Self Help
Every superior court in California has legal help available in family law and in small claims cases and, in some cases, other legal issues as well. For example, the Los Angeles Superior Court has legal help available for people who are representing themselves in the following areas of the law
- Family Law
- Probate
- Domestic Violence
- Conservatorship and Elder Abuse
- Guardianship
- Landlord / Tenant
Below is an overview of court services provided by the Los Angeles Superior Court:
- Family Law Facilitators
Offered in each California court, a family law facilitator is a lawyer, or a paralegal supervised by a lawyer, with experience in family law who gives free legal help with child, spousal and partner support problems. Although the family law facilitators can't represent you in court, they can help you in preparing your own court forms and can give you general information. For hours and locations of the Los Angeles Superior Court's Family Law Facilitator Offices, click here. - Self-Help Centers
Supervised by attorneys and provide assistance with the completion of court forms and court procedures related to a variety of legal problems, Los Angeles Superior Court's Self-Help Centers also offer free legal workshops for divorce, paternity, probate, guardianship and conservatorships. For hours and locations of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Self-Help Centers, click here. - Small Claims Advisors
Provide free legal advice and assistance to individuals and businesses suing or being sued in a Los Angeles County Small Claims Court. Small claims advisors can assist you with court forms and court procedures. - Family Court Services (FCS)
Provide mediation services to help divorcing and separating parents resolve disagreements about the care of their children.
STATE JUDICIAL COUNCIL APPROVED FORMS
When you are involved in a court case, you must file legal documents explaining to the court what the dispute is and what you are asking for. To make sure your court documents have the information the court needs, the California courts have created a set of court forms called Judicial Council Forms which can be used in every Superior Court in California.
Judicial Council Forms provide you with an easy "check-the-box" format and are available for many civil, family law and criminal cases. The first step in completing a Judicial Council form is to see if the California Courts have developed a form for your specific legal problem. To view a complete list of Judicial Council forms, click here.
The California Courts also provide information and instructions about how to complete court forms in order to make a specific request in your case. Find your legal topic and related Judicial Council forms by clicking here.
Most Judicial Council forms are "fillable" and can be downloaded to a local computer and filled out. You can also print out any form and fill it out by hand. For help understanding how to use fillable court forms, click here.
LOCAL SUPERIOR COURT FORMS
In addition to Judicial Council forms, each Superior Court adopts court-specific "local forms" that you may need to start your case or as your case continues. To view a list of Los Angeles Superior Court local forms, click here.
FILE AT HOME FORM PROGRAMS
Fill out court forms online using the LA Superior Court's user-friendly forms completion programs. Programs available for Divorce, Child Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Domestic Violence, Civil Harassment, Guardianship, Limited Conservatorship, Evictions, Name Changes and Small Claims. To access the forms completion programs, click here.
PLEADING PAPER TEMPLATE
If you cannot find a Judicial Council Form for your exact legal problem, then you will need to create your own legal document on 28-line pleading paper in a very specific format. For pleading paper formatted for the Los Angeles Superior Court, click here. The California Rules of Court, starting with Rule 2.100, tell you what is required for any document you file with the court. You can find samples of legal documents created on pleading paper at the Library. A good starting point is Litigation by the Numbers or a form book set such as California Forms of Pleading and Practice.
You must file your lawsuit and associated documents at the proper courthouse. There are a number of factors that determine the appropriate filing location. Some of these factors include:
- the amount of your lawsuit
- the court with jurisdiction for your case
- the proper venue for hearing the case
The term jurisdiction refers to the authority a court has to decide a case. The term venue refers to the correct location of a court that may hear your case. To learn more about venue and jurisdiction and whether your case belongs in in California Superior Court, click here. For help in determining whether you can file your case in federal court, click here.
Each of California’s 58 counties has at least one court location that handles small claims, limited and unlimited civil cases. If you are not sure what type of case you have, click here. For help locating your county’s court website, click here. If you do not know your county, you can also search by city or zip code and you will get a link to your county’s superior court.
Many California counties, including Los Angeles County, have more than one courthouse. If you do not know which courthouse handles cases like yours, use the Filing Court Locator on the Los Angeles Superior Courts website and search by city or zip code. For the address, hours, parking information and directions for each courthouse in Los Angeles County, click here.
Contract Law: How to make an agreement legally binding (through formation of a contract), and what happens when one side doesn’t perform as agreed (breach of contract).
LA Law Library Resources:
- Lawyers in the Library: This program provides free 10-20-minute consultations with volunteer lawyers for people who have legal problems to discuss but do not have a lawyer representing them.
On Demand Videos: Access to recordings of some of our most popular classes.
- Business Series: Know Before You Sign On the Dotted Line: Reading & Negotiating Business Contracts
- Business Series: Government Contracts: Steady Income for Your Business
External Resources:
General Resources
- Contract, Legal Information Institute
- Contracts, LA County Consumer & Business Affairs
- Contract Law, FindLaw
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), LA Superior Court
- Small Business Resources, LAFLA
- Contracts for Small Businesses Video
- Contracts for Small Businesses Presentation Slides
- Federal Contracting, U.S. Small Business Administration
Formation of a Contract
Breach of Contract
Credit, Debt & Money Issues: A legal process to protect a person or business who cannot pay their debts, and ensure that creditors are treated fairly.
LA Law Library Resources:
Lawyers in the Library: This program provides free 20-30 minute consultations with volunteer lawyers for people who have legal problems to discuss but do not have a lawyer representing them. Consultations may be either in person or by telephone depending on the patron’s preference and the availability of lawyers with expertise on the requested topic.
Live Classes: Learn the basics of common areas of law, and how to take the next step.
