IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING SELF-HELP SERVICES

If you have an attorney of record, the Self-Help Center cannot assist you.
Staff at the SHC can provide legal assistance to help you represent yourself in your civil court case.

• They are not your attorneys.
• They cannot give you legal advice.
• They do not go to court with you.
• 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.
You should obtain your own attorney if you want legal advice or strategy, to have a confidential conversation or to be represented by an attorney in court.

SELF-HELP CENTER GUIDE TO REMOTE SERVICES

We provide remote assistance for questions regarding Small Claims, Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, Evictions/Unlawful Detainer, and general Civil Law by phone and e-mail.

• Our goal is to respond to voicemails and e-mails within 1-2 business days.

SELF-HELP SERVICES AVAILABLE:

• • Small Claims
  For instructions and fillable forms go to:
  California Courts Civil and Small Claims
• • Name Change
  For instructions and fillable forms go to:
  SHARP Courts Name Change
• • Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
  For instructions and online fillable forms go to:
  Odyssey Guide and File Restraining Order
• • Workplace Violence Restraining Orders:
  For instructions and online fillable forms go to:
  Odyssey Guide and File Restraining Order
• • Evictions/Unlawful Detainer
  For instructions and documents on Evictions go to:
  Odyssey Guide and File Evictions
• • Collections/Claims of Exemption
• • Information regarding basic civil procedure

• • Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order Request
  For instructions and online fillable forms go to:
  Odyssey Guide and File Restraining Order
  

  SHC CANNOT HELP WITH

  • • Family Court issues such as divorce, child custody, or support.
  • • Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
  • • Criminal cases.
  • • Complex civil litigation.
  • • Medical or legal malpractice.
  • • Any matter where you are represented by an attorney.
  • • Appeals

  If you are in need of assistance for Family Court issues or Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, please contact the Sonoma County Family Law Facilitator.

  WHAT KIND OF HELP IS AVAILABLE?

  Self-Help Center staff can:

  • • 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.

  HOW CAN I GET HELP?

  Due to the on-going Public Health Emergency resulting from COVID-19, in-person assistance is not available at this time.

  Help is available:

  By Telephone: (707) 521-6534
  Or
  By Email: selfhelp@sonomacourt.org

  Please provide the following information with your request:

  • • Your Case Number (if you have one)
  • • Your Name
  • • Your Zip Code
  • • Your Question(s)

  Please be as detailed as possible.

  Fill out our online intake form and a staff member will contact you by e-mail.
  *You must have Adobe Reader or a similar PDF document reader to fill in the intake form.
  *To save the filled out intake form right click on the filled out form, select "save as" and select a location on your computer to save the document to.
  *Select the filled out intake form from your computer and attach that document on an email to the facilitator.

  It is our goal to respond to any requests within 1-2 business days.

  WHERE CAN I GET FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS RIGHT NOW?

  You can download forms at the following web sites. Click on the links below:

  1. 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.
  2. Judicial Council Forms: The Judicial Council of California provides fillable forms that can be printed after you complete them on your computer.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  WHERE ELSE CAN I GET FREE OR LOW-COST SELF HELP LEGAL ASSISTANCE?

  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

  http://www.211wc.org
  Detailed information on hundreds of agencies and programs that serve the residents of Sonoma County, or call 707-565-2108.

  www.sonoma.courts.ca.gov
  Sonoma County Superior Court website. Contains information regarding legal forms, court schedules, court holidays, court rules,community resources.

  www.courts.ca.gov
  Self-help resources for various types of legal issues. Judicial Council forms which can be completed online.

  www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
  California Codes.

  www.childsupport.ca.gov
  California Department of Child Support Services. See the Guideline Calculator section to estimate the amount of child support that can be ordered in a case.

  www.sonoma-county.org/dcss
  Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services.

  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.

  www.sucorte.ca.gov
  Self-help resources in Spanish.

  www.lawhelp.org
  Links to legal information.

  www.nolo.com
  Self-help legal books. (The books are also available at the law library or can be purchased at local book stores.)