Three Rivers Legal Services Inc - Gainesville, FL
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. is a non-profit civil law firm headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, providing free legal advocacy in domestic violence injunctions, family law, tenant eviction defense, foreclosure prevention, and public benefits across seventeen North Florida counties.
Free Civil Legal Advocacy and Family Protection in Gainesville, Florida
Access to justice should never depend on financial wealth. When low-income households, abused individuals, military veterans, and elderly citizens face urgent civil legal crises, having dedicated legal counsel can prevent homelessness, secure safety, and preserve essential income. Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc., headquartered on Northeast 16th Avenue in Gainesville, Florida, stands as a pillar of equal justice. Established in 1978, this non-profit law firm provides free civil legal representation to eligible individuals across seventeen counties in North Florida, including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Levy, and surrounding communities.
Funded through the Legal Services Corporation, the Florida Bar Foundation, and local municipal grants, the firm's staff attorneys and volunteer pro bono lawyers handle critical civil cases before state and federal courts. Whether an individual needs an attorney urgently to escape domestic abuse or seeks to hire an attorney through legal aid to fight an unlawful residential eviction, Three Rivers Legal Services provides high-caliber, compassionate legal representation at no cost to qualified clients.
Domestic Violence Injunctions and Family Law Advocacy
Protecting vulnerable survivors and their children from physical harm and coercion is a core mission of the firm. Individuals seeking to find a lawyer who will champion their personal safety rely on Three Rivers Legal Services across essential family law matters, including:
- Domestic violence injunctions: Representing victims of intimate partner violence, stalking, repeat violence, and sexual assault in obtaining emergency and permanent protective injunctions.
- Divorce and child custody: Handling contested divorce, paternity establishment, and parental timesharing cases when safety, domestic abuse, or child welfare is at stake.
- Child support and maintenance: Establishing and enforcing child support orders to ensure children have access to healthcare, food, and stable shelter.
- Elder law and senior advocacy: Protecting elderly residents from financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, and unlawful guardianship petitions.
Housing Preservation, Eviction Defense, and Foreclosure
Stable housing is fundamental to family wellbeing. The firm provides formidable legal representation to keep vulnerable families in their homes:
- Tenant eviction defense: Representing low-income tenants facing unlawful eviction notices, hazardous housing conditions, code violations, and utility shutoffs.
- Foreclosure defense: Defending low-income homeowners against predatory lending practices and mortgage foreclosures to preserve homeownership.
- Fair housing rights: Challenging unlawful housing discrimination based on race, disability, familial status, or source of income.
Consumer Protection, Debt Relief, and Public Benefits
Economic stability is vital for overcoming poverty. Staff attorneys assist clients with consumer law issues, predatory debt collection defense, Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings, and securing critical public assistance benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Medicare, and veteran benefits.
Recognized Community Leadership and Equal Justice Impact
Holding a 4-Star Charity rating from Charity Navigator and operating regional offices in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Lake City, Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. provides bilingual services in English and Spanish, delivering transformative legal advocacy that protects human dignity throughout North Florida.
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Location & Access
Primary Address
Situated in the northeastern part of Gainesville, in a prominent community services and medical corridor off Northeast 16th Avenue.
Building Location
The office is located in a single-story commercial office building within the NorthGate Campus. This multi-building commercial park is situated near Highlands Presbyterian Church and the Alachua County Health Department.
Parking Details
Free parking is available for visitors in the spacious on-site surface customer parking lot surrounding Building I.
Public Transit
Served by Regional Transit System Route 3 (Inbound/Outbound); nearest stop is at Department of Children and Families.
Accessibility / Suite Access
Locate Building I within the NorthGate Campus. Walk directly to the front entrance of Building I, which features convenient ground-level, wheelchair-accessible entry.