About Civil Self-Help Center (SHC)
THE CIVIL SELF-HELP CENTER IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
IF YOU HAVE NON-EMERGENCY QUESTIONS ABOUT:
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
Elder Abuse Restraining Orders
Workplace Violence Restraining Orders
Small Claims
Evictions
Name and/or Gender Changes
CALL: (707) 521-6534
EMAIL: selfhelp@sonomacourt.org
WE WILL RESPOND WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS.
| OTHER RESOURCES FOR HELP WITH CIVIL MATTERS: | |
|---|---|
| Sonoma County Superior Court Civil Clerk’s Office 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403 https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms-packets |
• Forms packets for Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, Elder Abuse Restraining Orders, name and/or gender change, evictions and small claims. |
| Legal Aid of Sonoma County 144 South E Street, Santa Rosa 95404 https://legalaidsc.org |
• Free legal help with Elder Abuse Restraining Orders, Civil Harassment Restraining Orders*, evictions*, small claims* and debt collection*. |
| Sonoma County Public Law Library 2604 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403 https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/justice-services/law-library |
• Free access to legal books and other reference materials regarding civil law topics. |
The Civil Self-Help Center can help you by providing legal information and assistance. We understand that the legal process can often feel overwhelming and stressful. However, we are here to support you with a team of dedicated legal professionals committed to providing exceptional, accessible, and fair justice services for everyone.
Staff at the SHC can provide legal assistance and information to help you represent yourself in your civil court case.
It is important to note that the services offered are limited, and Self-help staff have specific restrictions on what they can assist with.
- They are not your attorneys.
- They cannot give you legal advice.
- They do not go with you to court.
- They are not responsible for the outcome of your case.
- Services at the SHC are not confidential.
- There is no attorney-client relationship between you and any staff member.
- Services at the SHC are neutral.
- Staff may assist both sides of a case.
Should you need assistance beyond what we can provide, you should hire an attorney for legal advice, strategy, or representation in court.
Self-Help Center staff are please to:
- Answer general questions regarding civil cases.
- Send you blank forms and filing instructions for most Small Claims, Civil Harassment, and Evictions/Unlawful Detainer issues.
- Help you complete forms for the following civil law issues:
- Small Claims.
- Civil Harassment Restraining Orders.
- Workplace Violence Restraining Orders.
- Elder Abuse Restraining Orders.
- Evictions/Unlawful Detainer.
- Debt Collections.
- Name Change.
- CARE Act
- California Courts Self-Help Guide to the Care Act https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/care-act
- Care Court (CARE stands for Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment. Click here to view CARE-050-INFO form.)
Civil Self-Help Online Resource Links
If you are a self-represented litigant, you can begin completing your forms online. The below programs are available 24/7.
In partnership with the California Judicial Council and LawHelp Interactive, we are pleased to provide you with links to begin preparing your legal documents online. We strongly recommend that you create an account to begin completing the paperwork so you do not lose the work that you have started.
Below you can start your case in a number of areas. We recommend you follow-up with the self-help center to review your paperwork before filing. Please note: the court cannot access your account, and the program does not file your documents for you.
Civil Self Help Online Resources
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Civil Harassment Restraining Order
Requesting a Civil Harassment Restraining Order can be an overwhelming process, but we are here to help. A civil harassment restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Civil Harassment Restraining Order Response
Responding to a Civil Harassment Restraining Order can be an overwhelming process, but we are here to help. A civil harassment restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Divorce/Legal Separation
Starting your divorce or legal separation process can be overwhelming and confusing, but we are here to help. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork.
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Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Requesting a restraining order can be an overwhelming process, but we are here to help. The domestic violence restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Response to Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Responding to a Domestic Violence Restraining Order can be an overwhelming process, but we are here to help. The domestic violence restraining order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Elder Abuse Restraining Order
Requesting an Elder Abuse Restraining Order can be an overwhelming process, but we are here to help. An Elder Abuse Restraining Order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Elder Abuse Restraining Order Response
Responding to an Elder Abuse Restraining Order can be an overwhelming process but we are here to help. An Elder Abuse Restraining Order is a court order that helps protect people from abuse or threats of abuse. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Eviction/Unlawful Detainer Complaint Landlord
This program will help a landlord fill out forms necessary to file a complaint for an Unlawful Detainer against a tenant. Starting an Unlawful Detainer complaint can be confusing, but we are here to help. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Unlawful Detainer Answer Tenant
Starting an Unlawful Detainer Answer can be confusing, but we are here to help. We recommend you follow-up with your Self-Help Center to review your paperwork before filing.
