Skip to main content.

Free & Low-Cost Legal Help

Help from the Court

Self-Help Center/Family Law Facilitator's Office: Please visit the Self-Help Center's page for information on how to get help from Court legal staff. Please read our Office Hours flyer and what we help with flyer  for more details. Additional information can be found on our Self-Help Workshops page, Self-Help Flyers page, and Self-Help Videos page.

Restraining Order Help Center: We offer in person assistance with restraining and protective orders at the Restraining Order Help Center. We can also help you in person with other emergencies including emergency requests related to custody and visitation, emergency guardianships, and answers in eviction cases. Please review our flyer for details.

Small Claims Advisor: For help with small claims issues, please contact the Small Claims Advisor.

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. 

All offices above are staffed by Court employees. The Court cannot give you legal advice or refer you to a lawyer. If you came to the Court's website looking for legal advice, you should instead consult with a lawyer licensed by the State Bar of California.

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 669-302-7803 .

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.

Resources Specific to Certain Types of Cases or Issues

More Legal Resources and Services

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