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Phone: (415) 444-7130
Email: selfhelp@marincourt.org
Location: Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room 244
Office Hours: 8:30am - noon, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Free Legal Self Help Services Available to the Public, in English and in Spanish
In June 2009, Legal Self Help Services Division (LSHS) opened at the courthouse. All services are free to the
public. Due to the high volume of court users, you must come in to the LSHS to receive services. We are not
able to help you over the phone. LSHS’ primary goal is to continue to maintain the high standard of public
service established by the former LSHC, by providing vital self-help services to underserved Marin residents,
such as low-income litigants and non-English or bilingual/bicultural residents with legal issues. Services
include: intake, information and referral to legal services partners in the Justice Center; individual assistance
with legal document preparation; bilingual assistance and legal reference materials for non-English speakers;
assistance in conducting self-guided legal research; and coordination of volunteers and interns who provide direct
customer services. Many of the individuals served at LSHS have matters pending in the Family Court, primarily
in the areas of domestic violence restraining orders, dissolutions of marriage, child custody and visitation,
child support and parentage issues. LSHS also offers assistance in small claims; landlord/tenant and eviction
proceedings; civil harassment; and other civil, probate, juvenile, criminal and traffic matters. The small claims
advisor is located at LSHS.
LSHS offers one-on-one assistance to self represented litigants. Three staff members are bilingual in Spanish
and one is bilingual in Tagalog. LSHS utilizes a variety of web-based tools, available in multiple languages,
to help litigants prepare their legal documents. There are numerous self help resources in easy-to-understand
legal publications and on the internet for Californians. LSHS maintains a library of written resources, such
as Nolo Press books, that can explain complex processes in layperson’s language.
Staff are also available to provide information on how to file various kinds of legal documents, serve opposing
parties, and explain court procedures and legal terminology, as well as giving the public tips on how to prepare
for and what to bring to court appearances.
Legal Self Help Resources Available on the Internet
Over the past several years, numerous legal self-help programs have become available over the Internet. Several
California law web-based tools are available at LSHS or may be accessed from any location. Here are links to some
of the tools used in the LSHS:
California Courts Self Help Center - This is the Judicial Council of California’s self help services website.
Information is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese. This tool provides assistance with
family law, small claims, domestic violence, elder issues, traffic matters, evictions, bankruptcy, conservatorships,
guardianships and many more types of cases. Click here
EZ Legal File - This application was developed by San Mateo Superior Court and offers legal document preparation
in family law, small claims, evictions, domestic violence and guardianships. This application will "interview"
you and, based on your answers, will complete your legal documents for you. It is very easy to use. Click here
I-Can! Legal California - This tool, developed by Legal Aid Society of Orange County offers legal document preparation
assistance in English, Spanish and Vietnamese in such areas as divorce, small claims, civil harassment, domestic
violence, evictions, name changes, paternity, fee waivers, child custody, child support and guardianships. Click here
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Overview and History of
Legal Self Help in Marin
For six years, legal self help services were provided by the Legal Self Help Center of Marin, Inc. (LSHC), a
local non-profit organization located at the Marin Justice Center. LSHC was conceived and launched by the
Court and numerous legal services providers and community partners, in response to the need for improved public
access to justice, especially for those who were self-representing in court. Over the course of those years,
tens of thousands of people received legal information, help with document preparation and court procedures,
and referrals to a network of agencies available to assist them with their legal issues. Because of the dramatic
decline in public funding and the general state of the economy in 2008 and 2009, LSHC was unable to sustain
its operations and autonomy as a non-profit agency. In recognition of the important and valuable community
service provided by LSHC, the Board of Directors decided to dissolve the non-profit and transition these services
under the administrative umbrella of the Court.
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