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Guardianship
Starting the Guardianship process can be overwhelming and confusing, but we are here to help. We recommend that you follow-up with the Self-Help Center office to review your paperwork.
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Guardianship Fee Waiver
Request Fee Waiver for Guardianship.
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Name Change
A Name Change Petition will request a court order to legally change your name or minor's name. 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. After you complete your paperwork, we recommend you visit the self-help center to review your documents before filing.
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Parentage
In Parentage/Paternity cases, the court makes orders to determine who the child's legal parents are. If parents are married when a child is born, there is usually no question about parentage. The law assumes that the married persons are the child's legal parents, so parentage is automatically established in most cases. But for unmarried parents, parentage of their children needs to be established legally.
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Parentage Response
Response to Parentage Order
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Request for Order
A Request for Order is designed for litigants who would like to modify an existing order, or request a new order. The Request for Order can be filed in an existing family law case including: Divorce, Parentage, and Domestic Violence (non criminal order). It will allow you to request orders for child custody and visitation, and child support.
See the SHC services FAQs and answers below.
You can download forms at the following web sites. Click on the links below:
- Sonoma County Forms Packets: The Sonoma County Superior Court provides fillable forms that can be printed after you complete them on your computer. Scroll down to “Family Law Forms Packets” and select the appropriate packet from the list.
- Judicial Council Forms: The Judicial Council of California provides fillable forms that can be printed after you complete them on your computer.
- Self-Help Assistance and Referral Program: Court Supported Self-Help Center that provides free assistance to self-represented people (litigants) who do not have attorneys.
- Odyssey Guide & File: This is a free online forms preparation program. Answer a series of questions and forms are generated at the end of the interview.
Legal Aid of Sonoma County
General: (707) 542-1290
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders: (707) 595-6295
Elder Abuse Restraining Orders (707) 340-5610
California Rural Legal Assistance
General: (707) 528-9941
Free Legal Services – Information, legal advice and assistance for low-income individuials
Sonoma County Bar Association
(707) 546-5297
Lawyer Referral Services – For a $50 fee, you will receive a 30-minute consultation with an experienced attorney. There is no obligation to retain the attorney following that consultation, but if you choose to do so, the fee for representation is negotiated directly between you and that attorney.
Helpful Websites & Resources
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211wc.org
Detailed information on hundreds of agencies and programs that serve the residents of Sonoma County, or call 707-565-2108.
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Self-Help Guide to the California Courts
Self-help resources for various types of legal issues. Judicial Council forms which can be completed online.
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California Courts
Resources for various types of legal issues. Judicial Council forms which can be completed online.
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California Legislative Information
California Codes.
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California Child Support Services
See the Guideline Calculator section to estimate the amount of child support that can be ordered in a case.
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Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services
Our mission is to ensure that children receive the services regarding parentage and financial support to which they are legally entitled.
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Free Help Filing Online
Allows completion of forms for various legal processes including family law, small claims, unlawful detainer, domestic violence, guardianship - with step-by-step instructions.
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Cortes de California Centro de Ayuda
Self-help resources in Spanish.
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LawHelp.org
Links to legal information.
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Nolo
Self-help legal books and thousands of do-it-yourself products, including legal forms, online documents, books and ebooks, and software. (The books are also available at the law library or can be purchased at local book stores.)
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Sonoma County Forms Packets
The Sonoma County Superior Court provides fillable forms that can be printed after you complete them on your computer. Scroll down to “Family Law Forms Packets” and select the appropriate packet from the list.
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Judicial Council Forms
The Judicial Council of California provides fillable forms that can be printed after you complete them on your computer.
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Self-Help Assistance and Referral Program
Court Supported Self-Help Center that provides free assistance to self-represented people (litigants) who do not have attorneys.
-
Odyssey Guide & File
This is a free online forms preparation program. Answer a series of questions and forms are generated at the end of the interview.