If you live in Santa Clara County, you can come in person to the Self-Help Center Office/Family Law Facilitator's Office in downtown San Jose, as well as Self Help Centers (with more limited hours) in Morgan Hill and Sunnyvale. Read this flyer for hours and locations of the Court's three Self-Help Centers and the Family Law Facilitator's Office. The Self-Help Center Office can help guide you through the court system in Santa Clara County. (Click to visit a web page with specific information about the Family Law Facilitator's Office.)

This section will give you answers to these questions:

• Where are the Self-Help Centers located and when are they open?
• Do I need an appointment for the Self-Help Center?
• How can the Self-Help Center help me?
• Are there lawyers at the Self-Help Center?
• Can I get help with forms?
• Do I need to bring anything to the Self-Help Center?
• What if I have or used to have a lawyer?
• What if I don’t speak English?
• Can I bring my children?
   

Where are the Self-Help Center Offices and when are they open?

Read this flyer for hours and locations of the Court's three Self-Help Centers and the Family Law Facilitator's Office.

The main San Jose Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator's Office is at:

Notre Dame Courthouse
99 Notre Dame Avenue
San Jose, CA 95113

Days and Hours at Notre Dame: open Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (on Fridays, there are no walk-in sessions with the Self Help Center lawyer)

The South County Courthouse Self-Help Center is at:

South County Courthouse
301 Diana Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
See flyer for hours

The Sunnyvale Courthouse Self Help Center is at:

Sunnyvale Courthouse
605 W. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale CA 94087
See flyer for hours

Do I need an appointment for the Self-Help Center?

No. Just come in. You’ll get a number when you arrive. We help people on a first come, first serve basis. People arrive early for help, before the courthouse opens.


How can the Self-Help Center help me?

The Self-Help Center can refer you to the resources you need for your Court case. We may:

• give you information,
• refer you to other Court resources or a private agency, or
• recommend you talk to a lawyer.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, we can tell you about free and low-cost legal resources.


Are there lawyers at the Self-Help Center?

There is a lawyer at the Center.  The lawyer is there to help you learn about your legal rights and responsibilities.  They cannot give legal advice or tell you the best way to deal with your case. They can only give you information and options about a limited number of issues.  They will either:

• help you at the Center,
• refer you to other organizations that can help you, or
• refer you to a private attorney.

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Can I get help with forms?

Yes. There are other people who work at the Center who are not lawyers. They can show you how to:

• use this website,
• print information or forms from this website, and
• fill out and print online forms.

The Self-Help Center has printed information and forms for:

• civil cases,
• family law cases,
• unlawful detainer cases,
• guardianship, conservatorship and some Probate cases,
• expungements,
• fee waiver applications, and
• all approved Judicial Council forms.
   

We also have pamphlets and books on many topics including divorce, tenants’ rights and guardianships.


Do I need to bring anything to the Self-Help Center?

If you already have a Court case, bring copies of all papers in your Court file.

If you are thinking about filing a lawsuit, bring all the information and documents you have related to your case.

If you are being sued, bring copies of all documents you were served or got from the Court.

Read this flyer, How to Use the Self-Help Center (Family Law Facilitator's Office), for important specific information about what you need to bring!
 

What if I have or used to have a lawyer?

If you have a lawyer now, we cannot help you with your case.

If you had a lawyer before, but do not have one now, you must bring a written, filed court order that proves you do not have a lawyer now.


What if I don’t speak English?

If you do not speak English, please bring your own translator.
 

Can I bring my children?

If your children are between 2 and 12 years old, you can take them to the Notre Dame Courthouse Children's Waiting Room or the South County Courthouse Children's Waiting Room, Morgan Hill, while you visit the Self-Help Centers in those courthouses.

See our web page on the Children's Waiting Room for more information.

If you have court-related things to take care of, it is free!

You should make an appointment in advance. If you come without an appointment, the CWRs will take children on a first come, first served basis.

Come early because you will have to fill out forms before you can drop your children off.

See the Children's Waiting Room web page for forms, hours, addresses and phone numbers.

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