WEBVTT

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Need affordable family law help

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in California?

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Start with court self-help and

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local legal aid.

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Ask about a lawyer for selected

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tasks, and keep tracking every

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deadline while you seek help.

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Every California superior court

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has free family law self-help.

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If you do not have a lawyer,

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you can use it regardless of

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income.

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Staff can explain procedures

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and help with forms, but they

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cannot represent you in court

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or decide your strategy.

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Both sides may use the service.

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A family law facilitator is not

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your lawyer, and those

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conversations are not protected

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by attorney-client privilege.

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Ask your court about

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appointments and available

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services.

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Use LawHelp California to

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search your county and family

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law issue, or use the Legal

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Services Corporation directory.

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Contact the listed organization

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directly.

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Ask whether it handles your

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type of case, what eligibility

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rules apply, and whether it can

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take a new matter.

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Help may be advice, a clinic,

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document assistance or full

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representation.

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If one office cannot help, ask

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for another referral.

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A directory listing or

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completed intake does not mean

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a lawyer has accepted your

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case.

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A State Bar certified lawyer

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referral service can help you

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find an appropriate lawyer.

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Ask what the initial

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consultation costs and what

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happens afterward.

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Limited-scope representation

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means hiring a lawyer for

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agreed parts of the case,

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such as reviewing documents or

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handling a hearing.

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Discuss the whole case,

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including tasks you plan to do

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yourself.

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Get the scope, costs and

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responsibility for filing,

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service and deadlines clear in

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writing.

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Do not assume a consultation

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includes ongoing

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representation.

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A court fee waiver can help

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with filing fees and certain

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court costs if you qualify.

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It does not pay your lawyer.

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California offers routes based

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on specified public benefits,

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household income, or inability

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to meet basic needs and pay

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court fees.

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Read the current forms and

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instructions,

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give accurate information, and

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check the court’s decision.

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If the request is denied or

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more information is required,

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act promptly on the order.

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In a divorce or legal

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separation, and some other

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family proceedings, you may ask

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the court to order the other

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party to contribute toward

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lawyer fees.

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The court considers needs,

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access to money and ability to

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pay.

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Having some resources does not

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automatically rule you out.

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You can ask before hiring a

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lawyer.

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This requires the right request

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and financial information;

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it is not an automatic payment

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or a punishment for the other

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person.

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Ask which rule applies to your

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case.

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For child support, your local

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child support agency may help

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establish, change or enforce an

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order.

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But the agency does not handle

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your divorce or custody

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dispute, and it cannot

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establish a spousal support

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order.

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Its lawyer represents the

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public interest, not you

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personally.

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Communications are not

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protected by a personal

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attorney-client relationship.

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Ask about available services

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and any applicable fees, and

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get separate advice about your

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own rights when needed.

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Gather the court papers, case

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number, existing orders,

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service dates and next hearing

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date.

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Write a short summary and the

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questions you most need

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answered.

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Have financial information

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ready if requested for

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eligibility.

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Mention any urgent safety

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concern, language need or

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disability accommodation, and

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ask how to contact you safely.

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Before sharing sensitive

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documents, confirm the

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organization and its intake

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process.

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Ask exactly what it will do,

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what you must do, and when you

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should expect a response.

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Keep following existing orders

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and checking court dates while

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you seek help.

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An intake form, referral or

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waitlist does not extend a

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deadline.

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If help is unavailable, contact

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court self-help promptly about

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procedure,

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ask other providers for

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referrals, and seek focused

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legal advice where possible.

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Do not assume a hearing has

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moved until the court confirms

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it.

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Keep a written record of

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contacts, and confirm when a

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lawyer has actually agreed to

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act.

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Read the California answer and

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official help links at Legal

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Hotline dot com, with a hyphen

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between Legal and Hotline.

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Our United States number is on

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screen for free general legal

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information.

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Legal Hotline is an information

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service, not a law firm;

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lawyer matching is separate.