Small Claims Advisor

There are no attorneys allowed in Small Claims Court. To help you, the Courts provide free Small Claims Advisors, available to both sides in a dispute. The Small Claims Advisor gives legal and procedural information and helps you fill out court forms.

QUESTIONS? call the Small Claims Advisor

(831) 786-7370

Leave a message any time.

This line is answered live on Tuesdays from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM. If your call is not answered live during this time, it means the advisor is already on the line with another caller. Please leave a message and repeat your phone number slowly 2 times.

IN-PERSON HOURS IN WATSONVILLE

In-person help is provided on a first come, first served basis. Please note that availability may fill up before the end of stated hours of operation. Please call the Small Claims Advisor for a phone consultation before you use in-person service.

Tuesdays and Thursdays

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Please see our calendar for special closure dates:

May Calendar

June Calendar

WORKSHOPS IN SANTA CRUZ

What:
The Small Claims Advisor presents a "How To" on Small Claims Cases and Collections. This is a 45 minute presentation followed by
a question and answer session.

When: 6:30PM

Where:
Santa Cruz County Law Library
701 Ocean Street, Room 70
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Map

The Law Library is located in the basement of the County Building, near Dept. 10. (When facing the County Building, use the stairwell on the left.)

2012 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE


January 17, 2013	March 21, 2013	May 16, 2013
July 18, 2013	September 19, 2013	November 21, 2013

What does the small claims advisor do?

The Small Claims Advisor provides legal information, assistance preparing court forms, and procedural advice to self-represented litigants, such as:

What to do Before Filing
Filing Defendant's Claim
Jurisdiction and Venue
Requesting a Continuance of the Trial
Where to File
Mediation Options
How to Name a Defendant
Paying Judgment in Installments
Service of Process
How to Collect a Judgment

There is no attorney-client relationship or confidentiality between the public and the Small Claims Advisor. The Small Claims Advisor remains neutral and is available to all parties in a dispute. The Small Claims Advisor is not responsible for the outcome of any case