 Services available at the
Self Help Center
The Family Law Facilitator's Office provides assistance in the following areas
of law:
- Child and Spousal Support
- Divorce/Legal Separation/Annulment
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Paternity
- Domestic Violence
- Guardianship
The Self Help Center provides free legal and procedural assistance to individuals
without an attorney in the areas of Family Law and Probate. The Self Help
Center also houses the Family Court Resource Referral Program, the Self
Help Computer Room and a Community Resource Room for use by all
court customers in need of referrals to community services. All services are provided free of charge.
Hours and Location
The Self Help Center is located in Room 113 of the William R.
Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse and is open Monday through
Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays. The Resource Referral Program is available
for drop-in assistance Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. and
Tuesday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Community Resource Room is open
during all regular Self Help Center hours, but is closed daily for lunch
from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The Self Help Computer Room is open Monday
through Friday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
What type of assistance will I receive?
The office of the Family Law Facilitator provides the following types
of assistance:
- Information regarding your case
- Instruction on completion of court forms
- Preparation of support calculations
- Instructions on follow-up steps
- Preparation of Orders and Judgments
- Referrals to other resources
What can I expect?
Each time you visit the Self Help Center, you will need to check in
with the receptionist at the middle window and show photo identification. Depending on the legal
issue you wish to address, you may be referred to meet with someone on
staff for individual, in-depth assistance or be signed up for a workshop.
Please be aware that service is provided on first-come,
first-served basis. You should plan to spend at least a
half-day when you visit the Self Help Center. It is recommended
that you arrive as early as possible. Free childcare is available
for children ages 1-12 in the
Children's
Waiting Room at the William R. Ridgeway Family
Relations Courthouse. Note: The children's playroom is closed daily between the hours
of 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
E-mail Assistance
Court customers who are unable to come to the Self Help Center in
person are encouraged to contact us by email. Email assistance is
available to any self-represented party in a family law, domestic
violence, family support or guardianship case filed in Sacramento County
Superior Court. When contacting us by email, always include your
case number and name in the subject line of your email. All email
inquiries should be directed to
FLFO@saccourt.com. Please note that if you have a confidential
file, we will not be able to provide any assistance via email as we must
first verify your identity.
Self Help Computer Room
The Self Help Computer Room has ten computers available for use by
self represented litigants to use for research and preparation of court
forms. The computers have internet access to approved legal sites
only and cannot be used for reading or responding to email.
Computers are available on a first come, first serve basis, with
priority given to those customers attending the Domestic Violence
Restraining Order workshop or one of the previously scheduled
Guardianship workshops. Follow the link to view the
Terms of Use for the Self Help Computer Room.
Workshops
The Family Law Facilitator's Office offers workshops in the areas of
Family Law and Probate. To sign up for a workshop you may visit
the Self Help Center Monday through Thursday. Follow the link for information on
the Domestic Violence Restraining Order
class.
If you are appearing for a scheduled workshop, you may proceed directly to
the location indicated on your appointment slip to check in.
Parentage Workshop (UPA)
This workshop is for parents who are not married to the other parent
and wish to start a case for custody, visitation, and child
support. The parentage workshop is held Wednesday at
1:00 p.m. To sign up for this workshop, you may visit the Self Help
Center Monday through Thursday.
Dissolution Workshop
This workshop is for persons who want a divorce, legal separation, or
annulment. This workshop is also used to start a case for custody,
visitation, child support, spousal support, and property division. The
dissolution workshop is held Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. or at 1:00 p.m. by
appointment only. To sign up for this workshop, you may visit the
Self Help Center Monday through Thursday.
Default Workshop
This workshop is for parties who have filed a dissolution, legal
separation, nullity or Uniform Parentage Act case in the Sacramento
Superior Court and at least thirty (30) days have passed since the other
party was served and no Response has been filed. The workshop will
last approximately two (2) hours and is available by appointment
only. The default workshop is held on Monday at 2:30 p.m. To sign
up for this workshop, you may visit the Self Help
Center Monday through Thursday.
