California Courts Self-Help Guide for Evictions
Legal & Communities Services Referral List
The Superior Court has family law and civil self-help centers to assist persons who represent themselves in court. There is no income eligibility requirement to use these services. They are available to all members of the community.
To schedule an appointment with the Family Law Self-Help Center, go to https://calendly.com/vcreservations.
The Family Law Facilitator’s Office (FLF) and Family Resource Center (FRC), collectively “The Centers,” provide informational assistance to self-represented litigants with the following case types:
- Divorce/Legal Separation/Annulment
- Parental Relationship Actions
- Voluntary Declarations of Parentage
- Child Support
- Spousal Support (Alimony)
- Request for Orders
- Child Custody/Visitation
- Final Judgments
- Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (Only when Family Justice Center (805) 652-7655 is unable to assist)
The Centers do NOT assist with all types of Family Law issues. You may need to hire an attorney in certain actions.
Ventura: The FLF Center is located at the Ventura Courthouse, 800 South Victoria Avenue, on the third floor, Room 30, Ventura, CA 93009.
Oxnard: The Family Resource Center (Family Law Self-Help) is in the Juvenile and Probate Courthouse at 4353 E. Vineyard Avenue, Room 206, in Oxnard (El Rio), CA 93036.
• Family Law Self Help Information / Flyer [Español]
HOW CAN I GET HELP?
APPOINTMENTS
To set an in-person or Zoom appointment, please go to www.calendly.com/vcscreservations and select either Family Law Self-Help (Ventura) or Family Law Self-Help (Oxnard).
Please refer to the Family Law Self Help Information / Flyer regarding how to prepare for your appointment.
CONTACT US
CLICK HERE to e-mail your question to the Family Law Self-Help Center.
Self-Help staff will respond to your e-mail within five court days (excluding court closures and holidays).
Please be sure to check your e-mail, including your spam folder for the response.
WEBINARS
Family Law webinars are available every week on certain topics. For information on the webinars currently being offered and to register for a webinar, please go to www.calendly.com/vcselfhelpcenter and select the one appropriate for you.
For more information about registering and attending webinars, you can watch the videos on the Ventura Superior Court’s YouTube page titled:
APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR IN-PERSON ASSISTANCE
The Family Law Facilitator’s Office and the Family Resource Center require an appointment for in-person assistance. For walk-in days, please refer to the Family Law Self Help Information / Flyer.
SELF-HELP CALL CENTER – FAMILY LAW: (805) 289-8732
The Call Center hours are 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and Fridays, (except court closures, holidays). The Call Center can provide brief information, assist with accessing court forms, and help litigants with registering for a webinar. The Call Center does not provide full self-help services.
FAMILY LAW SELF-HELP CENTERS HOURS OF OPERATION
Ventura (FLF): Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (closed from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.). The Center assists court referrals only on Mondays (all day), and closed for appointments.
Oxnard (FRC): Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (closed from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.). Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Please check www.calendly.com/vcscreservations (Family Law Self-Help (Ventura) or Family Law Self-Help (Oxnard)) for available appointments.
FLF and FRC (the “Centers”) provide general legal informational regarding your family law case. THE CENTERS CANNOT ASSIST YOU IF YOU ARE REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY.
THE CENTERS CAN: (1) Provide you with general legal information and your options; (2) Assist you with selecting appropriate court forms; (3) Provide general information on how to fill out court forms; (4) Provide you with information about court processes and procedures; and (5) Review your filled-out forms for completeness before filing.
THE CENTERS CANNOT: (1) Fill out forms or draft documents for you; (2) Give you legal advice or an opinion; (3) Represent or go to court with you; (4) Tell you what to say on your forms or in court; (5) Help you with case strategy; (6) File or serve documents for you; (7) Predict the outcome of your case.
The Attorneys and Staff at the Centers work for the court and must remain neutral and impartial. There is no attorney-client relationship between you and Centers. The Centers may provide information and services to the other party in your case. Communications between you and the Centers are NOT confidential. You should consult with a private attorney if you want personalized advice, strategy, to have a confidential conversation, or to be represented in court.
