Self Help
Probate, Estate Planning & Planning for Illness or Disability: Legal methods for ensuring your assets are passed down to your chosen heirs and how the property of someone who has died gets distributed.
- LA Law Library Online Class, How to Complete and File a Probate Petition: https://www.lalawlibrary.org/hidden-classes/1633-probate-petition-pbw2020
Will & Estate Planning: Legal methods for ensuring that your cash, property, and other assets get passed to your chosen heirs quickly and easily.
- AARP, Estate Planning in the Time of the Coronavirus Pandemic: https://www.aarp.org/retirement/planning-for-retirement/info-2020/guide-to-virtual-wills-estate-plans.html
- Capital Pro Bono: https://capitalprobono.org/service/estate-planning-and-probate/
- Estate Planning and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Crisis Planning from Home: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/estate-planning-and-coronavirus-covid-19-crisis-planning-from-home.html
- LA Law Library Online Class, Wills & Trusts: Where You Begin https://www.lalawlibrary.org/hidden-classes/1548-wills-trusts-where-you-begin
- NPR, How to make your estate plan amid the Coronavirus pandemic: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/28/823071317/how-to-make-your-estate-plan-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic
- Sea Side Legal Service (South O. C.): http://www.seasidelegalservices.org/about-us/
Probate of Wills & Estates: How the property of someone who has died gets distributed.
- LA Law Library Online Class, Probate & Inheritance: Where You Begin https://www.lalawlibrary.org/hidden-classes/1525-probate-inheritance-where-you-begin-online
- LA Law Library Online Class, Wills & Trusts: Where You Begin https://www.lalawlibrary.org/hidden-classes/1548-wills-trusts-where-you-begin
- LIVE ZOOM: Ask a Lawyer: How Property Transfers After Death and How to Plan Ahead: https://www.lalawlibrary.org/hidden-classes/2024-live-zoom-ask-a-lawyer-how-property-transfers-after-death-and-how-to-plan-ahead-2023
Utilities: COVID-19 resources for changes in bills including electricity, gas, water, cable, and telephone.
- California Public Utilities Commission, COVID-19 Information: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-updates/newsroom/covid-19
- COVID-19: Utility Bill Relief: https://covid19.lacounty.gov/covid19-2-2/utility-bill-relief/
- Southern California Edison, Energy Assistance Fund (EAF): https://www.sce.com/residential/assistance/energy-assistance-fund
- Southern California Gas, COVID-19 Our Support & Response: https://www.socalgas.com/coronavirus
- Findhelp.org: https://findhelp.org/
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), COVID-19 Response: https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/aboutus/a-inourcommunity/abt-incomm-covid19?_afrWindowId=14rofa7ku_1&_afrLoop=326118922685534&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=14rofa7ku_4
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Free Conservation Items: https://www.lalawlibrary.org/pdfs/COVID19/LADWP Flyer 2020.pdf
- PG&E, We're here to help throughout the COVID-19 Crisis: https://www.pge.com/
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Free Conservation Items: https://www.lalawlibrary.org/pdfs/COVID19/LADWP Flyer 2020.pdf
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Free Conservation Items: https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/residential/r-savemoney/r-sm-rebatesandprograms/r-sm-rp-freeconservationitems afrLoop=78861306712008&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D78861306712008%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D10q75gl2ug_17
- Emergency Broadband Benefit: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
- Affordible Connectivity Program: https://www.fcc.gov/acp
World Social Justice Day - Recognized on February 20th, every year, since 2007 by the General Assembly of United Nations and celebrated since 2009, World Social Justice Day reminds us that social justice, is about fairness and meeting peoples basic needs while being necessary for peace, security, and development of society among the countries of the world (WDSJ.com).
