Class recorded September 2, 2022.

For updated information on e-filing and filing court documents in-person during COVID-19, please click here. If your case is being heard in California state superior court, please be sure to visit your court’s website for the most recent updates. L.A. Superior Court’s website is here.

Probate is the legal process of distributing a person’s cash, property, and other assets after they die. For relatives and heirs, probate court can be complicated and intimidating, especially when disputes arise. In this class, learn the basics of probate and the administration of estates and trusts, including when probate can be avoided, how to challenge improper use or waste of estate property, and where to go for further information and assistance. Learning important legal fundamentals about probate can make your legal journey easier and more successful.

Class covers:

• What is probate, and how it works
• When probate is necessary, and when it can be avoided
• Appointment of administrators, and how to challenge an appointment
• What to do about improper use or transfer of estate property
• When probate court can get involved in trust administration
• Will challenges and what to do about possible financial elder abuse
• Resources for further information and where to seek help

Developed with the support of, and presented by My Legal Team, Inc.

NOTE: This class does not cover estate planning or how to draft estate documents, such as wills or trusts. Please attend the “Wills & Trusts: Where You Begin” class for information on this subject.

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below.

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Friday, May 8, 2020:  12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - CANCELLED - Click here to view online class

Many people can't afford a lawyer to handle their legal issues, especially when it comes to problems with debt. In this class, learn best practices for getting out of debt, how to handle the different types of debt, and your rights when facing repossessions, foreclosures and lawsuits. Learning important legal fundamentals – and the resources available to help – can make your journey out of debt easier and more successful.

Class covers:

• Best practices for getting out of debt, including which debts to pay first
• Repairing your credit
• Responding to lawsuits and property seizures
• The different types of debt and your rights and responsibilities for each
• Bankruptcy options
• Resources for further information and where to seek help

Developed by practicing attorneys and presented by LA Law Library Reference Librarians

Class approved for Court Interpreter Minimum Continuing Education (CIMCE) credit.

Registration fees: FREE - Registration reserves spot
This program is FREE thanks to a generous, general fund allocation from the California Legislature in support of access to justice programs at County Law Libraries throughout the state.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Class recorded April 12, 2024

For updated information on landlord-tenant law, watch our on-demand class Eviction Protections During COVID-19 (recorded February 17, 2021). For updated information on credit protections under the CARES Act, read here; and about exemptions for financial assistance under the CARES Act here. Contact our Reference desk at (213) 785-2513, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or via chat at https://bit.ly/341pHYU for further assistance.

Many people can't afford a lawyer to handle their legal issues, especially when it comes to problems with debt. In this class, learn best practices for getting out of debt, how to handle the different types of debt, and your rights when facing repossessions, foreclosures and lawsuits. Learning important legal fundamentals – and the resources available to help – can make your journey out of debt easier and more successful.

Class covers:

• Best practices for getting out of debt, including which debts to pay first
• Repairing your credit
• Responding to lawsuits and property seizures
• The different types of debt and your rights and responsibilities for each
• Bankruptcy options
• Resources for further information and where to seek help

Developed by practicing attorneys and presented by LA Law Library Reference Librarians

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day)."

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

If you are a litigant who requires self-help services in a divorce proceeding, you may call 213-830-0845 to seek assistance from the Self Help Resource Center at the Los Angeles Superior Court and referrals for additional self-help services. Regular call-in hours are 8am – 4:30pm, Mon-Fri. You can also get legal advice on many common questions by requesting a telephonic consultation with a lawyer in LA Law Library's Lawyers in the Library. To schedule a free consultation with a lawyer, click here.

For assistance from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) by phone, please call 1-800-399-4529 for access to services. Also by calling the Self Help Access center, please call 213-235-0060. Regular call center hours are 9am – 12 pm, Mon-Fri. If you are unable to call during that time, you may temporarily apply for help between 1 p.m.–4:30 p.m. by dialing extension 8099. Click here for more information. You can also apply for LAFLA services online

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.