1
00:00:00,250 --> 00:00:02,250
Need affordable family law help

2
00:00:02,250 --> 00:00:03,550
in California?

3
00:00:03,690 --> 00:00:05,370
Start with court self-help and

4
00:00:05,370 --> 00:00:06,830
local legal aid.

5
00:00:06,970 --> 00:00:08,650
Ask about a lawyer for selected

6
00:00:08,650 --> 00:00:10,970
tasks, and keep tracking every

7
00:00:10,970 --> 00:00:12,590
deadline while you seek help.

8
00:00:13,550 --> 00:00:15,470
Every California superior court

9
00:00:15,470 --> 00:00:17,810
has free family law self-help.

10
00:00:17,870 --> 00:00:19,470
If you do not have a lawyer,

11
00:00:19,470 --> 00:00:20,910
you can use it regardless of

12
00:00:20,910 --> 00:00:21,730
income.

13
00:00:21,870 --> 00:00:23,470
Staff can explain procedures

14
00:00:23,470 --> 00:00:25,470
and help with forms, but they

15
00:00:25,470 --> 00:00:26,910
cannot represent you in court

16
00:00:26,910 --> 00:00:28,290
or decide your strategy.

17
00:00:28,605 --> 00:00:30,865
Both sides may use the service.

18
00:00:31,005 --> 00:00:33,085
A family law facilitator is not

19
00:00:33,085 --> 00:00:34,605
your lawyer, and those

20
00:00:34,605 --> 00:00:36,205
conversations are not protected

21
00:00:36,205 --> 00:00:37,965
by attorney-client privilege.

22
00:00:37,965 --> 00:00:39,325
Ask your court about

23
00:00:39,325 --> 00:00:40,925
appointments and available

24
00:00:40,925 --> 00:00:41,585
services.

25
00:00:42,617 --> 00:00:44,457
Use LawHelp California to

26
00:00:44,457 --> 00:00:45,817
search your county and family

27
00:00:45,817 --> 00:00:48,057
law issue, or use the Legal

28
00:00:48,057 --> 00:00:50,077
Services Corporation directory.

29
00:00:50,217 --> 00:00:52,137
Contact the listed organization

30
00:00:52,137 --> 00:00:53,197
directly.

31
00:00:53,417 --> 00:00:54,937
Ask whether it handles your

32
00:00:54,937 --> 00:00:56,537
type of case, what eligibility

33
00:00:56,537 --> 00:00:58,642
rules apply, and whether it can

34
00:00:58,642 --> 00:00:59,782
take a new matter.

35
00:00:59,842 --> 00:01:02,502
Help may be advice, a clinic,

36
00:01:02,562 --> 00:01:04,322
document assistance or full

37
00:01:04,322 --> 00:01:05,382
representation.

38
00:01:05,602 --> 00:01:08,082
If one office cannot help, ask

39
00:01:08,082 --> 00:01:09,142
for another referral.

40
00:01:09,430 --> 00:01:10,870
A directory listing or

41
00:01:10,870 --> 00:01:12,790
completed intake does not mean

42
00:01:12,790 --> 00:01:14,150
a lawyer has accepted your

43
00:01:14,150 --> 00:01:14,490
case.

44
00:01:15,483 --> 00:01:17,483
A State Bar certified lawyer

45
00:01:17,483 --> 00:01:19,003
referral service can help you

46
00:01:19,003 --> 00:01:20,863
find an appropriate lawyer.

47
00:01:20,923 --> 00:01:22,123
Ask what the initial

48
00:01:22,123 --> 00:01:23,803
consultation costs and what

49
00:01:23,803 --> 00:01:25,103
happens afterward.

50
00:01:25,243 --> 00:01:26,683
Limited-scope representation

51
00:01:26,683 --> 00:01:28,203
means hiring a lawyer for

52
00:01:28,203 --> 00:01:29,663
agreed parts of the case,

53
00:01:29,968 --> 00:01:31,808
such as reviewing documents or

54
00:01:31,808 --> 00:01:33,028
handling a hearing.

