Self-Help
Services we offer
Sutter County Superior Court Self-Help Center provides FREE information and assistance to individuals without an attorney with their family law, child support, guardianship, and small claims cases. Assistance is primarily provided through our clinics, which are offered in person and remotely. Additionally, the Self-Help Center can offer referrals to resources that are available outside of the court.
In a Self-Help Clinic, you will receive:
- Information on how to open a case
- Instruction on completion of court forms
- Assistance in responding to court forms
- Preparation of child support calculations
- Instructions on follow-up steps
- Assistance with preparation of Orders and Judgments
The Self-Help Center staff can provide information about your legal rights and obligations, upcoming workshops and other available assistance; however, they cannot provide legal advice.
The Self-Help Center does not currently provide assistance to litigants with Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, Unlawful Detainers, Contempt Proceedings, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, Adoptions, or Grandparent Visitation.
You should contact a private attorney if you want personalized advice or strategy, to have a confidential conversation, or to be represented by an attorney in court.
Types of Cases
We offer help with many non-criminal legal problems. We have detailed resources on these areas:
Self-Help Computer Access
There are Self-Help Computers accessible to the public in the courthouse lobby, outside of Room 120.
Find your case number or court date
To find your case number click on this Calendar link and enter your name in the search box for "Last Name". All Cases with your last name should appear on the calendar. You can find your case number and future court dates on that list. If your case is a confidential case, for example has an "SQ" in the case number it will not appear on the public calendar and the clerks cannot give you information over the phone. You will need to come into the courthouse with a photo identification for information on confidential case information or court dates.
Online assistance
There are several Self-Help resources that can be accessed from anywhere with internet. The California Courts website has information on a variety of case types and issues, and court forms. If you want help completing court forms online, Odyssey Guide & File is a free program that guides a user through a series of questions with the goal of producing legal forms that may be printed, then filed with the court.