About Our Services

The Self-Help Center provides legal and procedural information and assistance with court forms to self-represented litigants with cases in or who reside in Placer County. The Self-Help Center does not represent people in court and the services provided do not result in an attorney-client relationship. With the exception of Settlement Services (defined below), we cannot assist litigants who are represented by attorneys and our services are not confidential. We assist both sides of the case equally. To get legal advice or have a confidential conversation, you must speak with a private attorney. All services of the Self-Help Center are free of charge.

What Types of Cases Do We Help With?

The Self-Help Center will attempt to steer you in the right direction in any type of case. The bulk of the matters we help with are family law, child support, evictions, small claims, guardianships and restraining orders. Below, our most frequently provided services are listed by type of law. We also provide instruction sheets and links if you would like to do the paperwork yourself. If you do not see what you need on this web page and you need assistance, just ask!

HOW DO I GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SELF-HELP ASSISTANCE?

The Self-Help Center offers assistance to Self-Represented litigants by telephone or video conference.

Please click here to access the appointment reservation system.

CAN I GET HELP BY VIDEO CONFERENCING?

Yes, the Self-Help Center offers Self-Represented litigants one-on-one assistance remotely through video conferencing. To schedule a video conference appointment, click here to access the appointment reservation system.

CAN I GET HELP BY EMAIL?

To ask general and case-related questions by email please visit our court website at www.placer.courts.ca.gov and click on the Contact Us link. Make sure to select Legal Help Center for your message to be directed to our office. Typical response time is within 2 days.

DOES THE SELF-HELP CENTER PROVIDE LIVE CHAT ASSISTANCE?

Yes, the Self-Help Center offers Live Chat assistance for divorce, legal separation, small claims, and child support cases on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30pm -3:30pm excluding court holidays. The Live Chat application is located at the bottom right-hand side of this page and it is first come, first served.

Note: Some ad blockers block the Live Chat button. If you cannot see the Live Chat button below, you may need to temporarily disable your ad blocker.

DOES THE SELF-HELP CENTER OFFICE HAVE VIDEO SETTLEMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE?

Yes. The Self-Help Center provides two (2) daily video appointments Monday – Thursday at 10:30am and 1:30pm and one (1) daily appointment on Fridays at 1:30pm for settlement services to help finish your family law matter.

Video Self-Help Settlement Services is a no-cost service available for family law cases in which one or both parties to the case are self-represented. If both parties are represented by an attorney, they cannot participate in Self-Help Settlement Services, however, if both parties are represented by an attorney in a Family Law case and interested in settlement or alternative dispute resolution, you may contact the Placer County Bar Association for assistance and schedule a settlement conference. For Video Self-Help Settlement Services, Self-Help staff will serve as a Settlement Officer during a video conference with the parties to attempt to resolve issues that are not related to custody, visitation, or domestic violence issues. Like all Self-Help Center services, the Settlement Services staff person that you will meet with is not your attorney. There is no attorney/client privilege. However, based on Evidence Code Section 1119, statements made during the Video Settlement Services discussions are confidential and not admissible in court. Please see the Video Self-Help Settlement Services Information Sheet for IMPORTANT information.
NOTE: In order to access Video Self-Help Settlement Services:
1. You may ask the court to set a video settlement appointment for you during a court hearing; or
2. Both parties must agree to three (3) and up to five (5) potential appointment dates. Parties should be available for time slots chosen on their requested dates. Available appointments can be viewed by clicking Self-Help Video Settlement Services Availability. Once the dates are chosen, submit a request for an appointment date signed by both parties (Form PL-FL024T).
a. Requests can be time-stamped and left in the Gibson Courthouse drop-box next to the 1st floor information desk or mailed to the Self-Help Center. Mail requests to the Self-Help Center at P.O. Box 619072, Roseville, CA 95661 no less than 10 business days prior to the soonest appointment date to allow time for processing and appointment confirmation.
b. Requests can also be submitted to the Court electronically at the edelivery portal.
3. You will receive confirmation of your appointment date and time and instructions on how to enter the video conference from the Self-Help Center. Confirmations will be sent to both parties at the email addresses provided.
4. IMPORTANT: To participate in the video conference you will need a device capable of video calling with a webcam, microphone and headphones. You are strongly encouraged to connect from a computer/laptop rather than a mobile device or tablet. You will also need a high speed internet connection.

Probate Workshop

The Self-Help Center with collaboration from the Placer County Probate Bar Section offers quarterly workshops for probate cases. The workshop provides basic instruction on when probate is needed, how to handle small estates, and the probate procedures. Below are the dates and times for the next workshops:

May 13, 2021 at 1:30pm
August 12, 2021 at 1:30pm
November 4, 2021 at 1:30pm

You are eligible to attend this workshop if you are not represented by an attorney and you are either a resident of Placer County or you have a probate case currently pending in Placer County Superior Court. If you would like to attend the workshop, please email CIC@placer.courts.ca.gov with your name, county of residence, and case number (if you have one). A Self-Help staff member will email you the link to enter the remote workshop if you are eligible to attend.

RESTRAINING ORDERS:

HOW TO FILL OUT THE FORMS

Guide and File Program

If you need assistance filling out the forms for a restraining order, click on the link below the restraining order you want. The Guide and File program will guide you through filling out the forms by asking you interview questions. You can print out the forms when they are completed and file them at the Courthouse.

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER REQUEST:

https://california.tylerhost.net/SRL/SRL/Start?legalProcessKey=Domestic_Violence_Restraining_Order_Request

• CIVIL HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDER:

https://california.tylerhost.net/SRL/SRL/Start?legalProcessKey=Civil_Harassment_Restraining_Order_Request

• ELDER ABUSE:

https://california.tylerhost.net/SRL/SRL/Start?legalProcessKey=Elder_or_Dependent_Adult_Abuse_Restraining_Order_Request

If you are unsure which type of restraining order applies to your situation, click the link below:

• RESTRAINING ORDERS TRIAGE:

https://california.tylerhost.net/SRL/SRL/Start?legalProcessKey=Restraining_Order_Triage

The Self-Help Center

Self-Help has the additional information for the process and procedure for filing a restraining order in Placer County:

To Start a Domestic Violence Restraining Order without children click here.

To Start a Domestic Violence Restraining Order with children click here.

To Respond to a Domestic Violence Restraining Order click here.

To Change or Drop a Domestic Violence Restraining Order click here.

To Start a Civil Harassment Restraining Order click here.

To Start an Elder or Dependent Adult Restraining Order click here.

HOW TO FILE THE RESTRAINING ORDER DOCUMENTS

File the forms at the courthouse:

You can file the forms at the Gibson Courthouse located at 10820 Justice Center Drive Roseville, CA 95678 on Monday- Friday 8am to 3pm. Once you are in the courthouse, get a number ticket at the kiosk on the first floor of the courthouse. File the forms with the clerk when your number is called.

File the forms online:

You can file the forms using edelivery. To visit the edelivery portal click here.

HOW TO GET ANSWERS TO YOUR RESTRAINING ORDER QUESTIONS

Schedule a telephone appointment or video conference appointment with the Self-Help Center for questions about restraining orders. Visit our appointment reservation center to schedule an appointment.

PREPARING FOR COURT:

GOING TO COURT DURING COVID-19

Credit: SHARP Program, Butte County Superior Court

GOING TO COURT REMOTELY VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE

Credit: SHARP Program, Butte County Superior Court

DISPLAYING YOUR EVIDENCE IN THE COURTROOM

Click here for more information about going to court remotely via video conference.