Order to Show Cause Workshop
This workshop is for parties who have a case in Sacramento County and
want to request a hearing and
is available by appointment only. The workshop will last
approximately two (2) hours. The Order to Show Cause
workshop is held Thursday at 1:00 p.m. To sign up for
this workshop, you may visit the Self Help Center Monday through
Thursday.
Income
and Expense Declaration/Financial
Disclosures Workshop
This workshop does exactly what the name implies--helps customers
complete an Income and Expense Declaration and/or the Financial
Disclosures required in Dissolution, Legal Separation, and Annulment
cases. The workshop is open to anyone wishing to complete these
forms, regardless of the type of case they may have. This workshop
is offered Wednesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and does not require an
appointment. Customers wishing to attend the workshop are
encouraged to arrive early on the day you wish to attend the workshop
and bring with you a blue or black ink pen, W-2's for the previous year,
paystubs for the past two months and a calculator (not a cellular
telephone). Space is limited and the workshop is offered on a
first come-first served basis only.
Notice
of Motion Workshop
The Notice of Motion workshop is for customers who wish to schedule a
hearing on a matter that does not require personal service on the other
party, such as a Motion to Amend a Petition or Response or a Motion to
Change Venue, in an open Family Law or Family Support case. This
workshop is offered by appointment only on alternating Mondays at 8:30
a.m. To schedule an appointment for the Notice of Motion workshop,
visit the Self Help Center during regular business hours, Monday through
Thursday.
Trial Setting Workshop
The Trial Setting workshop is for persons wishing to request a
settlement conference and trial in order to obtain a judgment in a UPA,
Dissolution, Legal Separation or Annulment case when a Response has been
filed. The workshop is offered Monday at 1:00 p.m. by
appointment only. To schedule an appointment for the Trial Setting
workshops, come to the Self Help Center Monday through Thursday.
Guardianship Workshops
The Introductory Guardianship workshop is for persons wishing to
start a case to obtain custody of a minor other than their own child
where there are no custody orders already existing.
The workshop is offered on two consecutive Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. To
schedule an appointment for the Introductory Guardianship workshop,
visit the Self Help Center during regular business hours, Monday through
Thursday.
The Guardianship Hearing workshop is for persons who have already
petitioned the court to be appointed the guardian of a child, but have
not yet been issued letters of guardianship. The workshop is
offered on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment for
the Guardianship Hearing workshop,
visit the Self Help Center during regular business hours, Monday through
Thursday.
Family Court Resource Referral Program
The Resource Referral Program helps parents locate court-referred
services. Lists of court-approved service providers are available
in the lobby of the Self Help Center. Customers wishing to receive
personal assistance in locating an appropriate provider may visit the
Resource Specialist during drop in hours. To download copies of
the providers lists, or for more information about the Resource Referral
Program, please click here. When contacting the Resource
Specialist, please bring your court order or minute order and Family
Court Services report. The Resource Specialist cannot provide
procedural assistance with your case.
Community Resource Room
The Community Resource Room is located off the lobby of the Self Help
Center and is available to all Family Court customers. Staff from
2-1-1 Sacramento is available in the Resource Room to assist
customers in locating community resources. Customers may browse
the brochure racks for information or may meet individually with
2-1-1 staff. Also available in the Resource Room are two
computer kiosks where customers may prepare court forms and two video
monitors where customers may view a variety of check-out videos on
topics related to the Family Court, including Conservatorship,
Guardianship, Domestic Violence and Paternity Declarations.
What should I bring with me?
Each time you visit the Self Help Center, please remember to bring
the following items:
- Picture identification
- Your last two paystubs or statements
- Other income and expense information
- A blue or black ink pen
- Envelopes and postage stamps
- Change for the photocopier machine
Disclosure
The Self Help Center is here to help persons not represented by an
attorney. The information provided to assist persons in
completing and processing forms is not intended as legal advice about
what to request or expect from the court. No one in the Self Help Center may predict the outcome of your issues or case. Please do
not incorrectly state or imply to others that the Self Help Center has
told you what you can expect from the court. The Self Help Center
does not represent anyone and may assist all parties in your
case. Further, the information exchanged in this office is not
confidential.
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