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do you have a question for the self-help center?

Do you have a question for the Self-Help Center?

Before you contact us, please take the time to review information on our Self-Help site as it may answer your question.

Self Help Center Flyer: Click here, for specific information about services provided by the Self Help Center and hours of operation. If you still need assistance, you may get help through the options below:

E-mail: Complete the form below to submit your question. Our goal is to respond to emails within 3 business days, however it may sometimes take longer.

Phone: 408-882-2926  Click here for days and times of service. No voicemail Access.

Live Chat: Click on the Live Chat box below. Click here for days and times of service.

In Person: Click here for information about our limited in person services.

If you need help with a restraining order, emergency custody/visitation, emergency guardianship, filing an answer in an eviction case or asking for more time to stay because you received a Sheriff’s Notice, visit the Self-Help Center in person. For other legal issues that need to be handled immediately, contact the Self-Help Center by phone or Live Chat. Your legal rights may “expire” while you are waiting for an answer by email. Self-Help Center staff cannot give you legal advice, only legal information or referrals to other resources that may be able to help you. If you would like to get legal advice, click here for resources.

How is legal advice different from legal information? Legal information is a statement of what the law or legal process is, leaving up to you the decision of how to proceed. Legal advice tells you how you should proceed.

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Have you ever had an attorney represent you in this case?  Yes   No 
Have you visited this Self-Help Center before?  Yes   No 
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The Self-Help Center doesn't help
with the following housing issues/situations. Please find an attorney  who can help you.

  • Foreclosure
  • Home Owner's Associations (HOAs)
  • Mobile Homes
  • Business Tenants
  • Corporations
  • No Discovery
  • No trial preparation

 Unlawful Detainer (Eviction)- Landlord/Tenant
 [Click to visit our Self-Help UD page and UD Resources flyer ]

If you have been served with a Notice or an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit please immediately contact an attorney , a Legal Services agency or the Court’s Self-Help Center for help. You usually only have 5 days to respond. Do not submit questions through this website in this situation.







 Unlawful Detainer:

I am the:  Landlord   Tenant 
If you are the Landlord, answer the following questions that apply to you:

1. What kind of eviction do you need help with?
*Note:
The Self Help Center does not assist with commercial evictions. You will need to contact a private attorney for further assistance.

 Residential   Commercial 
2. When did your Tenant first move into the rental? (mm/dd/yy)

3. Does your Tenant owe you rent?  No
(Skip to Question 7.)
 
 Yes
(Answer Questions
4 through 6 below) 

4. My Tenant has not paid their rent.
My Tenant owes me rent from (mm/dd/yy) until (mm/dd/yy)

5. If your tenant owes you rent, have you already given them notice?
 No
Yes, I gave them the notice below:
        3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit 
        15 Day Notice 
        Other – Describe Notice provided [briefly]:        

6. If your tenant owes you rent, have you applied for rental assistance program?
 No 
Yes, I have applied for the rental assistance, and the status of my application is:
         Pending   Denied   Approved 

7. My tenant does not owe me rent, AND
Mark the box that applies to your situation:

 Has lived in the rental for less than a year 
 Has lived in the rental for more than a year 
 Has been given a notice to move out 

8. My tenant does not owe me rent, AND this is an emergency situation
 No 
 Yes - Describe your reason for “emergency” reason for wanting to eviction your tenant here:


9. Is the rental property a Section 8 property or other kind of subsidized housing?
 No   Yes 

10.  I filed an eviction case against the Tenant and they did not file a Response.
              Now, I need help with request to enter default/default judgment.

11.   I am self-represented and need help drafting a Judgment entered in Court

If you are the Tenant, answer the following questions that apply to you:

1. What kind of rental are you being evicted from?
*Note:
The Self Help Center does not assist with commercial evictions. You will need to contact a private attorney for further assistance.

 Residential   Commercial 

2. Have you been served with a notice?
 No 
 Yes, I have been served with a
     3 Day Notice to Quit 
     3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit 
     15 Day Notice 
     30 Day Notice 
     60 Day Notice 
     Other – Describe the notice you received from your Landlord [briefly]:
          

3. If you received a notice asking for rent owed, answer the following questions:
  • I first moved into the rental property on (mm/dd/yyyy)
  • The notice says I owe rent from (mm/dd/yyyy) until (mm/dd/yyyy)
  • If rent demanded is from 3/2020 through 9/2021 (mark all that applies):
    •  I have signed and returned a COVID-19 financial distress declaration to my landlord, AND
    •  I have paid at least 25% of the rent owed for the period demanded
4. If you are a tenant and owe rent, have you applied for rental assistance?
 No 
 Yes, I have applied for the rental assistance, and the status of my application is:
         Pending   Denied   Approved 

5. If you do not owe rent, and received a notice from your landlord, check the box that applies:
 I have lived in the rental for less than a year and received a 30 day notice 
 I have lived in the rental for more than a year and received a 60 day notice 
 I have been given a notice to move out because [briefly]: 

6. Is the rental property a Section 8 property or other kind of subsidized housing?
 No   Yes 

7. Have you been served with a Summons and Complaint?
 No   Yes, I was served on (mm/dd/yyyy) 

8. Have you received a notice to vacate from the Sheriff’s Office?
 No 
 Yes, I have received a notice to vacate from the Sheriff’s Office and now I need to ask for more time to move out.  
* Note: If a Sheriff has posted this notice on your door, you will want to act immediately. Failure to do so could result in you being locked out of your rental.

 Other Information or Questions about your case: [briefly]:
(Please see the list of issues we can NOT help with, in the box on the top)



 Your Questions

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