Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Family Legal Care Inc

EIN 13-3910567 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAMILY LEGAL CARE IS AN AWARD WINNING NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING UNREPRESENTED LITIGANTS SO THAT THEY MAY SUCCESSFULLY SELF-ADVOCATE IN THE NEW YORK FAMILY COURTS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
35
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$193,500, ceo (through 8/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (9)
  1. $703,874 spent. FAMILY LAW INFORMATION HELPLINES: OUR BILINGUAL TELEPHONE, EMAIL AND LIVE-CHAT HELPLINES CONTINUE TO BE THE PRIMARY POINT OF ENTRY FOR PARENTS AND OTHERS WHO NEED OUR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, AND A CENTRAL ARTERY THROUGH WHICH CLIENTS CAN ACCESS OUR MORE IN-DEPTH SERVICES. HELPLINE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND WE USE A TRANSLATION SERVICE TO ASSIST CALLERS WHO SPEAK ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES. WE SERVED 15,672 PEOPLE ON OUR HELPLINES IN FY25.
  2. $665,130 spent. LEGAL CONSULTATIONS: UNREPRESENTED LITIGANTS MEET WITH A STAFF ATTORNEY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TO RECEIVE VITAL SUPPORT IN PREPARING A CASE. CONSULTATIONS TAKE PLACE OVER THE PHONE OR VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS. CLIENTS RECEIVE IN-DEPTH ADVICE AND COUNSEL, AND MANY RETURN FOR FOLLOW-UP ADVICE AND SUPPORT. IN FY25 WE COMPLETED 2,747 CONSULTATIONS, INCLUDING 1,470 INITIAL CONSULTATIONS AND 1,277 FOLLOW UP CONSULTATIONS.
  3. $522,673 spent. PRO BONO PROGRAM: FAMILY LEGAL CARE'S PRO BONO PROGRAM ALLOWS CLIENTS TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS ON THEIR MOBILE DEVICES OR COMPUTERS FROM WHEREVER THEY ARE. THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM ALLEVIATES BARRIERS TO SERVICE FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR LONG-DISTANCE TRIPS TO THE COURTHOUSE, INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY FOR DISABLED OR HOMEBOUND CLIENTS AND MITIGATING EXPENSIVE BURDENS LIKE TAKING TIME AWAY FROM WORK AND SECURING CHILDCARE SERVICES. WE FACILITATED 659 CONSULTATIONS WITH PRO BONO ATTORNEYS IN FY25, THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER COMPLETED IN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD.
  4. $357,001 spent. LEGAL INFORMATION AND TECH HUBS: WE PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION TO WALK-IN VISITORS TO NYC'S BUSIEST COURTHOUSES AT OUR LEGAL INFORMATION HUBS. IN ADDITION TO LEGAL INFORMATION, LITIGANTS AFFECTED BY THE DIGITAL DIVIDE CAN VISIT OUR BROOKLYN, QUEENS, AND BRONX TECH HUBS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACCESSING THE HYBRID COURT SYSTEM. LITIGANTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, A STABLE INTERNET CONNECTION, OR A PRIVATE SPACE CAN CONDUCT THEIR VIRTUAL HEARINGS AND UPLOAD DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THEIR CASE. WE SERVED 7,552 INDIVIDUALS AT NYC'S BOROUGH FAMILY COURTS IN FY25.
