CLAIM provides legal aid for family law cases only, and only in Illinois. 

We do not represent clients in criminal matters or post-conviction remedies.  We cannot assist prisoners in other states, except when their children and court cases are in Illinois, in rare cases.

CLAIM provides legal advice on family law and foster care issues for mothers in the Cook County Jail and in Illinois prisons.  We provide representation in Cook County courts only.  We represent mothers who are incarcerated or returning home after incarceration, free of charge, for child custody, visitation, or guardianship matters.  We represent children’s caregivers for free, if they cannot afford to hire a lawyer, to be appointed as legal guardians of children, if the parent consents to the guardianship.  For Illinois cases outside Cook County, we can advise and negotiate on behalf of the mother, and help her file responses to petitions and motions.

Our first step in determining whether we can assist a client is to interview her and review any legal papers she has received.  We visit the Cook County Jail, Dwight, Decatur, and Lincoln Correctional Centers on a regular basis.  We sometimes assist mothers in federal facilities as well.  The best way to request help is to provide the mother’s name, ID number, and location, and a description of the situation, including the children’s dates of birth, the case number if any case already has been filed, and if possible, copies of the legal documents.  We accept collect calls from mothers incarcerated in Illinois at 312-675-0911, but they also may write to us at:

       CLAIM

       70 East Lake Street, Suite 1120

       Chicago, IL 60601

If a mother has a court date soon or has been served with notice that requires a response in less than a month, her correctional counselor or a friend in the community should call us at 312-675-0912 so that we can try to set up a time to speak with her before the court date.