In Person:
Zoom:
On Demand Videos: Access to recordings of some of our most popular classes.
- Dealing with Debt: Where You Begin
- Federal Student Loans: Repayment and Cancellation Options
- Your Federal Tax Debt & Credits
- Counseling on Debt & Bankruptcy
- Facing Charges? Release and Bail Reduction Services
- ¿Enfrentado cargos? Servicios de liberación y reducción de fianzas
- Know Your Rights About Medical Bills
- Get Ahead with California Public Benefits
External Resources:
Bankruptcy - A legal process to protect a person or business who cannot pay their debts, and ensure that creditors are treated fairly.
- Bankruptcy Basics, US Courts
- A guide to bankruptcy, California Courts Self-Help Guide
- U.S. Code: Title 11, Legal Information Institute
- United States Bankruptcy Court: Central District of California
- Bankruptcy Basics, Upsolve
- Bankruptcy & Debtor Assistance, Public Counsel
- Don’t Have an Attorney, United States Bankruptcy Court: Central District of California
- Financial Empowerment Services, Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs
Credit & Debt - Money that is owed such as credit card bills, loan payments, etc., and the rights of the person who owes the money (debtor) and the person to whom it is owed (creditor).
General Resources:
- Credit and Debt, Federal Trade Commission
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Debts, Upsolve
- MoneySmart, FDIC
- Money, Credit, and Debt, State California Department of State
Debtor Resources:
- Debt Collection, FDIC
- Debt Collection, Foreclosure & Fraud, Public Counsel
- Debt Collection, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Debt Collections: What consumers need to know, Department of Financial Protection & Innovation
- Debt Collectors, State of California Department of Justice
- Fake and Abusive Debt Collectors, Federal Trade Commission
Creditor Resources:
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Federal Trade Commission
- Business Guidance, Federal Trade Commission
- Debt Collection Requirements (FDCPA), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Debt Collection Rule FAQs, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Creditors, United States Bankruptcy Court: Central District of California
- Enforcement of Judgments: General Principles and Constitutional Issues, National Consumer Law Center Digital Library
Credit & Credit Card Resources:
- Credit Cards, FDIC
- Credit Cards, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Credit reports and scores, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Credit Card Disputes, Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs
- Consumer Financial Education: Credit and Credit Reports, CA Department of Financial Protection & Innovation
- Your Credit, Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs
Auto Loan Payments - Payments relating to the purchase of an automobile or other vehicle.
- Auto Loans, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Auto Loan Calculator
- Take control of your auto loan: A step-by-step guide, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Your Car, Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs
- Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights, CA Department of Motor Vehicles
Student Loans - Money borrowed by students to pay for or support their education.
- Student Loans, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Student Loan Issues, LAFLA
- Student Loan & Borrower Resources, Department of Financial Protection & Innovation
- Student Loan Empowerment Network
- Student Loan Forgiveness, FAFSA
- Student Loan Relief Options, NELNET
- Understanding Student Loan Repayment, FAFSA
Tax Filings / Tax Breaks - A benefit the government offers that reduces you total tax liability.
- Credits and Dedications, IRS
- Credits and deductions for individuals, IRS
- Credits and deductions for businesses, IRS
- File your taxes for free, IRS
- IRS Tax Tips
- State of California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit, CA Employment Development Department
- Credits, Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC), Taxpayer Advocate Service
Criminal Law: Laws that are punishable by imprisonment and the procedures for enforcing them.
LA Law Library Resources:
Community Connections: Meet with our Community Resource Specialist to learn about available resources in your area and access services, benefits, and support. Make an appointment today.
- Call us at 213-785-2585. If we don’t answer right away, please leave a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
- Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Come in to the Library and ask for our Community Resource Specialist.
Lawyers in the Library: This program provides free 20-30 minute consultations with volunteer lawyers for people who have legal problems to discuss but do not have a lawyer representing them. Consultations may be either in person or by telephone depending on the patron’s preference and the availability of lawyers with expertise on the requested topic.
Live Classes: Learn the basics of common areas of law, and how to take the next step.
On Demand Videos: Access to recordings of some of our most popular classes.
- Know Your Rights When Interacting With Police
- Holding Public Officials Accountable to the Rule of Law
- Cleaning Your Criminal Record: Where You Begin
- Facing Charges? Release and Bail Reduction Services
- ¿Enfrentado cargos? Servicios de liberación y reducción de fianzas
- Finding Legal Forms & Templates
- MCLE: Litigating Prisoners’ Rights: A Case Study
External Resources:
Criminal Law and Criminal Court:
- Criminal Law, Legal Information Institute
- Criminal Court, LA Court
- Criminal Forms, LA Court
- Criminal Courthouses, LA Court
- Criminal Division Rules, LA Court
- Criminal Law, California Courts
- Criminal Law, CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Criminal Court, CA Courts Self-Help Guide
Cleaning Criminal Records - Reduce the impact of your California criminal record. Although true expungement does not exist in California, there may be options to clean your record depending on your situation.
- Clean Your Record, CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Record Cleaning for Non-Citizens, CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Understanding & Cleaning Up Your Criminal Record, Root & Rebound
- Expungement, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
- Expungement & Occupational License, A New Way of Life Reentry Project
- Prop 47, Law Offices of Los Angeles County Public Defender
- Prop 47 Criminal Division - LA Court
- Cannabis Dismissals, Law Offices of Los Angeles County Public Defender
Public Defender:
- Public Defender, Legal Information Institute
- Do I need an attorney? - Criminal Division - LA Court
- County of Los Angeles - Law Office of the Public Defender
- County of Los Angeles Alternate Public Defender
- OSPD – Office of State Public Defender
- CA Public Defender and Legal Aid Contact List — Clear My Record
