Consumer-SOS/Courts & Self Help (California)

Home California Lawyers, Courts & Self Help

State & Superior Courts

California Links To State, Trial & Federal Courts

Help With Court Forms (CA State Court)
Finding them and filling them out.

California Courts-Self Help Center (State Courts)
Court locations; times and locations for hearings; and clerks' offices, small claims advisory services, mediation services, and other local resources and information.

California Courts, Decisions & Rules
Includes Small Claims but not Federal Courts.

Look Up All State Court Cases From 1997-Present & All US Appeals & Supreme Court Cases
Do a key word search on all states at once or use "Advanced Search" to search Your State. Free sign up required to view whole case.

To search a case by case name, for example: Harrison v. Thurmond
enter in Harrison Thurmond (no quotes and no v.)

Filing A Complaint Against A County, Government Official, Police Officer or Business Entity (CA)
Includes where to file complaints against judges, investment firms, and more.

State & Federal Court Links (All 50 States & DC)
Also includes some municipal courts and has courts in other countries!

Courts Forms, Rules & Dockets (DC & All 50 States)
This site includes links to over 700 sources for state and federal court rules, forms and dockets. You can browse to find the resource you need, or search by keyword.

For More Forms See Self Help

Back To Top

Federal Courts

Understanding The U.S. Federal Courts (General Overview)

Search Full Text of U.S. Supreme and Circuit Appeals Courts

California Federal Courts

California Links To State, Trial & Federal Courts

All Federal District Court Docket Info From Jan 2004 To Present
Enter in a person’s last name to see if they have criminal or civil cases against them. Search all district courts at once or choose your state. Information may include the Plaintiff, Defendant, Case Number, Date, Court Location, Nature Of Case and more.

Search Full Text of U.S. Supreme and Circuit Appeals Courts (Excludes State Courts)
To find a Plaintiff or Defendant, put their first and last name in the "Exact Phrase" box. No Hits? Then try again in the "All of the words" box. Click Here for years and cases covered.

Look Up All State Court Cases From 1997-Present & All US Appeals & Supreme Court Cases
Do a key word search on all states at once or use "Advanced Search" to search locally. Free sign up required to view whole case.

To search a case by case name, for example: Harrison v. Thurmond
enter in Harrison Thurmond (no quotes and no v.)

Filing A Complaint Against A County, Government Official, Police Officer or Business Entity (CA)
Includes where to file complaints against judges, investment firms, and more.

Back To Top

Small Claims Courts

Using The Small Claims Court: A California Guide For Plaintiffs & Defendants (CA)
Where and how much you can file for, preparing or answering a claim and much more. Very in depth.

Collecting a Small Claims Court Judgment (CA)

How Do I Use The Small Claims Court? (CA)
Includes what and how much you can sue for, the evidence you'll need, court costs, appeals, collecting your judgment, paying on a judgment and more.

Filing A Complaint Against A County, Government Official, Police Officer or Business Entity (CA)
Includes where to file complaints against judges, investment firms, and more.

California Courts, Decisions & Rules (CA)
Includes Small Claims but not Federal Courts.

What Should I Do To Prepare My Small Claims Case? (Nolo.com)
More on presenting good evidence to win your case.

Small Claims Courts-Info In Your State (All 50 States)
Select California to find out: where to file, what evidence to present, how much you can sue for, court filing fees, filing an appeal and how to collect your judgment. Also has good links and general articles for more help.

Courts Forms, Rules & Dockets (DC & All 50 States)
This site includes links to over 700 sources for state and federal court rules, forms and dockets. You can browse to find the resource you need, or search by keyword

What Should I Do To Prepare My Small Claims Case? (Nolo.com)
More on presenting good evidence to win your case.

For More Forms See Self Help

Back To Top

Jury Duty & Being a Witness

California Guide To Jury Service (CA State Courts)
Specific information regarding jury service, frequently asked questions, information for employers regarding employer obligations, detailed information on the trial process and more.

State By State Laws On Paying Jurors For Jury Duty (DC Also)
Select your state from their map and learn whether your employer has to pay you for jury duty and whether you can be fired for serving.

Juror Qualifications & Juror Pay (All 50 States & DC)
Starting at Page 4: Qualifications for jurors and where each state gets it's pool of applicants from. Starting at Page 10: juror exemptions, juror excusals and juror compensation in all 50 states & DC.

FAQ's About Juror Pay, Juror Excusals & Juror Qualifications
Main source is the same as link above but with a table of contents to guide you.

Jurors' Rights (lots of links)

Back To Top

Courts In Other States
Superior & State Courts
Federal Courts
Small Claims

Back To Top

Superior & State Courts

State & Federal Court Links (All 50 States & DC)
Also includes some municipal courts and has courts in other countries!

For More Forms See Self Help

Back To Top

Federal Courts

Understanding The U.S. Federal Courts

State & Federal Court Links (All 50 States & DC)
Also includes some municipal courts and has courts in other countries!

For More Forms See Self Help

Back To Top

Small Claims Courts

The Best On Small Claims Courts (All 50 States)
On left side is a small claims search engine. Select California to find out: what evidence you need to win, where to file, how much you can sue for, court filing fees, filing an appeal and how to collect your judgment. Also has good links and general articles for more help.

Courts Forms, Rules & Dockets (DC & All 50 States)
This site includes links to over 700 sources for state and federal court rules, forms and dockets. You can browse to find the resource you need, or search by keyword

What Should I Do To Prepare My Small Claims Case? (Nolo.com)
More on presenting good evidence to win your case.

