Warning: Self-Help Resources are NOT legal advice and may not apply to your case. Please talk to a lawyer about the facts of your case.
There are 46 resources
AIDS Law Manual: Family Law
(Separate Website)
This manual is intended to be legal information, and should not be considered as legal advice. Individuals should consult with an attorney.
By: AIDS Legal Referral Panel
Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit
(Separate Website)
A child's relative can fill out this online form to sign up the child for school and/or get medical treatment for the child. A non-relative of the child can fill out the online form to sign up the child for school and agree to school-related medical care.
By: LawHelpCalifornia
Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit
(Separate Website)
Signing of the affidavit is sufficient to authorize enrolling a minor in school and authorizing medical care.
By: Legal Services for Children, Inc.
Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit
(Separate Website)
Samples: Forms and Letters to Use
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
De Facto Parent
(Separate Website)
What is it?
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
De Facto Parent Declaration
(Separate Website)
Samples: Forms and Letters to Use
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Duties of a Probate Guardian
(Separate Website)
When you are appointed by the probate court as a guardian of a minor, you become an officer of the court and assume certain duties and obligations.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Emancipation Guide
(Separate Website)
Questions and Answers about Emancipation for Teenagers
By: Legal Services for Children, Inc.
English/Spanish Glossary of California Department of Social Services Terms
(Separate Website)
By: California Department of Social Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
By: Law Foundation of Silicon Valley -- Legal Advocates for Children & Youth
Families & Children Forms and Instructions from the Office of the Courts
(Separate Website)
This links to different types of court forms used in family law cases.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Family Reunification
(Separate Website)
How do I get my child back after I am released from prison or jail?
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Getting a Child Out of a Shelter
(Separate Website)
Manual for Grandparents-Relative Caregivers and Their Advocates.
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Glossary of Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
A Glossary of terms from the California Courts Self-Help Center
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Going to Court Without a Lawyer - Representing Yourself in Court
(Separate Website)
Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own lawyer in all cases in California. It is very important that you learn about what is at stake in your case.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Guardianship Forms and Information
(Separate Website)
This links to the Courts' information on Guardianships. Guardianship can be created in Probate, Family and Juvenile Courts.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Guardianship Online Forms
(Separate Website)
EZLegalFile is an interactive program that will help you fill out the forms necessary to request or respond to papers for a variety of legal issues.
By: Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo
Guardianship Pamphlet
(Separate Website)
For Guardianships of Children in the Probate Court
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Guardianships
(Separate Website)
Manual for Grandparent-Relative Caregivers and Their Advocates
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP)
(Separate Website)
The Kin-GAP Program offers a subsidy to children who leave the juvenile court dependency system to live with a relative legal guardian.
By: California Department of Social Services -- Children and Family Services Division
Legal Document Assistants (LDAs)
(Separate Website)
A Legal Document Assistant is NOT a Lawyer. By law, they cannot give you legal advice or represent you in the courts in any matter. An LDA is a professional who is authorized to prepare legal documents for a client, but only at the direction of the client.
By: California Association of Legal Document Assistants (CALDA)
Legal Rights and Options for Runaway Teens
(Separate Website)
Things to know about running away from home.
By: Legal Services for Children, Inc.
Legal Rights of Teens in Out-Of-Home Care
(Separate Website)
This booklet, based on California law, covers some of the concerns of a youth in out-of-home care, including types of placements, guardianship, independent living, role of the courts, visitation, confidentiality, pregnancy, money, religion, driving, emancipation and rights and responsibilities of youth in out-of-home care, group or foster homes
By: Youth Law Center
Lifelines: Documents to Protect You and Your Family in Times of Trouble
(Separate Website)
This booklet contains information and sample forms regarding essential estate planning documents that everyone should have in place, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
By: National Center for Lesbian Rights
Making a Record
(Separate Website)
What can I do while I'm in jail or prison?
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Manual for Grandparent-Relative Caregivers and Their Advocates
(Separate Website)
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Minors and Healthcare
(Separate Website)
The Facts About Consenting to Health Care
By: Legal Services for Children, Inc.
Overview of the Foster Care System in California
(Separate Website)
You must download this fact sheet. After clicking on the above link, click on "Foster_Care_Syetem.doc"
By: Youth Law Center
Placement
(Separate Website)
Where will my child live if I am arrested?
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Public Benefits
(Separate Website)
Manual for Grandparent-Caregivers and Their Advocates.
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Public Law Library of Orange County
(Separate Website)
Open to the public, the county law library provides legal information material and resources held in its collection for your research.
By: Council of California County Law Librarians
Rights, Responsibilities, and Other Important Information for the Kin-GAP Program
(Separate Website)
By: California Department of Social Services
Sample Letter to the Judge for Persons in Jail or Prison
(Separate Website)
Samples: Forms and Letters to Use
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Sample Letter to Your Probation Officer for Persons in Jail or Prison
(Separate Website)
Samples: Forms and Letters to Use
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Sample Letter to Your Social Worker for Persons in Jail or Prison
(Separate Website)
Samples: Forms and Letters to Use
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Sample Power of Attorney for Persons in Jail or Prison
(Separate Website)
Samples: Forms and Letters to Use
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
School Issues
(Separate Website)
Manual for Grandparent-Relative Caregivers and Their Advocates
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
The Grandparent's and Other Relative Caregiver's Guide to Child Care and Early Education Programs
(Separate Website)
A guide for relative caregivers on child care and early childhood education and what they need to know to give their child a head start. This guide provides information on different types of child care and early childhood education programs, how to look for these programs, financial assistance for child care, and answers to other common questions about child care.
By: Children's Defense Fund
The Grandparent's and Other Relative's Guide to Raising Children with Disabilities
(Separate Website)
Federal, state, and local programs are available to help you raise children who have disabilities. This guide describes programs for children with disabilities that can help caregivers in different ways.
By: Children's Defense Fund
The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program: Requirements and FAQs
(Separate Website)
By: California Department of Social Services -- Foster Care Branch
What Can A Lawyer Referral Service Do For Me?
(Separate Website)
What is the Indian Child Welfare Act?
(Separate Website)
The guide explains what the Act is, why is passed, and how it applies in California. If you're a parent or Indian custodian, this guide can help you decide if ICWA applies to your situation, and explains what your rights are if it applies. It also explains the rights tribes have in your case, if ICWA applies.
By: California Indian Legal Services - Escondido
What's Happening In Court?
(Separate Website)
An activity book for children who are going to court in California.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
When Permanent Custody is Necessary
(Separate Website)
Manual for Grandparent-Relative Caregivers and Their Advocates.
By: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
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