Self-Help Legal Services provides legal assistance in the areas of family law, evictions, small claims, name changes, guardianship, conservatorship, probate and restraining orders. You can find information about upcoming workshops and other available assistance below.
You can research your case by choosing from the buttons below. More topics are available at the Self-Help Tab above or at the list of topics on the left.
Small Claims
Small Claims court is a special civil court where disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively. The rules are simple and informal.
Small ClaimsCivil Self Help
Information on Civil Harassment Restraining Order, Name Change and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Civil Self HelpEviction (Unlawful Detainer)
Information on a legal process through which a landlord can remove a tenant from a property the tenant is renting.
EvictionFamilies & Children
Information regarding divorce, separation, and child custody.
Families & ChildrenDomestic Violence
A restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse, and/or threats of abuse from someone they have a close relationship with.
Domestic ViolenceProbate
Probate Court handles decedent's estates, trust proceedings, guardianship proceedings, conservatorship proceedings, minor's compromises, and mental health filings.
ProbateSelf Help Legal Services offers limited assistance in the case types shown below. Please click on the button for a list of services and how to get assistance.
Please take a look at the calendars below for upcoming Self-Help Events and Workshops:
Self-Help form packets generally include a group of forms that are required to be completed in order to either begin or complete a case.
An unlawful detainer is a legal way for a landlord to evict a tenant. For more information on Unlawful Detainers, see the Evictions Page.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Unlawful Detainer – Complaint | Forms to start an unlawful detainer (eviction) case. | English (pdf ) |
Complete Forms Online (external site ) |
Unlawful Detainer – Answer | Respond to an unlawful detainer (eviction). Should be filed within 5 days after you are served the summons and complaint. | English (pdf ) | Complete Forms Online (external site ) Tenant's Unlawful Detainer Chart (pdf ) |
Unlawful Detainer – Default Judgment | Finish your eviction case. Requirement:
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English (pdf ) |
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.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Name Change | You can ask for a court order to:
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Complete Forms Online (external site ) List of Approved Newspapers (external site pdf ) |
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:
For more information on Civil Harassment, see the Civil Self-Help Page.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Request for Civil Harassment Restraining Order | Forms to request a civil harassment restraining order. | English (pdf ) | Complete Forms Online (external site ) Instructions/Information (external site ) |
Response to Civil Harassment Restraining Order | Answer to Restraining order if you want to respond or defend yourself against a restraining order being placed against you. | English (pdf ) |
Complete Forms Online (external site ) |
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:
For more information on Small Claims, see the Small Claims Page.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Small Claims – Plaintiff’s Claim | Forms to start a small claims case. | English (pdf ) | Instructions/Information (external site ) |
Small Claims – Defendant’s Claim | If the Plaintiff owes you monies, you may file a Defendant’s Claim. This is not a response. | English (pdf ) | Being Sued - Small Claims Self-Help (external site ) |
Small Claims – COVID 19 Rental Debt | Forms for a landlord to start a COVID-19 rental debt case. | English (pdf ) | The Small Claims COVID-19 Rental Debt process (external site ) |
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.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Petition for Dissolution, Legal Separation or Nullity of Marriage | Start a divorce, legal separation, or nullity case. | English (pdf ) Español (pdf ) |
Referencia en Español (pdf ) |
Response to Petition for Dissolution, Legal Separation or Nullity of Marriage | Respond (answer) a divorce, legal separation, or nullity petition. | English (pdf ) Español (pdf ) |
Referencia en Español (pdf ) |
Petition for Summary Dissolution of Marriage | Start a divorce by agreement. Requirements:
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English (pdf ) Español (pdf ) |
Information Packet (external site pdf ) Paquete de Información (pdf ) |
Financial Disclosure Packet *These forms are already included in our Petition for Dissolution, Legal Separation or Nullity of Marriage packet and our Response to Petition for Dissolution, Legal Separation or Nullity of Marriage packet listed above. |
Complete and file in order to satisfy the legal requirements concerning disclosure of all assets, debts and financial information for a divorce, legal separation, or nullity case. | English (pdf ) |
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Dissolution Default Judgment | Complete a divorce or legal separation case. Requirement:
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English (pdf ) | |
Dissolution Default Judgment - With Signed Agreement | Complete a divorce or legal separation case. Requirement:
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English (pdf ) | |
Dissolution Judgment by Agreement | Complete a divorce or legal separation case. Requirement:
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English (pdf ) |
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.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Petition to Determine Parental Relationship | Start a court case and ask for orders concerning custody, visitation, name change, and child support. | English (pdf ) |
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Response to Determine Parental Relationship | Respond to a petition to determine parental relationship. The responding parent can ask for orders concerning custody, visitation, child support, genetic (DNA) tests, or name change concerning the minor child(ren). | English (pdf ) |
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Paternity Default Judgment | Complete a parentage case. Requirement:
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English (pdf ) |
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Paternity Judgment by Agreement | Complete a parentage case. Requirement:
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English (pdf ) |
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Petition for Custody and Support of Minor Children | Married Couples want the court make custody and visitation orders and other orders. | English (pdf ) |
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Response to Custody and Support of Minor Children | Respond (answer) to a married Couples want the court make custody and visitation orders and other orders. | English (pdf ) |
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:
Form Packet Name | Form Links | Resources |
Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (with Children) |
English (pdf ) Español (pdf ) |
Complete forms Online (external site ) Referencia en Español (pdf ) |
Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (without Children) |
English (pdf ) Español (pdf ) |
Complete forms Online (external site ) Referencia en Español (pdf ) |
Answer to Domestic Violence Restraining Order | English (pdf ) |
Complete forms Online (external site ) |
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Request for Order (Non-Emergency) | Schedule a court hearing and ask the court to make new orders or to change orders in a case. | English (pdf ) Español (pdf ) |
Video: How to schedule a hearing? |
Request for Emergency Order | Schedule an emergency court hearing and ask the court to make new orders or to change orders in a case. | English (pdf ) |
Video: How do I file a Request for Temporary Emergency Orders?
Video: ¿Como presento una Solicitud de Ordenes de Emergencia Temporales? |
Request for Order Regarding Overdue Support | Schedule a court hearing and ask the court to enter a judgment for overdue child and/or spousal support not paid. | English (pdf ) |
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Responsive Declaration to Request for Order | Response to Request for Order forms. | English (pdf ) |
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Service by Email for Department Child Support Services (DCSS) | Serve court documents on the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) by email. | English (pdf ) |
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Income Withholding Order for Support | An order that the court will sign to allow a party to garnish the paychecks or income sources of a party ordered to pay monthly child support or spousal support. | English (pdf ) |
Information Packet (external site pdf ) |
Spousal Support Declaration | The factors the court will consider in establishing or modifying spousal/partner support. | English (pdf ) |
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Request to Waive Court Fees | Request to the court to waive filing fees, copy fees, or other court fees. | English (pdf ) |
Information Packet (external site pdf ) |
Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC)
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English MSC (pdf ) | Video: How Do I Prepare for an MSC? | |
Income and Expense Declaration | English (pdf ) | Complete Forms Online (external site ) Referencia en Español (pdf ) |
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How to Separate the forms from my packet? | Instructions on how to separate Self Help packets, to be able to eSubmit. | Video: How to Separate the forms from my packet? |
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.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Conservatorship - General | For adults who are unable to provide for their personal needs due to physical injury or disability or other reasons rendering them incapable of caring for themselves. | English (pdf ) |
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Conservatorship - Dementia | For adults who are unable to provide for their personal needs and/or managing their assets and finances due to dementia or other neurocognitive conditions. | English (pdf ) |
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Conservatorship - Limited | This is only for a person who is developmentally disabled. In this type of conservatorship, the powers of the conservator are limited so that the disabled person may live as independently as possible. | English (pdf ) |
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Fee Waiver – Conservatorship | If a person can’t afford to pay the court costs and fees. | English (pdf ) |
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.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Guardianship – General | Packet to obtain permanent or long-term orders. | English (pdf ) |
Complete forms Online (external site ) |
Guardianship - Temporary | Packet to obtain emergency orders. A general guardianship petition packet must be filed at the same time as the temporary packet. | English (pdf ) |
Complete forms Online (external site ) |
Fee Waiver – Guardianship | If a person can’t afford to pay the court costs and fees. | English (pdf ) |
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.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Petition for Probate | This petition is to have a person appointed to manage a deceased’s estate and distribute and/or transfer the assets to the deceased’s beneficiaries or legal heirs. | English (pdf ) |
Publishing Notice of Petition to Administer Estate (pdf ) |
Spousal Property Petition | This petition is to transfer or confirm real and personal property of the deceased to a surviving spouse. | English (pdf ) |
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Petition to Determine Succession | This petition is used to determine and transfer the decedent’s assets to his/her legal heirs. This petition can only be used if all of the decedent’s real and personal property is valued less than $166,250 and all legal heirs sign the petition. | English (pdf ) |
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Affidavit Re: Real Property of Small Value | This petition is used to transfer only real property of the decedent to the legal heirs. This petition can only be used if all of the decedent’s real property is valued less than $55,425 and all legal heirs sign the petition. | English (pdf ) |
Abuse of an elder or a dependent adult is abuse of:
The law says elder or dependent adult abuse is:
For more information on Elder Abuse, see the Elder Abuse Page.
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Request for Elder Abuse or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order | Restraining order is a court order that helps protect Dependent Adult or someone who is 65 years or older from abuse or threats of abuse. | English (pdf ) |
Complete forms Online (external site ) |
Response to Request for Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Orders | Answer (respond) to restraining order that helps protect Dependent Adult or someone who is 65 years or older from abuse or threats of abuse. |
Complete forms Online (external site ) |
Form Packet Name | Description | Form Links | Resources |
Request to Waive Court Fee Waiver | If a person can’t afford to pay the court costs and fees. | English (pdf ) |
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Expungement | Allows a person to reopen your criminal case, set aside the conviction and dismiss the case. | English (pdf ) |
For more information on expungement, please see the Expungement Page. |