Q:  Is the Self-Help Center the same project that was formerly located at the downtown Sacramento County Superior Courthouse?

A:  Yes.  Effective June 23, 2009, the Civil Self-Help Center located at the Sacramento County Superior Court was closed and we re-opened at the Sacramento County Public Law Library on July 6, 2009.  There will be some change in the procedures for client intake at the Law Library, plus the possible addition of new services.  We are grateful for the Court’s hosting of the Self-Help Center for 2 years, and we appreciate the Sacramento County Public Law Library’s willingness to take this valuable project into their library when continued court funding was no longer available.

Q:  Is there a cost to receive help at the Civil Self-Help Center?

A:  No, all services at the Self-Help Center are free.  You may be asked to provide a couple of stamps to put on the envelopes we help you mail out in your legal matter.  You may also be responsible for paying a filing fee to the Court for filing certain legal documents.  That money is paid to the court’s cashier and not to the staff at the Self-Help Center or the Sacramento County Public Law Library.

Q:  Do I have to be low-income to receive services at the Self-Help Center?

A:  No, there are no income eligibility requirements to receive services at the Self-Help Center.  You must be representing yourself, however, and not have an attorney already working on your legal matter.

Q:  Can you represent me in court or help me find a lawyer?

A:  No, we provide limited help in order to allow you to represent yourself in your legal matter.  We are ethically prohibited from referring you to any particular attorneys who will charge you a fee.  We refer most matters to the Lawyer Referral Service run by the Sacramento County Bar Association.  They have a web site at www.sacbarlawyer.org.

Q:  Are the staff of the Self-Help Center employees of the Sacramento County Public Law Library?

A:  No, the staff of the Self-Help Center are employees of the Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California, a nonprofit legal aid organization with offices in Sacramento.  The Sacramento County Public Law Library has contracted with VLSP to provide the services at the Self-Help Center.

For further information about VLSP, and other services it provides, please see our web site at www.vlsp.org.