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Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator

The Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator (SHC/FLF) helps people who need legal information but do not have lawyers. Help is free.

NOTICE: The Family Law Facilitator / Self-Help office is providing services remotely through our expanded LiveChat hours. Click on the blue box at the bottom right corner of this page. We are currently providing limited in person services. For more information please see our flyer.

For assistance with domestic violence restraining orders against an intimate partner, please contact Bay Area Legal Aid's Domestic Violence Hotline at 888-330-1940.

For small claims assistance please find information about our Small Claims Advisor at Small Claims.
For unlawful detainer (eviction) referrals please see Landlord/Tenant Clinic.

  • For the current hours of the Office of the Family Law Facilitator for both in person and livechat service, please see our flyer.
  • We accept sign-ups starting at 8:00 a.m. Space is very limited. Make sure you are in line to sign-up before 8:00 a.m. or you may not get help that day.

    LOCATION SCHEDULE
    Southern Branch: Hall of Justice and Records
    400 County Center -- 6th Floor
    Redwood City, California
    • PLEASE contact us via LiveChat located on this page BEFORE coming to the office.
    • For the current hours of the Office of the Family Law Facilitator for both in person and livechat service, please see our flyer.
    • For assistance with applying for a restraining order please also see our Restraining Order Clinic flyer
    Northern Branch: Hall of Justice
    1050 Mission Road
    South San Francisco, California
    • Closed until further notice.

    • Divorce or legal separation, like:
      • Starting the petition or completing a response
      • Completing Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure
      • Preparing Default Judgment
      • Writing up agreements or stipulated judgments
      • Preparing the order after you go to court
    • Child support, spousal or partner support, like:
      • Calculating the amount of support
      • Filling out forms to set up or change support, back support (arrears), and medical reimbursement
      • Filling out Income & Expense Declarations
      • Helping mediate the amount of support
      • Writing up agreements
      • Preparing the order after you go to court
    • Child custody and parenting time (visitation), like:
      • Asking to get or change a custody and parenting time order
      • Writing up agreements
      • Preparing the order after you go to court
    • Establishing or disputing parental relationship (parentage or paternity)
    • Domestic violence restraining orders
    • Name Changes of Minors or Adults
    • Grandparent Visitation

    Visit our Self-Help Center home page to get more information about these types of cases.

    For other types of cases, visit Additional Resources and Help.

    • Bring all papers about your case, like court forms, legal papers, paystubs or other proof of income for the last 2 months, bills, police reports, receipts, etc.
    • Do not bring children under 18 to our office. Ask someone to watch them while you meet with us. No childcare is currently available at the courthouse.
    • If you do not speak English well, we will make every effort to help you in your language with available staff or interpreters. But you may want bring an adult with you to help you with English and your language.

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