On-Demand Library Programming:
Abuse, Harassment & Restraining Orders
- ON DEMAND: Is Someone Being Abused? Law, Tools & Resources
- ON DEMAND: Protect Yourself: Elder Abuse Restraining Orders
Civil Rights
Criminal Law
Bureau of Justice Assistance (DOJ) list of programs: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/list
- ON DEMAND: ¿Enfrentado cargos? Servicios de liberación y reducción de fianzas
- ON DEMAND: Facing Charges? Release and Bail Reduction Services
- ON DEMAND: Sealing Eviction Records So You Can Rent Again
Disability & Social Security Benefits
Employment
Healthcare & Mental Health Services
- ON DEMAND: Getting Help for Severe Mental Illness: The LPS Conservatorship Process (lalawlibrary.org)
- ON DEMAND: SSI & Mental Health Disabilities: 5 Things to Know
- ON DEMAND: Know Your Rights About Medical Bills
Housing
- ON DEMAND: Habitability Issues in HUD Housing
- ON DEMAND: Section 8 & Subsidized Housing
- ON DEMAND: Current Eviction Protections
- ON DEMAND: Housing Rights of Tenants With Disabilities
- ON DEMAND: Vivienda justa: Conozca sus derechos como inquilino o propietario
- ON DEMAND: Keeping People and Pets Housed
On-Demand MCLE Programming:
- ON DEMAND: MCLE: Protecting Native American Graves and Artifacts
- ON DEMAND: MCLE: Volunteer Training: Removing Legal Obstacles to Veterans’ Employment
- ON DEMAND: MCLE: Disaster Assistance 101
- ON DEMAND: MCLE Volunteer Training: Eviction Defense
- ON DEMAND: MCLE: Representing Clients Across Cultural and Language Barriers
- ON DEMAND: MCLE: Ethical Protesting for Legal Professionals
Resource Lists:
Immigration resources
- Berkeley International Human Rights Law Clinic: https://undocu.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SoCal-Immigration-Referral-List_FINAL.pdf
- California Lawyers for the Arts free/low cost resource list: https://www.calawyersforthearts.org/resources/Documents/legal%20aid%20immigration.pdf
- California State Guide: https://immigrantguide.ca.gov/en
- LA County Health Services Immigrant Services: https://dhs.lacounty.gov/our-services/resources/our-services-immigration/
- LA City government (it was created for COVID, but useful in general too): https://coronavirus.lacity.gov/city-la-resource-guide-immigrants-during-covid-19-crisis
- List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for immigration: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/file/ProBonoCA/download
- Table of Major Benefit Programs Available to Immigrants in California from the National Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cal-benefits-table.pdf
Refugee Resources
- Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State Department humanitarian bureau): https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-civilian-security-democracy-and-human-rights/bureau-of-population-refugees-and-migration/
- Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program: https://catholiccharitiesla.org/refugee-resettlement/
- Immigrant & Refugee Services: https://www.iilosangeles.org/service/immigrant-refugee-services/
- Immigration Advocates Network legal services directory (California): https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/search?legalarea=&interpreting=0&legalnetwork=&legalservice=&text=&national=0&nonlegalservice=&detentionfacility=&zip=&interestarea=&map=0&state=CA&population=&county=6723&language
- International Institute of Los Angeles legal services: https://www.iilosangeles.org/
- International Justice Resource Center litigation & advocacy support: https://ijrcenter.org/ijrcs-services/support/
- International Rescue Committee: https://www.rescue.org/united-states/los-angeles-ca
- Present a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for victims of human rights violations: https://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/mandate/petitions.asp
- UNHCR services for refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless people: https://help.unhcr.org/?utm_source=unhcr.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=HQ_HE_EN_orghelp___servicesglobal&_gl=1%2Abjgr1u%2A_rup_ga%2AMTg0NzcwNTQ1OS4xNzAyMDg0NDE5%2A_rup_ga_EVDQTJ4LMY%2AMTcwMjA4NDQxOC4xLjEuMTcwMjA4NDUwNS4wLjAuMA..#_ga=2.65141998.1771452843.1702084419-1847705459.1702084419
- USA Hello resource map: https://find.usahello.org/#/list
- USCIS page for immigration for humanitarian reasons: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian
Volunteer opportunities/information for advocates:
- Amnesty International Activism Toolbox: https://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/resources-for-activists/
- Human Rights Watch resources for educators: https://www.hrw.org/students-and-educators
- Human Rights First, Join the Work: https://humanrightsfirst.org/join-the-work/
- International Rescue Committee volunteer opportunities: https://www.rescue.org/volunteer-opportunities/los-angeles-ca
Library's Ongoing Clinics/Classes
Public Classes
LIVE ZOOM: Dealing With Debt: Where You Begin
- Friday, March 10, 2023: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
IN PERSON: Cleaning Your Criminal Record: Where You Begin
- Friday, April 14, 2023: 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
IN PERSON: Civil Rights: Where You Begin
- Friday, May 12, 2023: 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Workshop’s & One-on-one help
Ask a Lawyer: How Property Transfers After Death and How to Plan Ahead
- Thursday, January 25, 2024: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 22, 2024: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 28, 2024: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, April 25, 2024: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, May 23, 2024: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ask a Lawyer: Landlord/Tenant Law and Evictions
- Thursday, January 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 15, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, April 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