  5. $329,451 spent. DIGITAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: FAMILY LEGAL CARE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEVELOPING TOOLS THAT LEVERAGE THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE. OUR FAMILY LAW NAVIGATOR TOOL DELIVERS FAMILY LAW INFORMATION CUSTOMIZED TO EACH PERSON'S LEGAL CASE AND SITUATION QUICKLY, ANONYMOUSLY, AND FOR FREE. IN JUST 2-3 MINUTES, FAMILY LAW NAVIGATOR PROVIDES LEGAL INFORMATION THAT CAN BE A HELPFUL STARTING POINT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BEGINNING TO ADDRESS THEIR FAMILY LAW ISSUE. OUR GUIDED COURT FORMS MAKE IT EASY FOR LITIGANTS TO UNDERSTAND, COMPLETE, AND UPLOAD ESSENTIAL COURT DOCUMENTS FROM ANY WEB-CONNECTED DEVICE WITHOUT A COMPUTER OR EXTRA PDF-EDITING SOFTWARE. OUR FAMILY LAW EXPLAINED DIGITAL SHORTS, A VIDEO SERIES THAT USES EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE TO DISTILL COMPLEX FAMILY LAW TOPICS INTO SHORT, DIGESTIBLE PIECES FOR PEOPLE WHO LEARN BEST BY VIDEO, LIKE PEOPLE WITH LOW LITERACY LEVELS, OR AUDITORY LEARNERS. DIGITAL JUSTICE TOOLS WERE USED OVER 7,500 TIMES THIS YEAR: 2,429 PEOPLE USED THE FAMILY LAW NAVIGATOR; 2,464 GUIDED COURT FORMS WERE COMPLETED; AND OUR FAMILY LAW EXPLAINED VIDEOS HAVE RECEIVED 2,671 VIEWS SINCE THEIR RELEASE IN NOVEMBER 2024, THE EQUIVALENT OF 54 HOURS OF WATCH TIME.
  6. $282,887 spent. LEGAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH: FAMILY LEGAL CARE WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO OFFER IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND LEGAL CLINICS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WE PRIORITIZE OUTREACH TO KEY CONSTITUENT GROUPS WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS, INCLUDING: 1) VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE-MEMBERS; 2) SPANISH-SPEAKING AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES; 3) PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED AND INCARCERATED PARENTS; AND 4) SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN FY25, 579 PRO SE LITIGANTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS PARTICIPATED IN AN OUTREACH EVENT, RESULTING IN NEARLY 4,000 PARTICIPANTS REFERRED TO FAMILY LEGAL CARE. OUR WEBINARS RECEIVED 2,244 VIEWS IN FY25, THE EQUIVALENT OF 335 HOURS OF WATCH TIME.
  7. $122,368 spent. ADVOCACY: IN JANUARY 2025, FAMILY LEGAL CARE'S THEN-CEO CATHY CRAMER AND LEGAL DIRECTOR NATHALIE GONZLEZ SPOKE AT A PLENARY SESSION FOR 150 NEWLY ELECTED AND APPOINTED JUDGES AT THE STATE JUDICIAL INSTITUTE, WHERE ALL NEW STATE JUDGES GO FOR TRAINING AND TO REMAIN CURRENT ON THE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE LAW. THEIR PRESENTATION ON PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH UNREPRESENTED LITIGANTS COVERED AN OVERVIEW OF FAMILY LEGAL CARE'S SERVICES, THE PAIN POINTS PRO SE LITIGANTS FACE, OFFERED SOLUTIONS FOR JUDGES TO USE, AND SHARED CLIENTS' STORIES. IN APRIL, WE FACILITATED A TWO-HOUR WORKSHOP FOR OVER 100 COURT PERSONNEL FROM NEW YORK ON THE IMPACT OF CHILD SUPPORT ON FAMILIES.
  8. $132,481 spent. LEGAL RESOURCE GUIDES (LRGS): OUR LIBRARY OF ORIGINAL, MULTILINGUAL LRGS MORE THAN 60 UNIQUE GUIDES AVAILABLE IN 9 LANGUAGES COVER A RANGE OF FAMILY LAW ISSUES. THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT VARIOUS COURTHOUSES, THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE THEY CAN BE EASILY FILTERED BY TOPIC, LANGUAGE, AND REGION. IN FY25, OUR LRGS HAVE BEEN VIEWED OVER 120,000 TIMES.
  9. $52,803 spent. LEGAL RESEARCH - STREAMLINES THE LEGAL SOURCES AVAILABLE TO STAFF AND PROVIDED TO LITIGANTS. THROUGH THIS WORK, FLC STAYS CURRENT WITH ANY AND ALL CHANGES IN THE LAW AND RESEARCH NUANCES TOPICS THAT IMPACT FLC'S WORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.