Santa Barbara County Superior Court : Civil Case Assistance

Civil Case Assistance

The following information is available for getting help with your civil case:

Attorneys
Representing Yourself in Court - Propria Persona (Pro Per)
Waiver of Fees
Interpreters
Free and Low Cost Self Help

ATTORNEYS:
You are well advised to consult with an attorney prior to filing or answering a civil complaint. If you do not know an attorney, you can contact the Bar Association in your area and ask for the names of attorneys who handle civil matters.

Santa Barbara County Bar Associations
South County	North County
123 West Padre Street, Suite E Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 569-5511 phone (805) 569-2888 fax www.sblaw.org	P.O. Box 6082 Santa Maria, CA 93456 805-310-4198 John MacKinnon - President www.nsbbar.org/

You can consult the yellow pages in your telephone directory for a list of attorneys practicing in your area. You can always consult a friend or associate that may have experience with an attorney or law firm for a referral. Some attorneys may take your case on a contingency. That is, they will not be paid until you collect on a judgment in your favor. You must make such arrangements with an attorney up front and not after the fact. Not all civil cases will be appropriate for this type of a fee payment arrangement.

You may be eligible for legal assistance from the Legal Aid offices if you qualify financially. Legal Aid primarily focuses on Family Law (including Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse), Housing Law and Administrative Law. They do not provide legal services for criminal or misdemeanor cases. Phone numbers and addresses for the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County are listed below.

Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara	Santa Maria	Lompoc
301 E. Cañon Perdido Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 963-6754	301 S. Miller, Suite 116. Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 922-9909	110 S. "C" Street, Ste. C Lompoc, CA 93436 (805) 736-6582
www.lafsbc.org/

PROPRIA PERSONA (Pro Per):
If you cannot afford an attorney, you may represent yourself in the court action. This means, however, that you must educate yourself about the legal process and the law. THE COURT CLERKS MAY NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. THEY WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION ON PROCEDURAL ISSUES ONLY.

You may find information on representing yourself in court in books and pamphlets at your local book store. You may conduct your own legal research at the local law library.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES
South County	North County
McMahon Law Library 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: (805) 568-2296 Fax: (805) 568-2299 www.countylawlibrary.org	312 East Cook Street Santa Maria, CA 93454 Phone: (805) 346-7548 Fax: (805) 346-7692 www.countylawlibrary.org/SantaMaria.htm
LEGAL RESOURCE CENTERS
Residents of Santa Barbara County have access to local self service legal resources center staffed by a California licensed attorney. Assistance is offered in the completion of legal and court documents for various civil matters and infractions, and in properly presenting your case to the court. http://www.sbcourts.org/srl/

Free and low cost legal help:

http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp/lowcost/

WAIVER OF FEES:
The court charges fees for some of its procedures. Fees are also charged for serving the defendant with the civil suit. The court may excuse you from paying these fees if you cannot afford them. Ask the clerk for information on the waiver of court fees and costs to find out if you are financially eligible.

INTERPRETERS:
If you do not speak English, you must take a family member or a friend to court with you. YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN INTERPRETER IF ONE IS NEEDED IN COURT.

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