Self-Help Resources

• Divorce (Dissolution),
• Domestic Violence - Petitioner (English/Spanish/Korean/Vietnamese),
• Domestic Violence - Respondent (English/Spanish),
• Resolving your Civil Harassment Case [5-Parts],
• Juvenile Delinquency,
• Juvenile Dependency,
• Resolving Small Claims Cases [5-Parts],
• Small Claims - Collecting Your Small Claims Judgment,
• Resolving Unlawful Detainer (Eviction) Cases [4-Parts],
• How to Search a Case on OC Courts Website,
• Writing a Declaration for the Court,
• How to Prepare Court Forms to Request a Hearing Regarding Accounting (Determination of Child support/Spousal Support Arrears or Unreimbursed Expenses),
• How to Dress for Court,
• Going Into the Courtroom
• Request for Order to Modify Child support, Companion Spousal Support, Health Insurance Order and Custody/Visitation
• Extend Child Support for an Adult Disabled Child
• Income and Expense Declaration
• Income Withholding Order
• Judicial Adjustment of Arrearages Due to Incarceration or Involuntary Institutionalization
• Judicial Determination of Support Arrearages
• Request for Hearing Regarding Earnings Assignment/Income Withholding Order for Support (Wage Assignment)
• Stipulation and Order Waiving Unassigned Arrears

As an additional resource, Contra Costa Superior Court Virtual Self-Help Center Video
Room offers an array of educational videos.

If you still have questions, you may stop by any of our Self-Help Centers. Our trained staff is ready to assist you.

- Adoption
- Civil
- Conservatorship
- Criminal
- Family Court Services
- Family Law
- Filing Fees
- Guardianship
- Juvenile
- Minor’s Compromise
- Minor Emancipation
- Name Change
- Probate
- Small Claims
- Traffic
- Wills, Trusts, and Estates
- Other-Directory

Our web pages have many links to other organizations, such as other government agencies, non-profit community based organizations, and for-profit entities. When you select these links, they will open in a new window, for your convenience.

While we offer these links in order to assist you in finding the services you may need, please be aware that the policies that apply to our website may not be the same as the terms of use for other web sites. In addition, the Court cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by linked sites.

The resources listed on this page and throughout this website are not exhaustive. There are many ways to find legal information and help:

• Website search
• Self-Help Legal Books
• Government Agencies
• Non-Profit Groups
• Public and Law Libraries
• Yellow pages of your phone book
• Friends and family

Sometimes, you have to talk to several people before you get help. If you talk to someone but they cannot help you, ask them who can.

Throughout this website you will read about the requirements to "serve" Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims documents on the other party. Using the Orange County Sheriff for service of process can be required (example: collection of money judgments) or optional (example: serving complaints, petitions, plaintiff’s claims, etc.) depending on the document. Alternatives to the Orange County Sheriff are licensed process servers (check the yellow pages or web) or a person you choose who is at least 18 and not involved in the case.

You can mail or deliver documents to the Sheriff at two locations. Select the location for the city that the Sheriff will be performing the service in: