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Utah Legal Services Inc

EIN 87-0298910 · Salt Lake Cty, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION AT ULS IS TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL AID WITHOUT COST TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION OR ARE FACING DISADVANTAGES, ENSURING MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND PROMOTING EDUCATION, STABILITY, SAFETY, AND PROTECTION.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
91
Volunteers
93
Highest pay
$134,475, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE : ULS REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OBTAIN PROTECTIVE ORDERS IN EVERY UTAH COUNTY, EXCEPT SALT LAKE COUNTY WHERE SERVICES ARE COORDINATED THROUGH LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SALT LAKE. ULS HELPS PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THESE LOW-INCOME CLIENTS IN DIVORCE, CUSTODY AND PARENTAGE ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE PERMANENT SEPARATION AND ENSURE FINANCIAL STABILITY WITH SPOUSAL AND CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS. ULS ALSO PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS IN FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LAW MATTERS. IN THE PAST YEAR, ULS HANDLED 2,888 CASES IN THIS AREA.
  2. $2.9 million spent. SERVICES IN OTHER CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH LOW-INCOMES: ULS REPRESENTS PEOPLE WITH LOW-INCOME IN LEGAL ACTIONS INVOLVING HOUSING, PUBLIC BENEFITS, AND CONSUMER DEBT DEFENSE. ULS SERVES TENANTS WITH LAWFUL DEFENSES TO EVICTION OR NEEDING HELP WITH FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING OR HABITABLE CONDITIONS. ULS ASSISTS UTAHNS WHO NEED SSI AND SSDI BENEFITS, FOOD STAMPS, MEDICAID, UNEMPLOYMENT, OVERPAYMENT DEFENSE, AND OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ULS PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS AGAINST UNREASONABLE CHARGES, IDENTITY THEFT, AND WARRANTY ISSUES. ULS PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS HOUSING, PUBLIC BENEFITS, AND CONSUMER LAW MATTERS. IN THE PAST YEAR, ULS HANDLED 5,422 CASES IN THIS AREA.
  3. $559,636 spent. SERVICES TO SPECIAL POPULATIONS: ULS REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INCLUDING OLDER ADULTS, NATIVE AMERICANS, AND MIGRANT WORKERS. ULS SERVES PEOPLE AGED 60 AND OLDER BY PREPARING WILLS, ADVANCED DIRECTIVES, OBTAINING BENEFITS, CONTACTING ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND WITH HOUSING, CONSUMER, AND PROPERTY ISSUES. TRIBAL COURT LAWYERS SERVE TRIBAL MEMBERS WITH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AS WELL AS LIMITED REPRESENTATION IN FAMILY AND JUVENILE MATTERS. MIGRANT WORKERS RECEIVE HELP WITH WAGE CLAIMS, FAMILY LAW, IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC BENEFIT CASES. OUT OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OTHER CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH LOW-INCOME, AND THE CASE TYPES NOTED ABOVE, ULS HANDLED 1,039 CASES INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF A VULNERABLE POPULATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 November 6, 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 June 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 October 1973.

    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 November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Legal Services Corporation (Washington, DC), EIN 52-1039060. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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