Housing Justice Project (King County Bar Association) — Kent & Seattle
Free legal help for low-income tenants who have been served with an eviction summons or have an eviction case filed in King County Superior Court. Go to a clinic at the Kent or Seattle courthouse, or ask for a remote intake if you cannot attend. Staff can help you respond to the summons, and if you qualify an attorney may advise you, talk with the landlord or represent you in court. Because of high caseloads HJP cannot promise a lawyer to every tenant, and cannot currently promise help once a court has already ordered a writ of restitution and judgment. The Kent location serves South King County cases. Services: help responding to an eviction summons, attorney advice, eviction court help for qualifying tenants, help with eviction paperwork
Where: Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 4th Ave N, Room 1281, Kent, WA 98032 (also King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Ave, Room W314, Seattle, WA 98104)
Hours: Kent (Maleng Regional Justice Center, Room 1281): Monday-Thursday 10am-12pm. Seattle (King County Courthouse, Room W314): Monday-Friday 10am-12pm. Hours can change, so check the KCBA page or call before you go. Some older directories still list 8-10:30am.
Accessibility: Online accommodation-request form; email assistance option; drop-in child care during court appearances (Kent)
Cost: Free
Who can use: Low-income tenants in King County who have received an eviction summons or have an eviction case filed. County directories list a limit of 200% of the federal poverty level and say you must still live in the unit; landlords, business tenants and homeowners are not served. A lawyer is not guaranteed, and help may not be available once a court has ordered a writ of restitution. For other urgent eviction problems KCBA points people to 2-1-1.