55
00:01:33,088 --> 00:01:34,448
Discuss the whole case,

56
00:01:34,448 --> 00:01:36,128
including tasks you plan to do

57
00:01:36,128 --> 00:01:36,948
yourself.

58
00:01:37,088 --> 00:01:39,168
Get the scope, costs and

59
00:01:39,168 --> 00:01:41,108
responsibility for filing,

60
00:01:41,408 --> 00:01:43,248
service and deadlines clear in

61
00:01:43,248 --> 00:01:43,668
writing.

62
00:01:44,038 --> 00:01:45,878
Do not assume a consultation

63
00:01:45,878 --> 00:01:47,158
includes ongoing

64
00:01:47,158 --> 00:01:47,978
representation.

65
00:01:49,150 --> 00:01:50,750
A court fee waiver can help

66
00:01:50,750 --> 00:01:52,190
with filing fees and certain

67
00:01:52,190 --> 00:01:54,130
court costs if you qualify.

68
00:01:54,190 --> 00:01:55,970
It does not pay your lawyer.

69
00:01:56,030 --> 00:01:57,870
California offers routes based

70
00:01:57,870 --> 00:01:59,870
on specified public benefits,

71
00:01:59,870 --> 00:02:02,270
household income, or inability

72
00:02:02,270 --> 00:02:03,950
to meet basic needs and pay

73
00:02:03,950 --> 00:02:04,610
court fees.

74
00:02:05,095 --> 00:02:06,535
Read the current forms and

75
00:02:06,535 --> 00:02:07,595
instructions,

76
00:02:07,895 --> 00:02:09,895
give accurate information, and

77
00:02:09,895 --> 00:02:11,575
check the court’s decision.

78
00:02:11,575 --> 00:02:13,255
If the request is denied or

79
00:02:13,255 --> 00:02:15,355
more information is required,

80
00:02:15,415 --> 00:02:17,035
act promptly on the order.

81
00:02:17,950 --> 00:02:19,390
In a divorce or legal

82
00:02:19,390 --> 00:02:20,830
separation, and some other

83
00:02:20,830 --> 00:02:22,830
family proceedings, you may ask

84
00:02:22,830 --> 00:02:24,110
the court to order the other

85
00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:25,310
party to contribute toward

86
00:02:25,310 --> 00:02:26,370
lawyer fees.

87
00:02:26,430 --> 00:02:28,110
The court considers needs,

88
00:02:28,110 --> 00:02:29,950
access to money and ability to

89
00:02:29,950 --> 00:02:30,290
pay.

90
00:02:30,715 --> 00:02:32,635
Having some resources does not

91
00:02:32,635 --> 00:02:34,575
automatically rule you out.

92
00:02:34,635 --> 00:02:36,395
You can ask before hiring a

93
00:02:36,395 --> 00:02:37,135
lawyer.

94
00:02:37,275 --> 00:02:38,955
This requires the right request

95
00:02:38,955 --> 00:02:40,655
and financial information;

96
00:02:41,195 --> 00:02:42,955
it is not an automatic payment

97
00:02:42,955 --> 00:02:44,475
or a punishment for the other

98
00:02:44,475 --> 00:02:44,895
person.

99
00:02:45,379 --> 00:02:47,059
Ask which rule applies to your

100
00:02:47,059 --> 00:02:47,479
case.

101
00:02:48,517 --> 00:02:50,357
For child support, your local

102
00:02:50,357 --> 00:02:52,197
child support agency may help

103
00:02:52,197 --> 00:02:54,597
establish, change or enforce an

104
00:02:54,597 --> 00:02:55,257
order.

105
00:02:55,317 --> 00:02:56,917
But the agency does not handle

106
00:02:56,917 --> 00:02:58,277
your divorce or custody

107
00:02:58,277 --> 00:03:00,037
dispute, and it cannot

108
00:03:00,037 --> 00:03:01,637
establish a spousal support

109
00:03:01,637 --> 00:03:02,057
order.

110
00:03:02,322 --> 00:03:03,842
Its lawyer represents the

111
00:03:03,842 --> 00:03:05,762
public interest, not you

112
00:03:05,762 --> 00:03:06,662
personally.

