Find the Help
You Need

Need help? We got you covered. Find out if you qualify for free legal assistance regarding your art, art business, or art organization. Don’t need one-on-one assistance? Check out our ArtSmarts Workshops

  • Submit Application

  • Get Reviewed

  • We’ll Find You A Lawyer

  • They’ll Contact You

We provide free (pro bono) services to financially eligible individual artists, and nonprofit organizations with arts-related legal and accounting matters.

We define art as anything that includes the visual, literary, media, design, performing arts, makers and artisans, as well as community-based arts practices and emerging creative fields.

Problems that are not considered arts-related include traffic violations, personal injury, criminal and family law (child custody, divorce).

To receive pro bono services, our clients must meet our low-income or nonprofit operating budget guidelines.

Why
Us

01
We guarantee an easy process to get legal and accounting issues solved

02
We exist to provide access to legal services to low income artists and arts organizations

03
We use our voices to include all persons in access to justice

Not sure of what service
you need? No problem!

Frequently Asked Questions

We currently serve western Missouri (including Springfield, but not including Columbia: St. Louis’s VLAA serves Columbia), and five counties in eastern Kansas: Leavenworth, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Miami counties.  Since Kansas does not have its own VLAA organization, we can, on a case by case basis, refer a case from elsewhere in Kansas, but we do not at this time recruit volunteers from counties outside those listed, nor do we yet make an effort to promote our services in other Kansas counties, although we may do that in the future.  St. Louis’ VLAA serves the rest of Missouri.

If you seek assistance from the KCVLAA, you will be asked to become a member based on your status as either an individual or organization. Members pay an annual membership fee; as an individual artist $50, full time student $25 and organization memberships range from $50-400 depending on the organizations annual budget. If you wish not to become a member you must pay a one-time non-refundable fee of $25, which helps cover the cost of our professional liability insurance.  A membership will entitle you to receive one fee-waived application for pro bono assistance during the year of your membership, and you will also be able to attend the KCVLAA educational programs for free (non-members pay a nominal fee to attend educational programs, usually between $10-$50).  Your membership is good for one calendar year.  You do not have to renew your membership in subsequent years if you don’t want to. Subsequent applications for assistance during the membership year will be $25.

The volunteer attorney or accountant to whom your case is assigned will provide services at no charge.  You may be required to pay for direct expenses such as government filing fees or taxes that are necessary for your representation.

Nonprofit Organizations: If your organization files IRS Form 900 “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax”, a copy of that form must be submitted and Total Revenue shown on that form must be below $100,000.

If your organization is not required to file IRS Form 990, its annual operating budget must be below $100,000 and you must submit a current budget.

Individuals: Your Adjusted Gross Income on your Federal Income Tax Return can not exceed, $28,725 (250% of US Poverty Guidelines), plus an additional $10,050 for your spouse, if married, and $10,050 for each dependent claimed on your Return. For verification, a copy of your most recent Federal Income Tax Return must be provided. If you are married and your spouse files a seperate Return, your spouse’s return must also be submitted.

Partnerships: The combined Adjusted Gross Income of each partner and their spouses, if any, may not exceed $28,725. The partnership must submit its partnership return and each partner must submit their individual Federal Income Tax Returns under that same rules as specified above for Individuals.


For Profit Corporations: If your corporation is a subchapter S corporation and files IRS Form 1120S “U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation”, a copy of that form must be submitted and Total Income shown on that form must be below $50,000. Additionally, the combined Adjusted Gross Income of each owner and their spouses, if any, may not exceed $28,725. Each owner must submit their individual Federal Income Tax Returns under the same rules specified above for individuals.

If your corporation is NOT a subchapter S corporation and files IRS Form 1120 “U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return”, a copy of that form must be submitted and Total Income shown on that form must be below $50,000.

Individuals are typically assisted with matters such as copyright, debt collection, contracts, and record keeping. Organizations often receive assistance with incorporating as nonprofit, obtaining tax exemption from the IRS, setting up bookkeeping systems, and tax preparation.

Yes, if you become a member, we can give you the names of our volunteers who have indicated that they will accept fee-generating referrals from us. You can ask those people if they would be willing to reduce their fees to help you.

Download the appropriate application for services listed under “APPLY”. Follow instructions and submit them to KCVLAA for review. All applications require a non-refundable $25.00 fee for processing and include eligibility requirements. The fee is waived one time if you are a member or become a member. If you seek assistance from the KCVLAA, you will be asked to become a member based on your status as either an individual or organization

Memberships can be obtained by making a donation here.

KCVLAA’s definition of “art” is broad and encompasses the visual, literary, media, design, and performing arts.