The Family Law Facilitator is a specialized service provided by the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, offering free assistance to self-represented individuals in family, civil, and probate matters. As a neutral, court-based resource, it stands out by providing accessible legal information and procedural guidance without acting as legal counsel, ensuring that unrepresented parties can navigate the court system with greater confidence and clarity.
Operating as part of the Self-Help Resource Center, the office assists a broad range of clients including individuals dealing with family law disputes, restraining orders, guardianship, conservatorship, and eviction cases. Staff provide educational support, form preparation assistance, and explanations of court processes, but do not offer legal advice or representation. Services are available to all parties regardless of income, emphasizing accessibility and procedural fairness within the judicial system.
Services Offered
- Dissolution, Legal Separation, or Nullity
- Establishing Parentage
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Child Support (including DCSS cases)
- Spousal Support
- Joinder (with exceptions)
- Grandparent Visitation
- Stepparent Adoption
- Modifying existing orders for custody, visitation, and support
- Domestic Violence Restraining Order
- Civil Harassment Restraining Order
- Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order
- Workplace Violence Restraining Order (for sole proprietors representing themselves)
- Guardianship of the Person (including terminating/objecting to Guardianship)
- General Conservatorship of the Person (including terminating/objecting to Conservatorship)
- Eviction Notices: 3-day to Pay or Quit, 30, and 60 day
- Residential Eviction Cases (except Section 8)
- Complaints, Answers, Default/Default Judgment, Set Asides, Stay of Eviction
- Name and/or Gender Change: Adult or Minor
- Small Claims issues
- CARE Act proceedings
Services are provided in Tulare County, with physical locations in Visalia and Porterville, and support is accessible in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Russian through self-help videos and resources. The center emphasizes its role as an educational and procedural aid rather than a substitute for legal representation.
