfare case plans, including who participates and what plans may contain.
Important limits: Not a source of current law or ordinary custody guidance. Confirm today’s requirements with the responsible agency, court, or a qualified lawyer.
Links reviewed October 2, 2026. Source credit identifies the publisher; it does not imply that the U.S. government or any listed organization partners with or endorses Fathers Are Parents Project.
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These are independent services. Eligibility, coverage, fees, and availability vary; a listing does not guarantee assistance.
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Legal helpNational directory
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Find an LSC-funded legal-aid organization using an address or city. Select a county above to open a local search.
Use SAMHSA’s treatment locator to explore providers by location, services, and payment options. Confirm availability and fees directly with the provider.
The county search uses Legal Services Corporation’s locator. Court-resource directories cover every listed state, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Reviewed official local-court or court-clerk directories currently cover 39 listed jurisdictions and 2,665 county equivalents; selected states have reviewed court self-help guides. Additional cards appear only where a reviewed locator or service has an explicit geographic scope. They are starting points, not a complete county-by-county service directory or an endorsement. Court districts may differ from county boundaries.
Locations follow the 2025 Census county and county-equivalent list for the 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Other U.S. territories can use the national directories. Nationwide directory links reviewed September 16, 2026; local-court and court-clerk directory sources reviewed October 7, 2026 through October 8, 2026.
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Found an outdated link or a useful official local resource? Send the public URL and the area it serves. Please leave out private case records and children’s identifying information.
These U.S. Department of Justice directory links cover every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. They are starting points for finding courts and public legal information; court districts, forms, fees, and filing rules must be confirmed with the relevant court.
Where a direct court self-help source has been separately reviewed, it is listed here in addition to the national directory.
California families & children — California Courts’ guides to family matters, including child custody, parenting time, and child support.
Colorado court self-help — Colorado Judicial Branch resources by case type, including family cases, forms, and a directory of self-help centers.
Indiana self-service legal center — Indiana Judicial Branch information for people representing themselves, with links to legal help and form resources.
Kentucky legal self-help — Kentucky Court of Justice resources for representing yourself and finding civil legal assistance.
Maryland family court help centers — Maryland Judiciary’s directory of family court help centers. Check the location’s current schedule and services before visiting.
Montana Court Help Program — Montana Supreme Court resources for civil legal problems, including self-help services and local resource information.
New York family issues & divorce — New York Courts’ information about family matters, including custody, visitation, support, and divorce.
Pennsylvania custody information — Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System provides custody-proceeding information, forms, instructions, and confidentiality guidance.
Directory links reviewed September 16, 2026. External organizations set their own eligibility, coverage, and service rules.
For professionals
Professional Directory
Therapists and lawyers can review FAPP's future opt-in directory pathway. Resource-guide links are not professional listings, referrals, endorsements, or partnerships.
Learn what FAPP's educational case-preparation tools can and cannot do, and find public court and legal-aid starting points. The owner-only workspace remains separate and requires sign-in.
This guide is educational. Fathers Are Parents Project does not provide legal representation, treatment, or emergency services. External organizations set their own eligibility and service rules.