113
00:03:06,802 --> 00:03:08,242
Communications are not

114
00:03:08,242 --> 00:03:09,682
protected by a personal

115
00:03:09,682 --> 00:03:11,222
attorney-client relationship.

116
00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,320
Ask about available services

117
00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,640
and any applicable fees, and

118
00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:17,160
get separate advice about your

119
00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:18,460
own rights when needed.

120
00:03:19,510 --> 00:03:21,510
Gather the court papers, case

121
00:03:21,510 --> 00:03:23,930
number, existing orders,

122
00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:25,670
service dates and next hearing

123
00:03:25,670 --> 00:03:26,330
date.

124
00:03:26,390 --> 00:03:27,990
Write a short summary and the

125
00:03:27,990 --> 00:03:29,110
questions you most need

126
00:03:29,110 --> 00:03:30,010
answered.

127
00:03:30,150 --> 00:03:31,670
Have financial information

128
00:03:31,670 --> 00:03:33,270
ready if requested for

129
00:03:33,270 --> 00:03:34,170
eligibility.

130
00:03:34,585 --> 00:03:36,105
Mention any urgent safety

131
00:03:36,105 --> 00:03:38,265
concern, language need or

132
00:03:38,265 --> 00:03:40,265
disability accommodation, and

133
00:03:40,265 --> 00:03:42,125
ask how to contact you safely.

134
00:03:42,549 --> 00:03:43,989
Before sharing sensitive

135
00:03:43,989 --> 00:03:45,829
documents, confirm the

136
00:03:45,829 --> 00:03:47,429
organization and its intake

137
00:03:47,429 --> 00:03:48,249
process.

138
00:03:48,389 --> 00:03:50,309
Ask exactly what it will do,

139
00:03:50,309 --> 00:03:52,149
what you must do, and when you

140
00:03:52,149 --> 00:03:53,449
should expect a response.

141
00:03:54,483 --> 00:03:56,403
Keep following existing orders

142
00:03:56,403 --> 00:03:57,923
and checking court dates while

143
00:03:57,923 --> 00:03:59,063
you seek help.

144
00:03:59,123 --> 00:04:01,203
An intake form, referral or

145
00:04:01,203 --> 00:04:02,883
waitlist does not extend a

146
00:04:02,883 --> 00:04:03,623
deadline.

147
00:04:03,683 --> 00:04:05,923
If help is unavailable, contact

148
00:04:05,923 --> 00:04:07,443
court self-help promptly about

149
00:04:07,443 --> 00:04:08,103
procedure,

150
00:04:08,778 --> 00:04:09,978
ask other providers for

151
00:04:09,978 --> 00:04:11,818
referrals, and seek focused

152
00:04:11,818 --> 00:04:13,598
legal advice where possible.

153
00:04:13,658 --> 00:04:15,338
Do not assume a hearing has

154
00:04:15,338 --> 00:04:17,178
moved until the court confirms

155
00:04:17,178 --> 00:04:17,758
it.

156
00:04:17,818 --> 00:04:19,018
Keep a written record of

157
00:04:19,018 --> 00:04:20,858
contacts, and confirm when a

158
00:04:20,858 --> 00:04:22,378
lawyer has actually agreed to

159
00:04:22,378 --> 00:04:22,718
act.

160
00:04:23,750 --> 00:04:25,590
Read the California answer and

161
00:04:25,590 --> 00:04:27,190
official help links at Legal

162
00:04:27,190 --> 00:04:29,350
Hotline dot com, with a hyphen

163
00:04:29,350 --> 00:04:31,290
between Legal and Hotline.

164
00:04:31,350 --> 00:04:33,190
Our United States number is on

165
00:04:33,190 --> 00:04:35,110
screen for free general legal

166
00:04:35,110 --> 00:04:35,770
information.

167
00:04:36,317 --> 00:04:38,157
Legal Hotline is an information

168
00:04:38,157 --> 00:04:40,417
service, not a law firm;

169
00:04:40,717 --> 00:04:42,337
lawyer matching is separate.