For More Forms See Self Help

Back To Top

Self Help
California
Other States

Back To Top

California & Federal

Questions & Answers About Litigation (CA)
Basics on the court process, litigation, discovery, the different types of courts, arbitration, mediation and more.

Dispute Arbitration & Mediation Can Save You Money (CA)

Search Full Text of U.S. Supreme and Circuit Appeals Courts (Excludes State & District Courts)
To find a Plaintiff or Defendant, put their first and last name in the "Exact Phrase" box. No Hits? Then try again in the "All of the words" box. Click Here for years and cases covered.

Look Up All State Court Cases From 1997-Present & All US Appeals & Supreme Court Cases
Do a key word search on all states at once or use "Advanced Search" to search Your State. Free sign up required to view whole case.
To search a case by case name, for example: Harrison v. Thurmond
just enter in Harrison Thurmond (no quotes and no v.)

State and City Laws (All 50 States)
Also Includes Federal Codes and Laws.

Time Limits In Which To Sue For Personal Injuries (All 50 States)

Search Full Text of U.S. Supreme and Circuit Appeals Courts

Search Past Questions and Attorney Answers (All 50 States & DC) Attorneys give state specific answers to questions relating to family law, divorce, adoption, child custody, insurance law, product liability, landlord/tenant, real-estate/real property, traffic law, probate-wills, trusts-estates, workers comp, tax law and more.

California Law
Access California codes, statutes, and the current state Constitution.

Checklist Of Significant California & Federal Consumer Laws (CA)
Everything from False Advertising to Willful & Negligent. Just find your topic alphabetically.

California Legal Forms
Estate planning, court matters, business, health care complaints, real property, tax and more.

Rominger Legal Resources
Courts, government and laws of California.

City of Los Angeles Codes & Ordinances

California Municipal Codes and Ordinances
FindLaw's listing of California municipal codes and ordinances.

Questions & Answers About Litigation (CA)
Basics on the court process, litigation, discovery, the different types of courts, arbitration, mediation and more.

You Don't Have To Sue-Alternative Dispute Resolution (CA)

See California Courts & Court Forms
See Other Forms

Federal Law
United States Code
The Code Of Federal Regulations (CFRs)
Federal Law Database compiled by GAO for Federal Employees
Find Law

Consumer Friendly Law Sites

See Courts In Other States, See Also Forms

Nolo.com
Offers legal help for almost any consumer problem.

Search Full Text of U.S. Supreme and Circuit Appeals Courts

Find The AARP In California
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

Self Help Assistance Sites
Help for those who are doing it without lawyers altogether.

Adminstrative Codes For All 50 States & DC
The rules that govern state departments and agencies.
Some states may also have the rules governing professional licensing boards.

Statutes & Case Law In All 50 States & DC

Self-Help Tips, Articles & Manuals

National Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance The Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.

Paralegal Organizations By State (All 50 States & DC)

http://www.ptla.org/links/services.htm (All 50 States & DC)
Where available, each state has resources relating to complaints & disputes, courts & legal process, fees & costs, hiring a lawyer, legal aid & clinics, referral services, and self representation.

http://www.freeadvice.com/
"Legal advice" site for consumers and small business. To learn your legal rights, click on one of their many topics.

Tips, Articles, Guides & Manuals

Lawsuits-The Time You Have To Sue-DC & 50 States (Nolo.com)
Good Overview which includes the Statutes of Limitation for the most common lawsuits.

Collecting Your Judgment (Not State Specific)

Statute Of Limitations On Judgments & Maximum Interest Rate You Can Charge (All 50 States & DC)
Learn the time you have to collect when you've been awarded a court judgment. Also has the maximum allowable interest rate a judgment debtor can be charged.

A Beginners' Guide To Alternative Dispute Resolution

Class Actions
FAQs, Tips & Articles About Class Actions

A Guide To Legalese
Defines many commonly used legal terms

California Forms

State Forms (35 States & DC)

General Forms/Forms For Other States

Corporate Forms For All 50 States & DC

Legal Form Search Engines and Links For General Forms
Has some state specific forms.

Free Legal Forms For Most of The 50 States
Mostly hype but has good state forms on family law, corporate law and tax law. Many of their forms are generic and not state specific.

General Forms For All Occasions (The 'Lectric Law Library)
Scroll down their forms page for forms on general business matters, living wills, power of attorney, promissory notes, employment and contracting.

Select Your Circuit Court Or State For Free Federal & State Forms.

Family Law Forms In Most of The States (a few forms per state)

State Forms (35 States & DC)

Other Legal Resources (All 50 States & DC)

State Web Locator

Search Full Text of U.S. Supreme and Circuit Appeals Courts

Your State Constitution Online (All 50 States)

State Government Home Pages (All 50 States & DC)

http://www.romingerlegal.com/states.htm

http://www.lawresearch.com/v2/cstate7.htm (St Govs, Laws, City Govs, Etc.)

http://www.lawresearch.com/v10/state/cstate7.htm Courts & the above.

http://www.findlaw.com/ (State laws, resources etc.,)

County & City Code Law Search

http://www.legalengine.com
forms, state and fed law, and everything else also.

Federal Web Locator
Through this website, cyber consumers can link to the electronic doorsteps of federal departments, agencies, commissions and quasi official agencies.

http://www.netlizard.com/forms/formscity.html
Free legal forms.