Self-Help resources from California Courts

• Basics of Divorce, Legal Separation and Annulment
  • Options for Ending Marriage
  • Options for Resolving Out of Court
  • Representing Yourself without a Lawyer
  • Overview of Court Process
    • Filing for Divorce or Separation – Step by Step Guide
    • Responding to Divorce or Separation
    • Completing Divorce or Separation
  • Summary Dissolution
  • Annulment
  • Spousal Support (Alimony)
    • Asking for Spousal Support
    • Responding to Spousal Support Request
    • Modifying Spousal Support Order
    • Paying Spousal Support
    • Collecting Spousal Support
  • Property and Debt in a Divorce
  • Court Forms
    • Basics of Using Court Forms
  • FAQs
• Child Custody and Parenting Time (Visitation)
  • Basics of Custody & Visitation Orders
  • Custody Mediation
  • Supervised Visitation
  • Custody and Domestic Violence
  • Visitation Rights of Grandparents
  • Court Forms
  • FAQs
• Child Support
  • Asking for Child Support
  • Responding to Child Support Request
  • Modifying Child Support Order
  • Paying Child Support
  • Collecting Child Support
  • Court Forms
  • FAQs
• Paternity
  • Establishing Paternity
  • Disputing Paternity
  • Court Forms
  • FAQs
• Child Abuse & Neglect
• Domestic Violence

Additional Parenting Resources

• Custody and Visitation Examples by Custody XChange has suggestions for parenting plans for children of different ages.
• Families Change is an online guide for families going through separation and divorce, with three versions for (1) parents, (2) teens , (3) and kids, providing information on dealing with the changes, feelings and emotions during a divorce or separation, the law in these types of cases, resources for the family, and help to work out a child support agreement between parents.
• First 5 offers a number of resources for parents, including Learning, Activity and Health Centers, educational videos, and more.
• Coping With Incarceration provides online tools to help children cope with the incarceration of a loved one, including videos, activities, and tips.
• Our Family Wizard offers divorced or separated parents an array of tools to easily schedule child custody and track parenting time, share important family information, manage expenses as well as create an accurate, clear log of divorce communication.
• Talking Parents is a free service that provides a method for parents to communicate without the need for each other’s telephone numbers, email addresses, or any other actual contact information – can be helpful in high-conflict situations, especially those involving domestic violence or vitriolic relations.
• California Child Support Guideline Calculator by the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) provides an online child support calculator based on California child support guidelines, which can be used to estimate the amount of child support that may be ordered in your case.

Resources for Free and Low-Cost Legal Help   

• Public Law Center is a pro-bono law firm that provides legal assistance for low-income residents of Orange County.
• Legal Aid Society of Orange County provides free and low cost civil legal services, including family law services, to low-income persons
• FACES Counseling Services provides family preservation and divorce help to those in need, with services provided on a sliding fee scale, including certain programs at no charge.
• Orange County Department of Child Support Services provides professional cost-effective services to parents or caretakers of minor children.
• Orange County Superior Court Self Help Centers and website provide information for self-represented litigants in order to increase understanding, participation, and access to the justice system and to enhance efficiencies and effectiveness of the
• Orange County Superior Court Self Help Workshops are offered for those who prefer receiving general information about the legal process and want to be assisted with preparing their case documents in a group setting. These workshops are presented by Self-Help attorneys or paralegals under attorney supervision.
• Orange County Superior Court Family Court Services provides mediation and investigation services to families in Orange County. Specially trained Court Mediators are available to work with families in an effort to resolve issues related to the custody of their children. Family Court Services also oversees the Keeping Kids Safe Program that, through community partners, provides supervised visitation services for children and their parents.
• OCBA Lawyer Referral Service is a non-profit legal referral service in Orange County, sponsored by the Orange County Bar Association.
• California Courts provides additional information and links regarding free and low-cost legal help.