What is the Self Help Center?

The Self Help Center, which includes the services of the Family Law Facilitator, helps people who need legal information but do not have lawyers. The Center can give you information, court forms, and help you understand your legal options. We cannot represent you and in most cases you will be required to fill out your own court forms with our guidance. We only help with very simple legal situations, often we may need to refer you to a private attorney or to the law library for you to do your own legal research. We help many people each day therefore we usually spend less than 30 minutes with each person and there can be a long wait. We are not responsible for the outcome of your case. Conversations with the Self Help Center are not confidential and we do assist parties on both sides of the case.

What we help with and location of services:

Watsonville: Located at 1 Second Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 (downtown), Room 301

Santa Cruz: Located at 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (in the courthouse):

• Family Law: Including child support, spousal support, custody, visitation, divorce, establishing parentage, domestic violence restraining order.

• Guardianship of the person, name change, civil harassment restraining orders, and landlord tenant.

• Community and legal referrals.

• Watsonville Location Only: Public computers and self help legal resource library to research other areas of the law.

Hours: Drop in assistance only, no appointments

It is best to arrive by 8 am for our morning session and 1:00 pm for our afternoon session.

• Watsonville: Monday – Thursday 8:30-11:30 and 1:30-4

Closed on Friday and the third Thursday afternoon of the month.

• Santa Cruz: Tuesday and Thursdays only 8:30-11:30 and 1:30-4

Closed the third Thursday afternoon of the month.

Conservatorship/Elder Abuse Prevention/CEAP:

We assist with these issues at the following locations and times:

• Santa Cruz Court: Monday only 8:30-12:30 in the Law Library located at 701 Ocean Street

• Watsonville Court: Thursday only 8:30-1:30 in the Self Help Center located at 1 Second Street

When you arrive please sign in and you will be called in the order of arrival. Depending on how many people need assistance the sign up sheet may fill up before the end of the stated hours of operation. We apologize for this, but we do not know how many people will need help on any given day.

Public Phone Line/E-mail:

• Phone 831-420-2200 in Santa Cruz or 831-786-7200 in Watsonville. Most of the time you will need to leave a message and your call will be returned in about 72 hours. E-mail the Self Help Center at selfhelp.information@santacruzcourt.org. E-mails are returned once a week.

Come Prepared

Be prepared to wait:

The wait may be several hours after you check in. You may also need to return for multiple visits depending on your legal issue.

Cost for Services:

There is no cost for the services of the Self Help Center but you may have to pay for copies and court filing fees at the clerk’s office.

How do I hire an attorney?

The Self Help Center cannot represent you or give the name of any specific attorneys. We can give you community resources to assist you in finding your own attorney. You may call the Lawyer Referral Service for a low cost attorney consultation at 831-425-4755.

What should I bring to Self Help Center?

Try to bring a copy of your entire court file (including all of your court case numbers) and any documents that support your legal issue. Also bring a pen, stamps (you may need as many as 8), blank envelopes, and something to keep you busy while you wait.

What if I don’t speak English well?

We cannot guarantee an interpreter. Please bring your own interpreter and someone to help you fill out your court forms in English.

Come in person:

Your case is most important to you and you have the most knowledge about your case. If you send a family member or friend in your place we may not be able to assist.

Children:

If at all possible do not bring children with you. Your children are very valuable. The waiting time can be hard on them and you can be distracted by their needs. It is not in your children’s best interest to be present when you are talking about your legal problems.

What if I just want a legal form?

The Self Help Center may not be for you if you just need a form because we want to take time to interview to make sure you are getting the correct forms. If you just need a form you can buy most forms or pay for photocopying at the Law Library located at the basement of the county building at 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA Room 070. You can also download any court form at the State’s Self Help Web Site at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/. You may also use the computers at the Watsonville Self Help Center, however if we are full for the day already there may not be anyone available to give you direction. There will be a time and page limit for use of the Self Help Center computers.

Program Changes:

Please note that over the next year there will be many changes made to our current program as we transition most of our services to Watsonville. Some of our materials may become outdated as this transition happens. We apologize for any inconvenience, especially if you arrive and we have changed our hours or place of operation. We appreciate your patience over the next year.