Skip to main content.

Free & Low-Cost Legal Help

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 our Office Hours flyer and what we help with flyer or page 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 get help with small claims issues by contacting 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. 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 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.