Family Law
Family Law Services
Family law cases can be stressful and confusing. I can give you information so that you understand your legal options in a family law case. I can represent you for all or part of a case, or I can help you if you decide to represent yourself. I offer information, representation, limited scope representation, and coaching in family law matters, including:
- Divorce
- Parentage
- Child custody
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Restraining orders
- Guardianship of a minor
- Step-parent and guardian adoption
The free resources listed on this page may help you decide whether you would rather represent yourself. If you choose to represent yourself, the resources may be useful to you.
Free Family Law Resources
If you are representing yourself, the Mendocino County Superior Court Self-Help Center can give you legal information and forms, and can review your paperwork before you file it. They offer assistance with divorce, parentage, custody, child support, spousal support, restraining orders, guardianships, name changes, gender changes, and small claims cases, among other topics.
The California Courts Self-Help Center gives detailed information about many legal processes, and provides links to legal forms. Learn about divorce, parentage, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property and debt in a divorce, emancipation of minors, special immigrant juvenile status, adoption, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, gender changes, and restraining orders.
Project Sanctuary helps domestic violence survivors ask for restraining orders, and also offers other services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Project Sanctuary has offices on the coast and inland.
The Mendocino County Department of Child Support Services, located in Ukiah, can start a child support case for you, take steps to enforce an existing child support order, and help you start a case to establish parentage of your child.
Safe Passage Family Resource Center in Fort Bragg, (707) 961-1100, provides support to families, parents, children, and teens, and can connect people to community resources and sometimes community funding.