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Self-Help Legal Access Center
of Mendocino County
Our normal hours are Monday thru
Thursday, noon to 4:00pm.
The SHLA
Center provides legal
assistance and legal information to self represented litigants.
The Center assists individuals to prepare their own legal forms and
understand court procedures.
Service for people who speak Spanish is also available via
the SHLA Center project attorney and resource material.
How we can help you
The Self-Help Legal Access Center helps with:
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Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (non-immediate family members)
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Civil Harassment Restraining Orders (non-sexual offenders, Elder Abuse
and Workplace Violence
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Guardianship Petitions
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Visitation Petitions for Grandparents
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Name Changes
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Adoptions
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Small Claims, including civil procedure, venue, statutes of limitations,
and other threshold questions. We also provide assistance with
filling out forms, filing documents, service of documents, subpoenas,
court hearing, appeals, and enforcement of judgment.
We are unable to provide assistance with criminal cases, bankruptcy or
immigration, or unlawful detainer (eviction) cases.
Staff at the
SHLA
Center does not give legal
advice, but they can give answers to procedural questions such as which
forms you need to file, or what just happened at your legal proceeding.
They may also be able to give other agency referrals which may be
helpful.
We have packets of information and judicial forms available at the
Self-Help Center.
Videos, books and binders also provide useful legal information. We
also have a limited number of public access computers which directly link to
the Courts website, to judicial forms, and to EZ LEGAL FILE, Mendocino County's
new FREE interactive forms completion program.
Our services are provided on a walk in basis only.
NO appointment is needed.
For further information about the Self-Help
Center, click here to download our
Welcome Guide.
Where to find us
The SHLA center is located on the third floor of the Ukiah Courthouse, Room
304. Our hours of operation are Monday through Thursday afternoons,
from noon to 4:00pm. The Ukiah
center is closed on Fridays to allow for mobile clinic operations in Fort
Bragg
and Willits. The SHLA Center
is also closed on Court holidays.
For directions to the Ukiah Courthouse,
click here.
Workshops
Workshops are held at the Ukiah SHLA Center Monday and Wednesday at 1:00 pm.
All workshops are presented by the SHLA center Project Attorney, and are an
effective way to present all relevant information needed to guide your way
through a legal topic, while also ensuring that your own forms are filled
out correctly and are ready for filing.
Monday 1:00pm - Guardianship Process. You
will learn about both Emergency and Permanent guardianships, about the
stringent notice and investigation processes, and how and where to file your
legal forms.
Wednesday 1:00pm - Small Claims.
The prerequisites for filing a small claims matter will be discussed as well
as the procedures you will need to follow.
Substantive basics such as venue and statute of limitations or the
length of time since the injury you are allowed to bring suit will be
covered.
At each of these workshops you will also find time to
discuss individual questions and fill out your individual forms.
For this reason, you MUST arrive promptly at 1:00 pm to be admitted
to the workshop. Late arrivals
may be asked to return to the following weeks workshop.
Please also note that the SHLA center is still open to
assist walk-in clients during the workshop hours.
Fort Bragg and Willits Clinics
Two Fridays each month, the SHLA Center Project Attorney
runs a limited self-help clinic in
Fort
Bragg and Willits.
Though the schedule is subject to change, generally, the second
Friday of each month, the SHLA center is in Ft.
Bragg
and the fourth Friday of each month the SHLA center is in Willits. The Ft. Bragg
clinic is located at the Ten Mile branch Courthouse inside the
law library. The Willits clinic
is located inside the courtroom in the Willits Justice Center. Both clinics operate from 10:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm
to 3:00 pm.
If possible, bring blank forms ready to be filled out, as
well as all relevant court documents and information.
Next Clinics: (Click on link for
more information)
Fort Bragg - Friday,
May 9, 2008
Willits - Friday, May 23,
2008
Small Claims Advisor
For small claims information, you
may also call the Mendocino County Small Claims Advisor at (707) 462-2455
within Mendocino
County, or (866) 820-8663
outside of Mendocino County.
The advisor is available for telephone consultations only from 10:00 am to
noon Monday through Thursday.
Family Law Facilitator
The Family Law Facilitator is
available for first-come first serve walk in consultations Monday through
Thursday from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
The Family Law Facilitator assists parents and
all other parties who have questions about family law issues, including
child support, spousal support, health insurance, and the availability of
community resources to help families.
Their office can be reached at (707) 463-5666.
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is a serious issue
and you have options to protect yourself.
Our office offers restraining
assistance at any time
during office open hours.
Project Sanctuary began in the fall of 1977 in response to the need for
emergency shelter and support for women who were being abused by their
husbands and living partners. In the fall of 1980, a Rape Crisis Service was
added to provide emergency response and counseling to survivors of sexual
assault. In 1991, Project Sanctuary established an office in
Fort Bragg
serving sexual assault and domestic violence clients along the Mendocino Coast.
Other Self-Help Resources
Click here for links to other helpful
websites and resources for the self-represented litigant.
Volunteer Placement Opportunities
If you are an individual who wishes to learn more
about the Justice System, and at the same time make a significant
contribution to your community, we invite you to check out the available
Volunteer Placement
Opportunities that best match your area of interest and personal needs.
If you are interested in one or more of the following volunteer
opportunities, please fill out the
Volunteer
Questionnaire (PDF File) which is available by clicking on the
hi-lighted links. Please fax or mail the completed form to:
Superior Court of
California, County of Mendocino
Volunteer Coordinator
100 North State Street, Room 303
Ukiah, CA
95482
Fax number (707) 468-3459.
If you have any questions please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (707)
468-2026
Public Survey
The SHLA Center is here to serve the public. Providing increased
access to justice is our top priority and YOU can best tell us how to
serve you.
Please take a minute to fill out this simple survey and help us to help
you. Click here for
the survey.
You may return your completed survey either in person or by mail to:
Self-Help Legal Access Center
Ukiah Courthouse, Room 304
100 North State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
Thank you!
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