San Benito Superior Court Self Help Center   When:                 Every MONDAY, except court holidays Hours:                 8 am -1 pm Where:                Location 390 5th Street, Hollister, CA 95023 Across from the Courthouse First Come, First Serve - NO APPOINTMENTS **You must bring your own interpreter   The San Benito Self Help Center can provide the following assistance:        How to use the internet to locate legal information and court forms        Provide community referrals        Direction on how to use the legal resource library        Review and distribution of court forms   Watsonville Self Help Center: Starting April 7, 2008 the new Santa Cruz Superior Court located at One Second Street, Watsonville, CA  95076 will also provide San Benito residents assistance at their Self Help Center (located in downtown Watsonville).   Hours:  Monday-Thursday 8:30-11:30 and 1:30-4:00, first come first serve, no appointments.    Assistance with Family Law, Name Change, Retraining Orders, Guardianships, Landlord/Tenant.   There is also a self help resource library and computers for legal research   If you have any questions before you visit please call 831-420-2200.   You may also call or e-mail the San Benito Self Help Center if you have questions.  It may take up to one week to return calls and e-mails Call: (831) 630-5197 E-mail: selfhelp.information@santacruzcourt.org When you call or e-mail please note what county you live in     The Self Help Center does not provide legal advice or legal representation.  Many legal issues are complicated and you may need to consult an attorney to find out how best to handle your legal situation.  The Self Help Center can give you information on how to find and interview an attorney.   For Self Help FAMILY LAW assistance in San Benito (including child support, custody/visitation, divorce, and paternity) please call the Family Law Facilitator's Office for hours of operation, phone 831-636-4079.  Bienvenidos Necesita ayuda con un caso en la corte or problema legal?   Va a la sita central de las cortes y puede leer y apprendar mucho que esta escrita en espanol http://www.sucorte.ca.gov Other Languages Do you read better in another language?  Several languages are available at the California courts online Self-Help Center. http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/languages    Forms Are you looking for a form?     California Courts Online Self-Help Center http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/ This Web site will help you find assistance and information, work better with an attorney, and represent yourself in some legal matters. Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/espanol/ Este sitio Web le ayudará a encontrar ayuda e información, trabajar mejor con un abogado y en algunos asuntos legales le ayudará a representarse a sí mismo. EZ Legal File http://www.ezlegalfile.org/index.jsp EZLegalFile is an interactive program that will help you fill out the forms necessary to request or respond to papers for a variety of legal issues.   Videos and Reference Libraries Do you learn and remember better if you hear a tape or watch a video instead of reading information?  Some information is also available on videos or audio tapes. You can also see what videos are on line at either of these websites: Video Help Book and Video Help Domestic Violence Need a restraining order for domestic violence?  http://www.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov/domestic_violence.htm Court Based Self Help Every Monday there is a self help attorney available to assist the public from 8 pm to 1 pm at 390 5th St., Hollister across from the courthouse.  This assistant is available to walk-ins, on a first come first serve basis, with no appointments available.  You must bring your own interpreter with you.  The self help attorney can not speak to you if you are represented by an attorney on the matter you need help with.  There is also no representation or legal advice provided.  Depending on the needs of the self represented customer services may differ and can include referrals to other agencies, information on how to find an attorney, direction on how to obtain the court forms and assistance with filling out court forms. If you have questions you may call and leave a message at 831-630-5197 or e-mail selfhelp.information@santacruzcourt.org.  Phone calls and e-mails will be returned once a week.  Do not leave a message if it is an emergency.  If you need help with a family matter please click on the link below for Family Law Facilitator.   Come Prepared to the Self Help Center   Be prepared to wait:  The wait may be several hours after you check in.  You may also need to return for multiple visits depending on your legal issue.   Cost for Services: There is no cost for the services of the Self Help Center but you may have to pay for copies and court filing fees at the clerk's office.   How do I hire an attorney? The Self Help Center can not represent you or give the name of any specific attorneys.  We can give you community resources to assist you in finding your own attorney.   What should I bring to Self Help Center? Try and bring a copy of your entire court file and any documents that support your legal issue.  Also bring a pen, stamps, blank envelopes, and something to keep you busy while you wait.   What if I don't speak English well? Please bring your own interpreter and someone to help you fill out your court forms in English.   Come in person: Your case is most important to you and you have the most knowledge about your case.  If you send a family member or friend in your place we may not be able to assist.   Children: If at all possible do not bring children with you.  Your children are very valuable.  The waiting time can be hard on them and you can be distracted by their needs.  It is not in your children's best interest to be present when you are talking about your legal problems.   What if I just want a legal form? The Self Help Center can provide forms, but remember there may be a wait because the staff must first interview you to determine the correct forms to give you.  You can also download any court form at the State's Self Help Web Site at www.courtinfo.ca.gov.   Program Changes:  Please note that over the next year there will be many changes made to the program in Watsonville as the Self Help Center gets up and running.  Some of our materials may become outdated as this transition happens.  We apologize for any inconvenience, especially if you arrive and we have changed our hours or place of operation.  We appreciate your patience over the next year.   San Benito Hours:  Occasionally there will be Monday closures for court holidays and staff vacation.  If you are concerned we may not be open please call first at (831) 636-4079.   Family Law Facilitator For help with the Family Law Facilitator please click on the link above. Research Need some help with researching an issue?  San Benito has a law library with some useful books and the public can use the law library from 8:30-4 p.m. by going to 440 5th Street, Room 205 (clerks office); however, there is no staff. There is an on-line program also, not connected with our court, that might assist you. http://www.247ref.org/portal/access_law3.cfm   Links to other Law Library's:   Santa Clara Law Library Santa Cruz Law Library Monterey Law Library   Filing Fees Need to know what the filing fees are for your case?  http://www.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov/filing_fees.htm