I Don't Know Where to Start — A Guide for Overwhelmed Families

If you're reading this, someone you love is in prison and you're trying to help. You've probably already discovered that the legal system speaks a language you don't know — and the people who do speak it are expensive. Take a breath. Thousands of families have walked this path with no legal training, and many have won. The work is hard but it is doable.

An appeal happens right after the trial. The defense lawyer argues that the trial court made mistakes, and a higher court reviews the record. Habeas corpus is what comes after all the normal appeals are over. It's a separate lawsuit asking a federal court to review constitutional violations the trial record didn't capture — like ineffective lawyering or hidden evidence.

Before anything else, find out the AEDPA deadline. In most federal habeas cases, you have one year from when the conviction became "final." Use the free deadline calculator to estimate it. If less than 90 days remain, treat this as an emergency.

• Gather: indictment, judgment, sentencing transcript, appellate decisions.
• Calculate the deadline.
• Decide which type of petition fits (the glossary helps).
• Start a case file — physical or digital — and keep everything in one place.

A "case" in our app is just a folder for one person's legal situation. You can store dates, documents, drafts, and notes all in one place — and the app keeps track of which deadline is closest and what to do next.