Law and Legal Sources

General Law

• Nolo
  Nolo is a publisher of legal self-help books. They offer Easy to Understand Articles on the most common kinds of legal questions.
• Findlaw GPOACCESS (for the Federal Government) and the State of Connecticut Website offer lists of government agencies organized by the subjects the agencies are concerned with. In general, a good place to look for legal information is in the publications (or on the websites) of concerned agencies. For example, it might be better to look for answers about rental security deposits on the housing dept. website instead of in the Connecticut General Statutes.

Connecticut, Legal Encyclopedias, Congressional Record, Supreme Court Decisions, Executive Orders

• The State of Connecticut Judicial Dept. offers general information on common topics such as Divorce or Landlord/Tenant.
• The Connecticut General Statutes are available online and in the Reference Room at R345 C7g. The Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies are available in the Reference Room at Rq353.9746 C75or. The General Statues address all areas of Connecticut law. The Regulations have no index but are organized in the same order as the General Statutes.
• The United States Code R345 U5 and The Code of Federal Regulations R353 C66 are the main ways of accessing Federal law. The text of laws are published in U.S. Statutes at Large XR345 or in slip form for more current laws.
• Courts and Selected Judicial Offices in Bridgeport
• The Bridgeport Municipal Code and Ordinances are available online and in the Reference Room. The Zoning Regulations are also available in a binder with maps in a vertical file. There is a binder of letters that update these documents.
• Legal Encyclopedias
  If you have no clue where to start looking for actual texts of something try a legal encyclopedia, they often give the citations.
• Congressional Record (and index)
  The Bridgeport Public Library has paper copies from the beginning. Later issues are available on microfilm with paper indexes. Still later it is available from Thomas.
• BPL has never received any form of Bills.
• For legislative materials from Connecticut use the Connecticut General Assembly Website
• Supreme Court Decisions
  http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/ is a good place to start. Official text is published in U.S. Reports (Ju6.8) or in slip form for more current ones.
• The Connecticut Law Journal (Rq353.9746 C75Lj has equivalent material for Connecticut.
• Executive Orders

Bankruptcy, Taxes, Tax Forms and Tax Assistance

• United States Bankruptcy Court
  District of Connecticut
• Federal Taxes
  (Local office at the corner of Lafayette and State in the Federal Court House)
• Connecticut Taxes
  (Local office at 10 Middle St.)

Tax Center – State and Federal

• Connecticut Tax Forms
  Department of Revenue Services
• Federal Tax Forms
  Internal Revenue Service
• Prior Years Federal Forms
• Tax Forms for other States
  Includes a table with links to tax forms for all states and territories.
• E-File (Federal)
• Free File (Federal) and free fillable forms
• Connecticut E-file

Tax Preparation Services

				AARP TAX-AIDE INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE SITES – BRIDGEPORT (NORTH BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY) 3455 Madison Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06606
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 576-7832 Voice
				INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, UNITED STATES
				INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, UNITED STATES – BRIDGEPORT FIELD OFFICE
				9l5 Lafayette Boulevard Bridgeport, CT 06604-4767
					TAX ASSISTANCE: GENERAL
					(800) 829-1040 Voice – Filing assist. and info. (open 24 hr. during tax season)
					(800) 829-3676 Voice – Tax forms/publications orders
					(203) 384-5818 Voice – Field office
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (BICC – AL-MANAR CENTER)
				525 Clinton Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06605
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 633-2680 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY, NORTH BRANCH)
				3455 Madison Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06606
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 576-8113 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (BURROUGHS COMMUNITY CENTER)
				2470 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06605-2647
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 334-0293 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (CALVARY TEMPLE CHRISTIAN CENTER)
				319 Barnum Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06608
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 375-5396 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (CAREER RESOURCES)
				350 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604-6001
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 953-3245 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (CASEY FAMILY SERVICES)
				777 Main Street Bridgeport, CT 06604
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 372-5133 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (FSW)
				475 Clinton Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06605
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 368-5632 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (MOUNT AERY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION)
				73 Frank Street Bridgeport, CT 06604
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 334-2757 Voice
				VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITES – BRIDGEPORT (RALPHOLA TAYLOR YMCA)
				790 Central Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06607
					TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
					(203) 576-7449 Voice

Immigration & Citizenship

• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
• The International Institute, a local organization to help immigrants.

Patent, Trademark and Copyright

• Copyright
• Patents and Trademarks

Find an Attorney

• Martinedale Hubbell Online
  OR
• The Legal Services Network in Connecticut
  The legal services programs in Connecticut are a group of nonprofit organizations which provide legal assistance in civil matters to low-income persons.