Self-Help Services

Colusa County Superior Court has two programs in place to assist self-represented persons in family law cases. The programs are the Family Law Facilitator’s Office and the Self-Help Center. These programs are housed together and are operated under the supervision of an attorney.

The services provided by both programs are not confidential. We assist both sides of the case equally. Neither program gives legal advice as one could obtain from a privately retained attorney. To get advice or have a confidential conversation, you must speak with a private attorney. The Self-Help Center does not represent anyone in court.

There is no income eligibility requirement to use these services. They are available to all members of the community who are not represented by an attorney. All services are provided free of charge.

The services provided by the Family Law Facilitator Program are limited to parentage and child and spousal support matters. The Colusa County Superior Court Self-Help Center provides services beyond limited Family Law matters.

The Self-Help Center provides information about procedure, substantive law and assistance with court forms in the following areas:

• Child Custody and Visitation
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Dissolution, Legal Separation, or Nullity of Marriage
• Establishment of Paternity
• Name Change
• Probate Guardianship
• Workplace Violence Restraining Orders
• Domestic Violence
• Civil Harassment
• Small Claims

The Colusa County Superior Court Self-Help Center provides several services in the family law area that are not offered by the Family Law Facilitator's Office. These services include the following:

• Providing assistance to the parties in finalizing their divorce (obtaining a final judgment);
• Providing assistance to parties in initiating and responding to Orders to Show Cause and Notice of Motion for issues other than child and spousal support (How to get interim orders for control of property, use of vehicles, assignment of responsibility for the payment of debts, etc.);
• Providing assistance to parties in initiating and responding to Change of Venue Motions;
• Providing information to parties on how to proceed with summary dissolution (How to obtain an uncontested divorce);
• Providing assistance to parties in initiating and responding to domestic violence restraining orders;
• Providing assistance to all parties in the preparation of all documents involved in guardianships;
• Providing assistance to parties in initiating and responding to injunctions prohibiting harassment (civil harassment and workplace violence);
• Providing assistance to parties in Petitioning the Court for a name change of an adult or minor child.

The Colusa County Superior Court Self-Help Center can provide information and instructions to show you how to complete legal forms for common cases in civil court. You may call ahead to schedule an appointment or you can come into the Center for assistance.

The Center has informational materials and instructions for the following:

• Dissolution of Marriage, Nullity, Legal Separation
• Responding to a Dissolution of Marriage, Nullity, Legal Separation
• Order to Show Cause
• Domestic Violence
• Civil Harassment
• Name Change
• Proof of Service
• Fee Waiver

There is one computer terminal available for public self-help use. The terminal may be used for filling out and printing legal forms.

The Administrative Office of the Courts, the administrative agency for the Judicial Council of California, has unveiled its California Courts Self-Help Center. This web site offers general information, resources, and assistance to people becoming involved in the legal system and those litigants who choose to represent themselves in court.

California Courts Self-Help Center

Please note: Colusa County Superior Court requires the original plus 2 copies of all documents presented for filing. Forms may be neatly handwritten in blue or black ink. Please sign and date the forms before making copies. For assistance, call the Colusa County Superior Court Family Law Facilitator/Self-Help Center at (530) 458-0598. You can also contact us via email at: self-help@colusa.courts.ca.gov.