Self-Help Services

NOTE: We can only provide information and assistance with matters in California, and sometimes only in Alameda County. If you have a case in another state, we cannot assist you with that case.

Case types we can help with

• CARE (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment) Act Court Resources
  • Alameda County Superior Court's CARE Act Webpage
  • Learn about the CARE Act on the Judicial Council of California Website
  • Information about the CARE Act from the California Health & Human Services Agency
  • Information about CARE Court from Alameda Couty Behavioral Health and mental health resources if the CARE Act requirements are not met
  • Prepare your CARE Petition using a guided interview
• Divorce
  • Learn about the Alameda County divorce process
  • Information on U.S. military status and default judgments
• Parentage
• Petition for Custody and Support
  • Information on starting a child support case with the Local Child Support Agency
  • Complete an enrollment form to start a case with the Local Child Support Agency
• Petition for Stepparent Adoption to Confirm Parentage
• Restraining Orders: Domestic Violence; Civil Harassment; Elder Abuse; Workplace Violence (limited assistance)
  • Next steps after completing Temporary Restraining Order forms in Alameda County
  • Proximos pasos después de completar los formularios de Orden de restricción temporal en el Condado de Alameda
  • Watch a video on Serving Your Civil Harassment Restraining Order Court Forms
• Name & Gender Change
• Small Claims
  • Information to know before you sue someone (if you sue someone, you are the Plaintiff)
  • Information if you've been sued (if you are sued, you are the Defendant)
  • Learn about collecting your judgment if you win your Small Claims case
  • Watch a video on Serving Your Small Claims Forms
  • Watch a video on how to prepare for your Small Claims hearing
  • Prepare your Small Claims Plaintiff's Claim using a guided interview
• Unlawful Detainer
  • Information on the general overview of the Eviction (Unlawful Detainer) process
  • Information for landlords to prepare the Eviction complaint (for an Unlawful Detainer court case) using a guided interview
  • Prepare your Eviction answer  (in response to an Unlawful Detainer court case) using a guided interview
• Limited Conservatorship
  • Information about our workshops 
  • Aprende más sobre nuestros talleres
• Guardianship of the Minor
  • Information about our workshops
  • Aprende más sobre nuestros talleres 
• Debt Collection (limited assistance)
  • Information if you've been sued for a debt that you may or may not owe (if you are sued, you are the Defendant)
  • Answer packet with instructions if you've been sued and want to respond to the Complaint
  • See More Resources below for Consumer Debt Clinic
• Fee Waivers

Information about civil cases

• General Civil Cases* NOTE: The Self-Help Center does not assist with general civil cases. This section provides information that may be helpful to guide you if you have questions about a general civil case. You are encouraged to seek legal advice if you need additional assistance.
  • Information on Civil cases in California 
  • Information to know before you sue someone and the steps to sue someone (if you sue someone, you are the Plaintiff)
  • Information if you've been sued (if you are sued, you are the Defendant)

How to get help

Drop-in services are currently suspended but you may contact us via LiveChat or phones to be screened for an in-person or remote appointment.

Call us

(510) 272-1393

Monday - Thursday, 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Voicemails can only be left during phone hours. Calls are returned within 5 business days.

Chat with us

LiveChat Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. 

Click the widget located on the bottom right corner of this page during our LiveChat hours.  We may stop taking new chats before the stated hours once we reach capacity.

NOTE: If you do not see the LiveChat Widget, click this to try again.

Click here and find the LiveChat Widget at bottom right corner

Workshops available

Start Divorce/Legal Separation/Annulment case

• The next workshop will be on  February 11, 2026 and March 4, 2026 at 1:30PM.  Contact us for an appointment.

Financial Disclosures

• The next workshops will be on February 18, 2026 and March 18, 2026 at 1:30PM. Contact us for an appointment.

Start Small Claims

• The next workshops will be February 25, 2026 and March 25, 2026 at 1:30PM. Contact us for an appointment.
• Watch a video on Serving your Small Claims Forms

Workshops and appointments available for those who need Language Assistance.

Please call us Monday - Thursday, 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. to be scheduled for a workshop or appointment.

(510) 272-1393

Forms @ home

"Law Help Interactive (LHI)" allows you to complete online interviews for certain types of legal actions.  Once the interview is complete the required forms may be printed.  Once printed, the forms may be submitted to the Court for filing.