Civil Self-Help Center

The Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California receives funding from the Sacramento County Public Law Library to operate a Civil Self-Help Center.  The Civil Self-Help Center was formerly operated at the Sacramento County Superior Court, but this location closed on June 21, 2009.  We are pleased that the Sacramento County Public Law Library has recognized the importance of this project and has welcomed us to their location.  We are grateful to the Sacramento County Superior Court for hosting this project for two years and for providing partial funding for the ongoing operation of this project at the Law Library.

The purpose of the Civil Self-Help Center is to provide general information and basic assistance to self-represented litigants with a variety of civil legal matters.  The most common type of legal matter we help with is the defense of breach of contract actions.  If you have a lawyer representing you, or you represent a corporation, LLC or LLP, unfortunately, we cannot help you.  The types of matters we cannot help with include:  family, probate, traffic, landlord/tenant, immigration, bankruptcy, criminal, small claims and medical/dental malpractice or federal law issues.

The Civil Self-Help Center provides limited assistance to any self-represented litigant regardless of income of other financial criteria.  The Center’s staff and volunteers do not represent customers in court proceedings nor are they intended to act as a replacement for representation by an attorney.  Instead, visitors to the Center are provided general assistance designed to help self-represented litigants overcome the procedural hurdles in correctly completing court forms and other documents that often prevent unassisted litigants from having their matters heard by a court.

Help is provided either through workshops, quick assistance, referrals, or through a limited number of individual appointments.  Assistance is currently not provided by telephone or email.  Workshop assignments and individual appointments with our staff are scheduled starting at 8:30 a.m. via a lottery until all slots are filled for the day.  Customers are encouraged to arrive shortly before 8:30 a.m. to receive an appointment or workshop slot for the day.

Walk-customers who have brief, non-complex questions are welcomed throughout the day.  If your questions turn out to be complex, you may be asked to return another day to be consulted.