IN-PERSON: Eviction Defense: Help Using Tenant Power Toolkit to Answer Eviction Complaints
- Friday, February 2, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 9, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 16, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 23, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, March 1, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, March 8, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, March 15, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, March 22, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, March 29, 2024: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, January 19, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 16, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 15, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, April 19, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, May 17, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, June 21, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, July 19, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, August 16, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 20, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, October 25, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 15, 2024: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Understanding the courts process
- ON DEMAND: What is Due Process? Know Your Rights
- ON DEMAND: Slander and Libel (Defamation): Filing a Lawsuit
- ON DEMAND: Working With a Lawyer on a Budget
- ON DEMAND: Addressing Bias in Special Education
- ON DEMAND: Writs: How to Challenge Government Agency Decisions
- ON DEMAND: Holding Public Officials Accountable to the Rule of Law
Veterans' Assistance: Remote services including financial, housing, healthcare, benefits and claims available to veterans and their families.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Tax Filing Assistance: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/are-you-military-and-getting-ready-do-your-taxes-make-sure-you-know-how-file-free/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OFE_libraries
- LA County Military & Veterans Affairs: https://mva.lacounty.gov/
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), Veterans Legal Services Project: https://www.lacba.org/give-back/veterans-legal-services-project/leap
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Veteran Peer Access Network: https://dmh.lacounty.gov/veterans/
- Mindful Veteran Project: https://mindfulveteranproject.org/
- Public Counsel, FREE discharge upgrade assistance: https://form.jotform.com/200965124821047
- Public Counsel, Free Veterans Legal Assistance: https://publiccounsel.org/services/veterans/
Marriage that is legally ended by a judge's order—also known as "dissolution."
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.
- Custody & Child Support: Where You Begin
- Child Custody, Support & Visitation
- Modification of Child Custody Orders
- Enforcing Custody and Visitation Orders
- How to Resolve Custody and Visitation Conflicts
- Divorce and Separation: Where You Begin
- Serving Process or Giving Notice Outside of the U.S.
- Domestic Violence: Cyberstalking and Other Online Abuses
- Is Someone Being Abused? Laws, Tools & Resources
Child Custody & Visitation: Rights and responsibilities between parents and their child or children. Plan for how parents will spend time with their child or children.
- Child Custody & Visitation | LA Court
- Child Custody and Parenting Time Index | CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Petition for Child Custody and Support Index | CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Custody & Parenting Time FAQs | CA Courts Self-Help
- Family Law and Restraining Orders 101: Navigating Family Court Webinar
Child Support: Money paid by one parent to help support their child or children.
- California Child Support Services
- Child Support Index | CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Child Support Topics | LA Courts
- Los Angeles County Child Support Services
- International Child Support Enforcement
Divorce: Marriage that is legally ended by a judge’s order—also known as “dissolution.”
Family Law & Domestic Violence Organizations: Marriage that is legally ended by a judge’s order—also known as “dissolution.”
- Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center: Get Help
- LAFLA Domestic Violence/Family Law
- Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice: Family Law
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice SoCal: Domestic Violence and Family Law
- Community Legal Aid SoCal: Family Law
- Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law Legal Help
- Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County: Domestic Violence & Family Law
Conservatorship: The legal authority to make decisions for an adult who is unable to make their own decisions.
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 or 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.
Zoom:
In Person:
- California Probate Conservatorships & Alternatives
- Tutelas Testamentarias y Alternativas de California
On Demand Videos: Access to recordings of some of our most popular classes.
- ¿Necesito un Poder de Representación o una Curatela?
- California Probate Conservatorships & Alternatives
- Treatment During a Mental Health Crisis: You Have Choices
Conservatorship Resources:
- Conservatorship, LA Courts Self Help
- Conservatorships, CA Courts Self-Help Guide
- Conservatorship Resources, Disability Rights Center
- Bet Tzedek Self-Help Conservatorship Clinic
- Bet Tzedek: What is Conservatorship?
- Conservatorship and Guardianship, Family Caregiver Alliance
- Handbook for Conservators, Judicial Council of California
- Non-professional Conservatorship Online Training
- Conservatorships (Limited and Full) in California, Undivided
