Free Legal Self Help Services Available to the Public, in English and Spanish

Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00am to 12:00pm; Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 3:00pm. To allow yourself enough time to receive assistance from the staff, and to complete your paperwork, please arrive at their office no later than 45 minutes prior to closing.

Legal Self Help Services (LSHS) provides free assistance to those who do not have attorneys. Due to the high volume of court users, services are provided in person only on a first-come, first-served basis. LSHS does not provide services by phone or by appointment. Services include: intake, information and referral to legal services partners, individual assistance with legal document preparation; bilingual assistance and legal reference materials for non-English speakers; assistance in conducting self-guided legal research; and coordination of volunteers and interns who provide direct customer services.

LSHS offers one-on-one assistance to self-represented litigants. LSHS utilizes a variety of web-based tools, available in multiple languages, to help litigants prepare their legal documents. There are numerous self-help resources in easy-to-understand legal publications and on the internet for Californians. LSHS maintains a library of written resources, such as Nolo Press books, that can explain complex processes in laypersons language.

Staff are also available to provide information on how to file various kinds of legal documents, serve opposing parties, and explain court procedures and legal terminology, as well as giving the public tips on how to prepare for and what to bring to court appearances.

Primary Areas of Legal Assistance are:

Child Custody & Visitation
Child Support
Small Claims
Divorce/Dissolutions
Domestic Violence
Guardianship
Harassment Restraining Orders
Landlord/Tenant
Mediation
Name Changes
Paternity

Mission Statement: To ensure fair and equal access to justice and serve the public with dignity and respect.