Unlawful Detainer (Evictions)

An unlawful detainer is a legal way for a landlord to evict a tenant. For more information on Unlawful Detainers, see the Evictions Page.

Name Change

Legally changing your name or a minor's name by getting a court order. With a court order you can change your legal name on government-issued identification documents such as your driver's license, passport, and social security card. You will generally need a certified copy of the decree changing your name. For more information on name changes, see the Civil Self-Help Page.

Civil Harassment Restraining Order

A civil harassment restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from violence, stalking, serious harassment, or threats of violence.

In a civil harassment restraining order, you can ask to restrain:

• A neighbor,
• A roommate,
• A friend,
• A family member more than 2 degrees removed, like an aunt or uncle, a niece or nephew, cousins, and more distant relatives, or
• Other people you are not closely related to.

For more information on Civil Harassment, see the Civil Self-Help Page.

Small Claims

Small Claims court is a special civil court where disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively. The rules are simple and informal.

The maximum amount that you can sue for depends on who you are and who you are suing:

• An individual or Sole Proprietor - $10,000.00
• A Corporation or Business - $5,000.00

For more information on Small Claims, see the Small Claims Page.

Divorce, Legal Separation or Nullity

To end a marriage or registered domestic partnership in California you must either file for a divorce or an annulment. Once completed it restores the parties to single status.

A legal separation is for couples who do not want to divorce but want to live apart. It does not end a marriage. You cannot remarry or enter in a domestic partnership if you are legally separated.

For more information on Divorce Legal Separation and Nullity, see the Divorce or Separation Page.

Paternity

To end a marriage or registered domestic partnership in California you must either file for a divorce or an annulment. Once completed it restores the parties to single status.

A legal separation is for couples who do not want to divorce but want to live apart. It does not end a marriage. You cannot remarry or enter in a domestic partnership if you are legally separated.

For more information on Divorce Legal Separation and Nullity, see the Divorce or Separation Page.

Other Family Law Cases

Domestic Violence Restraining Order

A domestic violence restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse from someone they have a close relationship with.

You can ask for a domestic violence restraining order if:

1. A person has abused (or threatened to abuse) you;

AND

2. You have a close relationship with that person. You are:

• Married or registered domestic partners,
• Divorced or separated,
• Dating or used to date,
• Living together or used to live together (more than roommates),
• Parents together of a child, OR
• Closely related (parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, in-law).

Other Family Law Packets

Conservatorship

A conservatorship is a court case in which a judge appoints a family member, friend or other responsible person (called a conservator) to care for another adult who cannot care for him or herself (called a conservatee). Once you are appointed conservator, you are legally responsible to provide care for the conservatee’s daily needs. For more information on Conservatorship, see the Conservatorship Page.

Guardianship

A guardianship is a court case in which a person who is not the parent of a child asks for custody of the child, the power to manage the child’s property, or both. There are two types of guardianships. Most cases go to the Probate Court. But if the child is a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, guardianship must be decided in Juvenile Court. For more information on Guardianship, see the Guardianship Page.

Decedents' Estate

Procedures that can be used to manage the assets and debts of a decedent, and / or to obtain authority to distribute the assets to those entitled to receive them. For more information on Decedent’s estate, see the Estates Wills & Trusts Page.

Elder/ Dependent Abuse

Abuse of an elder or a dependent adult is abuse of:

• Someone 65 years old or older; or
• A dependent adult, who is someone between 18 and 64 that has certain mental or physical disabilities that keep him or her from being able to do normal activities or protect himself or herself.

The law says elder or dependent adult abuse is:

• Physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction (taking the person out of the state against his or her will), or other behavior that causes physical harm, pain, or mental suffering; OR
• Deprivation by a caregiver of things or services that the elder or dependent adult needs to avoid physical harm or mental suffering.

For more information on Elder Abuse, see the Elder Abuse Page.