Help from the Court

• Self-Help Center/Family Law Facilitator's Office: You can visit the Court's Self-Help Centers for free help in person from Court legal staff. If you have a Court case already, it's best to bring a copy of all the papers in your Court file. Please read this flyer for How to Use the Self-Help Center/ Family Law Facilitator's Office . Be sure to visit our Self-Help Workshops page for help in person for certain problems. See the Self-Help Flyers page or Self-Help Videos page for more help.
  
  
• Restraining Order Help Center: You can get help with restraining and protective orders in person at the Restraining Order Help Center.
  
  
• Small Claims Advisor: You can submit questions to the Court's Small Claims Advisor online, and be contacted by email.
  
  
• At the Counter in the Courthouse: Court clerks can give you copies of local rules and forms, or they can tell you where to get them. They can also tell you about important information, like courtroom hours and locations, and filing fees. They may be able to direct you to information online. But they cannot give legal advice.

Santa Clara County Bar Association

If you do not understand something on this site, or if you have trouble filling out your court forms, talk to a lawyer. If you are representing yourself, and you fill out your own court forms, we recommend you have a lawyer look at them before you file them. You can get a referral to a lawyer or legal aid group from the Local Bar Association  in Santa Clara County. Their phone number is 408-971-6822 .

Limited Scope Representation

Limited Scope Representation (LSR) is a way that you can use a lawyer to help you, so that the lawyer is helping with only certain parts of your case, as you choose. For more information on how this works, with examples and form links, see the Limited Scope Representation page in the Self-Help Family section of this website.

Community Legal Aid Resources

Need legal advice but can’t afford a lawyer? You can talk to a local legal aid group. There are local Legal Aid agencies that offer free and low-cost legal services. Click on a link to learn more about their services. Also, see this list of Self-Help "Do It Yourself" resources  put together by the Court's Self-Help office.

• Asian Law Alliance  - consultation and legal representation on a free or low-cost basis for Asian/Pacific Islanders and low-income people
• Bay Area Legal Aid  - civil legal services for the Bay Area's low-income communities
• California Rural Legal Assistance  - helping people in Gilroy and South County
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) - providing legal assistance to low-income individuals in East Palo Alto and the surrounding communities
• Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center  - part of Santa Clara University Law School
• Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (LACY) 
• Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County  - provides free civil legal services for low-income persons unable to obtain access to the judicial system through other avenues
• Pro Bono Project  - free volunteer legal services
• Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA) 

Resources Specific to Certain Types of Cases or Issues

• Adoption Resources
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Resources
• Family Court Services Resources and more Family Resources
• Resources for Landlords and Tenants (Unlawful Disclaimer/UD)
• Resources relating to Restraining Orders and Domestic Violence
• Probate Resources
• Probate Resources for Children/Minors
• Traffic Resources

Links to More Legal Resources and Services

• California Courts Self-Help Center  with information such as: where to look for help and information, how to work better with, and how to represent yourself in some legal cases. Also see California Court on YouTube , with Self-Help videos.
• California Law  - The 29 codes that constitute the law in this state
• California Rules of Court - on the State Court website
• Foreclosure Information in California - information for people facing foreclosure, or renters who may be facing eviction due to a foreclosure
• Judicial Council  - State Court website
• LawHelpCalifornia.org  - helping low-income Californians solve legal problems
• Legal Resource Guides  - lists and links on the Sacramento County Law Library website
• Legal Services Corporation  - national list of legal services programs around the nation to help poor Americans have equal access to the judicial system
• Local Rules of Court in Santa Clara County - on this website
• Santa Clara County Law Library 
• State Bar Legal Information Pamphlets  - consumer pamphlets on topics ranging from arrest to trials to divorce to trusts and wills

Please refer to our Disclaimer regarding all external websites linked on this page and elsewhere on our website.