MODERATE MEANS PROGRAM
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Moderate Means Program is designed for clients who need legal representation for family law and have limited resources. Qualified applicants will be referred to a lawyer who will provide up to 30 minutes of Free consultation and then charge $250 per hour, with an initial deposit of $3,000. Additional pre-payments may be required to continue the case.
Before you can be referred to a Moderate Means attorney you must
- Meet the qualifications on the Maximum Income Level chart, below.
- You may not have any assets more than $5,000, excluding the family’s principal residence, retirement accounts and personal vehicle.
- Complete the Moderate Means Program Application and pay a non-refundable $45 application fee. Clients seeking referrals through the Moderate Means Program for family law disputes must complete the application before any referral can take place.
- Be able to pay a $3,000 retainer fee to the attorney at the time they are hired. Please see here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Moderate Means Program
- You must agree to the Moderate Means Code of Conduct and sign the Client Agreement that is incorporated into the application.
For a complete description of the program, please read our Qualifications for Family Law Moderate Means Program.
Do I qualify?
In order to qualify for the Moderate Means Program you must be able to answer ‘yes’ to the four questions below:
- Is this a family law issue?
The Moderate Means Program is only for Family Law issues. For other issues, please contact our Lawyer Referral & Information Service at (925) 825-5700. - Is the family law issue in Contra Costa County?
All cases must be in Contra Costa County. If your case is in another county, contact that county’s bar association. The State Bar of California Certified Lawyer Referral Service Directory.
- Do you meet the qualifications on the Maximum Income Level Chart?
| Persons In Household |
Total Monthly Income (Gross)* |
| 1 | $2,713 |
| 2 | $3,679 |
| 3 | $4,644 |
| 4 | $5,610 |
| 5 | $6,576 |
| 6 | $7,549 |
| 7 | $8,506 |
| 8 | $9,472 |
*Child/Spousal support received is not calculated in the monthly income range.
*You may not have any assets more than $5,000, not including the family’s principal residence, retirement accounts and personal vehicle.
- Do you have $3,000 at this time to hire an attorney?
You will need to prepay a $3,000 retainer fee to your attorney to get your case started. The attorney has the right to ask for more money once the retainer is exhausted or below a certain dollar amount. The attorney’s fees are $250 per hour.If you qualify, please print and complete the Moderate Means Program Application.
If you don't qualify
If you meet all the other qualifications but you do not have the $3,000, you do not qualify for the program at this time. All attorneys require that you have a $3,000 retainer. You must pay this upfront before they can start your case. Please feel free to apply for the program once you have the retainer.
Filling out the application & getting started
You’ll need to provide the following information and documents with your application:
- You begin each application by filling in your contact and employment information.
- “Opposing Party Information” is about the person with whom you’re having a legal problem. We need information on this party and if they have a lawyer. If you’re not able to provide all the information for this section, do not worry. Fill it in as best you can. Many times your attorney can find out this information.
- Next, we need to know about the specific legal problem that you’re having. Fill in this information as best you can.
Additional documents that are needed
With your completed application, submit the following
- Application Fee of $45 (non-refundable)
- Four current pay stubs or, if you have automatic deposit, four current bank statements with proof of deposit
- If you are self-employed, provide copies of tax returns for the last two years which include Schedule C and a current year-to-date Profit and Loss statement.
- A list of all your assets, including any property owned, bank accounts and/or retirement accounts.
- If you are not employed, provide a copy of your unemployment or SSI/SSDI monthly benefits.
Do not send original documents, paperwork sent to the program will not be returned.
If you do not have any of the above items, you should call our office at (925) 686-6900. We may be able to suggest something else.
Where to send your fee & application
Send the completed application form, the $45 application fee and all attachments to:
- Scan and email to: moderatemeans@cccba.org
- By mail: Moderate Means Program, CCCBA, 2300 Clayton Road, #520, Concord, CA 94520
A non-refundable $45 application fee is due along with your application. Please note: Beginning July 1, 2026, a surcharge of 3%, which is not greater than the bar association’s actual cost of acceptance, on all credit card payments processed through the CCCBA merchant account. Payments made via debit card, ACH, echeck or traditional checks will not incur the 3% surcharge.
Please be aware that you will need to prepay a $3,000 retainer fee to your attorney to get your case started. The attorney has the right to ask for more money once the retainer is exhausted or below a certain dollar amount. The attorney’s fees are $250 per hour.
What happens next & what you need to do
Once your application has been submitted along with the processing fee and all necessary documentation, we’ll review your request. Please allow up to two weeks to process your completed application, signed waiver and documents.
If you qualify for this program, you’ll be sent (via mail or email) the attorney’s contact information. Then, you must call the lawyer yourself to set up a meeting. Generally, the process takes several weeks from the time the application is received to the time you meet with the attorney.
Once you schedule an appointment, you should discuss any questions with your lawyer, The Moderate Means staff cannot help you with this information.