The Self-Help Legal Access Center (SHLAC) provides informational assistance to self-represented litigants with the following case types:
- Civil Harassment Restraining Order
- Unlawful Detainer (Evictions)
- Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order
- Collections
- Name Change
- Name and Gender Change
- Misdemeanor Expungement
- Step-parent Adoption
- Guardianship
- Conservatorship
SHLAC does NOT assist with all types of civil cases. Specifically, SHLAC does NOT assist litigants with initiating civil lawsuits, small claims cases, criminal matters, probate decedent estates and trust issues, and appeals and writs.
Ventura: The Self-Help Legal Access Center is located at the Ventura Courthouse, 800 South Victoria Avenue, on the first floor, in Room 106.
Oxnard: The Family Resource Center is in the Juvenile and Probate Courthouse at 4353 E. Vineyard Avenue, Room 206, in Oxnard (El Rio), CA 93036. For recorded information, please call (805) 289-8864.
• Civil Self-Help Information [Español]
HOW CAN I GET HELP?
PHONE OR ZOOM APPOINTMENTS
To set a phone or Zoom video conferencing appointment, please go to www.calendly.com/vcscreservations and select either Civil Self-Help (Ventura) or Civil Self-Help (Oxnard).
Your appointment will be no longer than 15 minutes. Please have all your forms and questions ready to make the most of your time.
CONTACT US
CLICK HERE to e-mail your question to the Self-Help Legal Access Center.
Self-Help staff will respond to your e-mail within five court days (excluding court closures and holidays).
Please be sure to check your e-mail, including your spam folder for the response.
WEBINARS
Free legal self-help webinars are where a self-help attorney answers questions and provides instructions on how to fill out and file court forms. The webinars are held with Zoom video conferencing.
For information on the webinars currently being offered, visit our Self-Help Webinars page. To register for a webinar, please go to www.calendly.com/vcselfhelpcenter and select the one appropriate for you.
For more information about registering and attending webinars, you can watch the videos on the Ventura Superior Court’s YouTube page titled:
APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR IN-PERSON ASSISTANCE
The Self-Help Legal Access Center and the Family Resource Center are currently not providing walk-in services.
SELF-HELP CALL CENTER – CIVIL: (805) 289-8812
The Call Center hours are 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Monday through Friday (except court closures and holidays). The Call Center will direct self-represented litigants on how to access court forms, how to e-mail the Self-Help Center, how to register for a webinar and/or set a phone or Zoom appointment. The Call Center does not provide full self-help services.
SELF-HELP LEGAL ACCESS CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION
Ventura (SHLAC): Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (closed from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.).
Oxnard (FRC): Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. (closed from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.). Fridays from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Please check www.calendly.com/vcscreservations Civil Self-Help (Ventura) or Civil Self-Help (Oxnard) for available appointments.
SHLAC and FRC (the “Centers”) provide general informational assistance with your case, within the scope of our services. THE CENTERS CANNOT ASSIST YOU IF YOU ARE REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY.
THE CENTERS CAN: (1) Provide you with general legal information and your options; (2) Assist you with selecting appropriate court forms; (3) Provide general information on how to fill out court forms; (4) Provide you with information about court processes and procedures; and (5) Review your filled-out forms for completeness before filing.
THE CENTERS CANNOT: (1) Fill out forms or draft documents for you; (2) Give you legal advice or an opinion; (3) Represent or go to court with you; (4) Tell you what to say on your forms or in court; (5) Help you with case strategy; (6) File or serve documents for you; (7) Predict the outcome of your case.
The Attorneys and Staff at the Centers work for the court and must remain neutral and impartial. There is no attorney-client relationship between you and Centers. The Centers may provide information and services to the other party in your case. Communications between you and the Centers are NOT confidential. You should consult with a private attorney if you want personalized advice, strategy, to have a confidential conversation, or to be represented in court.
General Self-Help Directory
California Courts Online Self-Help Center - In English
Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California - In Spanish
California Courts Online Self-Help Center [More Languages] - In Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese
