Self-Help Resources
Self-Help Information
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California Courts Online Self-Help Center
Information on all types of cases, with forms and instructions and information on where to get help.
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How to Prepare for a Court Appearance
A guide to representing yourself in court.
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Families Change
Online guide for families going through separation and divorce. With three versions – one for parents, one for children, and another for teens and pre-teens.
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Sacramento County Public Law Library
Self-Help from the Sacramento County Public Law Library
Videos
The Resolving Your Case video series provides information about resolving specific types of cases through the normal court process and through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, which are usually less formal, less expensive, and less time consuming than a trial.
California Courts offer videos in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese) for four case types; Civil Harassment, Debt Collection, Small Claims, and Unlawful Detainer (Eviction).
Please click on a case type below for videos and more information.
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Resolving your Small Claims Case in the California Courts
Information about the options for resolving disputes involving $10,000 or less. If someone owes you – or claims you owe them – $10,000 or less, watching this video may help.
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Resolving your Eviction Case in the California Courts
Information about the options for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants about the right to occupy real property. If you are a landlord or a tenant with such a dispute, watching this video may help.
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Resolving your Civil Harassment Case in the California Courts
Information about the options for resolving civil harassment disputes. If you feel harassed by someone, or if someone says you are harassing them, watching this video may help.
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Resolving your Debt Collection Case in the California Courts
Information about the options for resolving many types of debts, before or after a court action is filed. If someone is trying to collect a debt that you dispute or are unable to pay, watching this video may help.
Legal Services of Northern California
Get legal help with housing, public benefits (food stamps, calworks, general assistance/relief, child care, social security, SSI), health care benefits, unemployment claims, clean slate (criminal records clean-up such as "expungement"), immigration (naturalization, green card renewals, u-visas), special senior issues (advanced healthcare directives, powers of attorney, planning for incapacity, elder abuse, consumer rights and scams targeting seniors), education (individualized education plans, discipline, access to education).
lawhelpcalifornia.org
If you need to find legal help, about many different issues, visit LawHelpCA.org
Mendocino County Law Library
A free public law library providing access to general legal resources to the citizens of Mendocino County. There are links to many full-text, primary documents such as statutes, cases, and regulations for California, the United States, and beyond.
www.mendocinocounty.org/lawlib
Search California Law
California Law consists of 29 codes, covering various subject areas. This is the official California State website for on-line access to laws currently in effect.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml
Mendocino Works
Resource centers located throughout Mendocino County that offer comprehensive employment and training services to businesses and job seekers as a "one-stop" service network
- Ukiah Office: (707) 467-5500
- Fort Bragg Office: (707) 962-1000
- Willits Office: (707) 456-3760
Mendocino County Public Library
Six branches throughout Mendocino County, including the Bookmobile. Find, order, and renew books on-line; on-line access to magazine, newspaper and e-book databases.
Clean Slate Program
Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) is the local non-profit legal aid organization providing free legal assistance to older adults and people with low-income residing in Lake and Mendocino Counties. Our Clean Slate Project (re-entry services) in particular is focused on helping people who have had contact with the criminal justice system successfully rejoin their communities.
Guide & File
Odyssey Guide & File lets you prepare your court documents and file your case online in easy 3 steps.
1. Answer online questions to prepare the case filing
2. Automatically create legal documents for free
3. File the case online or print the documents to file in person with the clerk of court