Northeast New Jersey Legal Services - NNJLS

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Northeast New Jersey Legal Services - NNJLS We provide free civil (non-criminal) legal help and community legal education to underserved families and individuals in Hudson, Bergen, & Passaic counties.

Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (NNJLS) is a private non-profit agency which provides quality legal help to eligible residents of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties, New Jersey. Our goal is to provide legal help to our clients so that they are able to secure the basic necessities of life and remain safe and secure in their homes. We strive to increase the public's awareness of their legal rights and responsibilities through community legal education seminars on a variety of legal topics. Our services are limited to residents of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties in New Jersey. If you are in need of civil (non-criminal) legal help but do not live in Bergen, Hudson or Passaic counties, please click the link below and contact the legal services program in your area to see if you qualify for assistance:

https://www.lsc.gov/what-legal-aid/find-legal-aid

09/28/2026

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Through NNJLS’s Clean Record Initiative, eligible New Jersey residents may be able to clear their records through expungement and access new opportunities in work and housing.

If you or someone you know could benefit from our help, reach out today.

www.nnjls.org

Thank you to WomenRising and Peace Care for partnering with NNJLS! Our Community Outreach and Engagement Manager, Maria ...
09/16/2026

Thank you to WomenRising and Peace Care for partnering with NNJLS!

Our Community Outreach and Engagement Manager, Maria Betancur, joined community members to share information about the legal services available to them and, just as importantly, when it may be time to seek legal help.

If you or someone you know is facing a civil legal issue, contact NNJLS at www.nnjls.org to learn more about how we may be able to help.

09/14/2026

What does it take to obtain a Final Restraining Orderin New Jersey?

Obtaining a Final Restraining Order (FRO) in domestic violence cases generally involves more than showing that an act of domestic violence occurred. The court may also consider whether there is a continuing need for protection.
Factors that may be relevant to that determination can include:

• A history or pattern of domestic violence
• Whether the parties have a child in common or share custody
• Financial dependency or other ongoing connections between the parties
• The circumstances surrounding the alleged act of domestic violence
• Whether the victim has a reasonable need for continued protection.

In general, a person seeking an FRO must establish a qualifying relationship, prove that an act of domestic violence occurred, and demonstrate a continuing need for protection. If the required elements are established, the court may grant a Final Restraining Order.

Every case is different, and the specific facts and circumstances matter.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs legal assistance in Hudson, Bergen, or Passaic County, NNJLS may be able to help. Contact us at nnjls.org

Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

After losing his SNAP benefits due to a work requirement, a client turned to NNJLS for help. He was connected with NNJLS...
09/11/2026

After losing his SNAP benefits due to a work requirement, a client turned to NNJLS for help.

He was connected with NNJLS Public Benefits Attorney Maura Quinn, who, with the relevant documentation, was able to help him get his SNAP benefits reinstated within just one day.

But his legal needs didn’t end there.

He also shared that he was facing a Section 8 denial and needed help with an expungement. Maura connected him with NNJLS’s Housing Unit, and Pro Bono Unit, which handles expungement matters, for assistance with these additional legal issues.

Afterwards, he shared a heartfelt message:

“Just from meeting you in such little time, you changed my gloom of doom into a bright day of sunshine. Words could not express how thankful I am. Thank you, Maura. You are wonderful.”

For this client, what began as a difficult situation with the loss of his SNAP benefits was resolved in just one day and also opened the door to support with other legal issues affecting his stability.

If you or someone you know in Bergen, Hudson, or Passaic County needs assistance with a civil legal matter, contact us at:

www.nnjls.org

With the school year now underway, access to resources can make a meaningful difference in a child’s and family’s abilit...
09/08/2026

With the school year now underway, access to resources can make a meaningful difference in a child’s and family’s ability to thrive.

That’s why community outreach and education are such an important part of NNJLS’s work.

NNJLS Community Outreach and Engagement Associate Gissell Torres recently represented NNJLS at the Back to School Fair hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic! BGC of Paterson and Passaic

She connected with 100+ families, sharing information about how NNJLS can help families navigate legal issues that impact their children’s education and overall stability, including housing, public benefits, and family-related matters.

A special thank you to the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic for hosting this event and bringing community organizations together to provide families with valuable resources and information to support their children.

09/04/2026

Trump Accounts: What Parents Should Know

A Trump Account is an investment account in the child’s name, with a parent or guardian serving as the sole custodian until the child turns 18.

Who qualifies for the $1,000 contribution?
U.S. citizen children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 can receive a one-time $1,000 federal contribution when the account is established and the contribution is elected.

Additional contributions:
Up to $5,000 per year can generally be contributed from other sources, including parents, family members, friends, and other individuals. Employers can also contribute up to $2,500 per year under an eligible employer program, and that amount counts toward the $5,000 annual limit.

One important consideration: We don’t yet know exactly how Trump Accounts and their assets may interact with every government benefit program. Families should consider their individual circumstances before making decisions.

Have questions about the tax implications of a Trump Account? Contact NNJLS at nnjls.org.

After a difficult loss in his family, a young student moved in with his grandmother and faced another major change: his ...
09/02/2026

After a difficult loss in his family, a young student moved in with his grandmother and faced another major change: his school district wanted to move him from the private school that was meeting his needs to an in-district program that could not adequately support his learning and emotional needs.

His grandmother turned to NNJLS for help.

With an advocate’s support, she had already challenged the school district’s decision, but the district continued to refuse to restore his private school placement.

Within a week of NNJLS becoming involved, the school district agreed to continue his placement at the private school, where his needs were being met.

If you or someone you know in Bergen, Hudson, or Passaic County needs assistance with a civil legal matter, contact us at:
http://www.nnjls.org

Substance Use Disorders can intersect with nearly every area of a person’s life, including housing, public benefits, and...
09/01/2026

Substance Use Disorders can intersect with nearly every area of a person’s life, including housing, public benefits, and access to justice.

That’s why NNJLS is investing in deeper training and stronger advocacy.

NNJLS Deputy Director Edgar Espinosa, Managing Attorney of the Public Benefits Unit Lisa Fennell, Assistant Managing Attorney of the Housing Unit Soo Woo, and Housing Attorney Michele B. Lynch recently attended a training on SUD and legal services, hosted by Legal Services of New Jersey.

This training strengthened their understanding of the unique legal and social challenges faced by individuals impacted by substance use, and explored how legal services can play a critical role in supporting stability, housing, and access to essential benefits.

We’re proud to keep learning, growing, and equipping our team to provide meaningful advocacy for the communities we serve.

08/28/2026

For too many families in New Jersey, getting the right education isn’t simple, it can become a struggle.

That’s where NNJLS steps in.

We provide free legal help to families facing education-related challenges, from fixing IEP issues and securing disability accommodations to addressing school discipline, transportation barriers, and bullying.

If your child isn’t receiving the support they need, you don’t have to navigate it alone. We’re here to help you advocate for their future.

Contact us at http://www.nnjls.org

Yesterday, we were celebrating Women’s Equality Day and the progress made toward gender equality, while recognizing the ...
08/27/2026

Yesterday, we were celebrating Women’s Equality Day and the progress made toward gender equality, while recognizing the work still ahead!

NNJLS Executive Director, Leah Ashe, joined fellow members of the Hudson County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and Hudson County employees for a Women’s Equality Day celebration hosted by Craig Guy and the Hudson County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

Thank you to Craig Guy and the Hudson County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls for bringing our community together to celebrate progress, recognize the work that remains, and keep the conversation around gender equality moving forward.

Address

574 Summit Avenue, Fl 2
Jersey City, NJ
07306

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+12017926363

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