Whatever you're facing in California — booked into LA County jail before arraignment, an unlawful-detainer notice taped to your door in Oakland, a custody fight in Sacramento — you don't have to wait for a weekday callback. Call Legal Hotline free, day or night, from anywhere in the state. Our AI assistant, trained on California and federal law, explains your situation in plain English (and in your language), then connects you with a licensed attorney if you want one. It's legal information, not legal advice.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across California.
Pick up your phone and call 1-844-690-0555 — it's free and answered 24/7, including nights and weekends. Tell our AI assistant what's happening, whether it's an arrest, an eviction notice, a restraining order, or a crash on the 405. You'll get clear legal information about how California law applies and what your next move is — not a web form, not a callback queue, not an income test. If you decide you need someone to actually represent you, we can help you book a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in California. Remember: this is legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. But it's a real answer, right now, when you need one most.
If you've been arrested for a felony in California, understand what makes this state different. Under the Three Strikes Law (Penal Code §§ 667 / 1170.12), a single prior serious or violent felony 'strike' doubles your sentence on a new felony; two prior strikes plus a third serious or violent felony can mean 25 years to life. That's why the hours before your arraignment at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center — or any county Superior Court — matter so much. Do not guess at your exposure from a website at midnight. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, right now, get plain-English information about how strikes work in your situation, and book defense counsel before you face the judge. It's legal information, not legal advice.
California has real free and low-cost legal help — the problem is reaching it when you're scared at midnight or it's a weekend. The State Bar's own research documents a wide 'justice gap': most low- and middle-income Californians with civil legal problems get little or no help. The resources below are excellent and worth using, but most run on weekday, web-form, or callback time and many are income-gated. Legal Hotline complements them: call us first for an immediate, free, plain-English answer in your language, then use these for ongoing representation or in-person help.
Wherever you are in California, the line is free and answered 24/7 — including:
Can I really talk to someone about a legal problem in California right now, for free?
Yes. Call 1-844-690-0555 and our AI legal assistant answers 24/7 — nights, weekends, holidays. It's trained on California and federal law and gives you clear legal information in plain English about your situation, whether it's an arrest in LA, an eviction in Oakland, or a crash on the 405. There's no income test, no web form, and no callback queue. If you decide you want a lawyer to represent you, we can help you book a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in California. The call gives you information, not legal advice — but it's a real answer, immediately.
I was just arrested in Los Angeles — what do I do before my arraignment?
Stay calm and remember you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. In California you can typically be arraigned within 48 hours of arrest, often at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center for LA County. Because the Three Strikes Law (Penal Code §§ 667 / 1170.12) can sharply increase a felony sentence, getting information early matters. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand how bail, arraignment and your charges work under California law, then book defense counsel. This is legal information, not legal advice, and does not replace a lawyer appearing for you in court.
How do I fight an eviction in California?
An eviction in California is called an 'unlawful detainer,' and it moves fast. As of January 1, 2025, once you're served with the summons and complaint you have 10 court days (weekends and court holidays don't count) to file a written response — miss it and the landlord can win by default. The Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) requires 'just cause' to evict many tenants of 12+ months and caps rent increases, and cities like LA, SF, Oakland and Berkeley add stricter local rules. Don't ignore the paperwork. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand your deadline and defenses, then book an attorney if you want representation in your county's Superior Court.
Is California really a 50/50 state in a divorce?
Largely, yes. California is a community-property state under the Family Code: assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally owned equally and divided 50/50, while property you owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance stays separate. California also pioneered no-fault divorce — the main ground is 'irreconcilable differences,' so you don't prove blame — and there's a mandatory six-month waiting period before a dissolution is final. Custody and support are decided separately, in your county's Superior Court. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for plain-English information on how this applies to you, then book a California family lawyer if you need one.
I got a DUI in California — what happens to my license?
A California DUI creates two separate problems: a criminal case in Superior Court under the Vehicle Code, and a completely separate license action through the DMV. The DMV clock is brutal — under Vehicle Code §13558 you generally have only 10 days from your arrest to request a hearing, or your license suspension proceeds automatically. People miss this deadline constantly because they're focused on the court date. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to understand both tracks and the 10-day window before it closes, then book a DUI attorney if you want representation. This is legal information to orient you fast, not legal advice on your specific case.
¿Puedo recibir información legal gratis en español?
Sí. California is a state where roughly 44% of residents speak a language other than English at home, and Spanish is by far the most common — concentrated in Greater LA, the San Diego and Imperial border counties, and the San Joaquin Valley. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and our AI assistant can give you clear legal information in your language about immigration, eviction, work, family or criminal matters under California and federal law. It's legal information, not legal advice. If you want representation, we can help you book a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in California.
How much does a lawyer cost in California, and is your hotline the same as a public defender?
No, they're different things. A public defender is a free court-appointed criminal-defense attorney if you can't afford one and qualify — that's separate from us. Private attorney fees in California vary widely by practice area and city, which is exactly why a free first call helps you understand your options before you spend anything. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender. The call to 1-844-690-0555 is free and gives you legal information; booking a consultation with a licensed California attorney is a separate paid step you choose only if you want representation.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims court in California?
Generally you can't bring a lawyer into a California small claims hearing — it's designed for people to represent themselves. Individuals can sue for up to $12,500 and businesses for up to $6,250. But that doesn't mean you're on your own beforehand. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for plain-English information on whether small claims fits your dispute, how to file in your county's Superior Court, and what to prepare. If your matter is too large or complex for small claims, we can help you book a consultation with a California attorney. This is legal information to help you decide, not legal advice.
I need a restraining order in California — where do I start?
Restraining orders in California are issued by your county's Superior Court, and there are different types — domestic violence, civil harassment, elder abuse and workplace — each with its own forms and rules. In an emergency where someone is in immediate danger, call 911 first; police can request an emergency protective order any time of day. For everything else, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to understand which order fits your situation and the steps to request one, including the Judicial Council self-help resources. If you want a lawyer to help you file or respond, we can help you book a California attorney. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Are you a law firm, and is this legal advice?
No, and no. Legal Hotline is not a law firm. When you call 1-844-690-0555, you speak with an AI assistant trained on California and federal law that gives you legal information — general explanations of how the law works — not legal advice tailored to you, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. Only an attorney licensed by the State Bar of California can give you legal advice. That's the value of the call: an immediate, free, plain-English orientation, and then, if you want representation, the separate paid option to book a consultation with a licensed California attorney.
Are you a State Bar-licensed California attorney who wants warm, ready-to-consult clients across LA, the Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento and the Valley? Legal Hotline connects callers who need representation with licensed local counsel. Get in touch to learn how to receive booked consultations in your practice areas.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Whatever you're facing in California tonight — an arrest, an eviction notice, a custody fight, a DUI, a crash — you can get a clear answer in minutes. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7. Talk to our AI legal assistant in your language, learn how California law applies, and book a licensed California attorney only if you decide you want one. Legal information, not legal advice — but real help, right now.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.