Self-Help

The Sacramento Superior Court provides free assistance to individuals without an attorney for the case types below. These resources provide procedural legal information to empower individuals, increase their understanding, participation, and access to the justice system, and enhance the court's efficiency and effectiveness. Self-Help at the Law Library (SH@LL) also provides free general legal information and basic legal help to people representing themselves.

Civil Self-Help Services

Civil Self-Help Services (SHS) at the Tani Cantil-Sakauye Downtown Courthouse helps people without lawyers who have questions about simple issues related to a civil case. SHS can give general information and help you prepare your own forms in the area of civil law.

Name/Gender Change

A legal name change allows you to change the name on your government documents. You might change your legal name because you’ve never used it, because it no longer suits you, or because you want a name that matches your gender identity.

Family Law Self-Help

The Family Law Facilitator’s Office /Self-Help Center at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse provides information to help complete and process forms and understand court procedures related to child custody and support, divorce/legal separation, parentage, step-parent adoptions, and domestic violence restraining orders.

Expungement

If you have been convicted of a crime, you may be eligible for relief. Some convictions can be modified on your record so that when you apply for most jobs, you can legally indicate that you were not convicted of that crime. Other convictions may be reduced from felony to misdemeanor status in certain situations.

Restraining Orders

There are different types of civil restraining orders, each with its own eligibility requirements and steps to obtain a restraining order.

Probate Self-Help

The Self-Help Center at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse provides information to help complete and process forms and understand court procedures related to guardianship and limited conservatorships of the person.

Small Claims & Unlawful Detainer Mediation Program

Mediation is an alternative form of dispute resolution that has proven effective in helping litigants resolve their cases through compromise instead of having a judge decide the outcome in court. Any solution created is binding and enforceable in court, much like a judgment.

Advisory Clinic for Small Claims & Unlawful Detainer

The Advisory Clinic is a free public service of the Sacramento Superior Court that provides legal information and guidance about small claims and evictions.

CARE Act Court

The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act seeks to provide community-based mental health and related services, support, and accountability for individuals living with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.