Your Family Tree

The Self Help Center & Office of the Family Law Facilitator will be closed

Monday, December 26th and will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2017at 8:00 a.m.

The Family Law Facilitator and staff give free assistance to self-represented litigants (individuals in a legal action who do not have an attorney) in limited family law-related matters. The Office of the Family Law Facilitator provides legal forms and procedural guidance in the following areas: Paternity actions, child support and spousal support.

Due to grant funding restrictions, the Office of the Family Law Facilitator can only give assistance in limited areas of family law-related matters. The Self-Help Center can give assistance with all other family law matters not offered by the Office of the Family Law Facilitator, in addition to help with landlord/tenant cases, small claims and debt collection matters.

Services are free and there are no income qualifying requirements. Assistance is provided daily on a walk-in first-come, first-served basis and limited assistance is available by email, except in confidential cases, such as adoptions, paternity actions and cases involving the Department of Child Support Services.

Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday
8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.)

Fridays 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location:

The Superior Court California, County of Stanislaus
800 11th Street, Room 220
Modesto, California

*For the most effective assistance by email, please provide your full name, telephone number and case number (if you have one), along with a brief description of your problem. Responses can be expected within 3-4 business days. We appreciate your patience.

The Facilitator CAN:

• Compute the guideline amount for child or spousal support.
• Explain what documents you will need to get a support order.
• Explain how to get support increased or decreased.
• Explain how to get a Court order for support enforcement, wage assignment, etc.
• Assist you and the other party in arriving at an agreement and prepare documents reflecting an agreement.
• Review your Court documents for completeness.
• Provide you with "How To" instructions on family law topics.
• Provide you with information about the other services and agencies which can help you help yourself.
• Refer you to where you may get help if you are in an abusive relationship.
• Refer you to where you may get help if the other parent is hiding your child.