California family lawLegal help resources
Questions about divorce, legal separation, custody or support? These independent resources can help you find court information, legal aid or a lawyer to speak with. Start with the type of help you need.
Fast Divorce prepares documents at your direction. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice or represent you in court.
I am not an attorney. I can only provide self help services at your specific direction.
Find the kind of help you need
Free help with court forms and steps
California Courts self-help centers provide free legal information and help with court forms and procedures for people without a lawyer, regardless of income. Services vary by court. Staff do not act as your lawyer or provide personal legal advice. Both sides may use the same center, and communications are not attorney-client privileged.
Help looking for free or low cost legal services
LawHelpCA helps you find legal-aid organizations and other legal resources. Search for family-law help in your area. Each organization decides who it can assist based on its rules, location, type of case and available resources. A listing does not guarantee a free lawyer.
Help finding a family law lawyer
The State Bar of California lists certified lawyer-referral services. Use the directory to find services by county, legal issue and language. Ask about consultation and representation fees before you agree to anything. This is not a promise of free representation. The State Bar certifies these services but does not operate them directly. Each referral service sets its own fees and procedures.
We share these organizations as community resources, not endorsements of an organization or attorney. Contact each organization directly to confirm eligibility, fees, current availability and services. A listing does not guarantee help, representation or an outcome.
Resource information checked September 7, 2026. Confirm current details with the organization.
Selected nonprofit organizations
These are examples in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, not a statewide list. For other California counties, use LawHelpCA above. Ask each organization whether it handles your specific issue and whether it can take new requests.
Explore four regional organizationsLos Angeles · Orange · San Diego
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County. Its courthouse Self-Help Legal Access Centers help people representing themselves with divorce, custody, visitation and parentage. Self-help assistance does not mean an attorney will appear for you. Other legal services require separate screening.
View NLSLA self-help services and locationsCommunity Legal Aid SoCal
Orange County and designated Southeast Los Angeles communities. Family-law help may include divorce, custody, visitation, support, parentage and restraining orders. Income, assets and service-area screening apply. Representation is considered case by case. Contact the organization before visiting.
View Community Legal Aid SoCal family-law helpLegal Aid Society of San Diego
San Diego County. Free family-law advice and assistance for eligible residents may cover divorce, custody disputes, parentage involving custody issues and matters affecting survivors of intimate partner violence. Each request is screened; assistance and representation are not guaranteed.
View Legal Aid Society of San Diego family-law helpLegal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA’s direct family-law practice focuses on survivors of domestic violence, including help with divorce, custody, support and restraining orders. Financial eligibility screening applies. This listing is not a general promise of divorce representation.
View LAFLA family-law servicesOffice schedules and capacity change. No same-day response, appointment or case acceptance is promised.
What to have nearby
The organization may ask about income, household size or other eligibility details through its own intake process. Do not send those details to Fast Divorce just to use this resource page.
- The county where your case is filed, if a case has started.
- Any papers you received and any hearing or response dates shown on them.
- A short description of the help you want and a list of your questions.
- Your preferred language and a safe way for the organization to contact you.
Questions people ask
Will legal aid take my case?
The organization decides after screening. Ask whether it offers information, advice, document help, a clinic or representation for your issue. If it cannot help, ask whether it knows another resource.
What if I have a hearing or deadline soon?
Tell the organization right away and check the dates on your court papers. Looking for help does not extend a deadline. If you need advice about how to respond, contact a licensed attorney promptly.
Can I speak with a lawyer if I do not qualify for free help?
Yes. A certified lawyer-referral service can help you look for a lawyer. Ask about fees and whether limited help with a particular issue is available. You are not required to hire someone simply because you contact a referral service.
These are not legal-aid programs
If you need safety support
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For support about relationship abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit TheHotline.org. It is a safety-support resource, not a promise of legal representation. Use a safer device if someone may be monitoring your activity; private browsing does not erase every trace.
You are welcome to return
When you have the legal guidance and directions you need, you are welcome to explore our document-preparation services. Whether Fast Divorce can accept the work depends on its scope and our review. We assist with eligible California divorce or legal separation matters at the client’s direction.
When a case belongs outside California
These resources focus on California. For a case in another state, contact a licensed attorney or the court self-help center for the state where your case belongs. If you are unsure where to file, consult an attorney about where the case belongs. Fast Divorce cannot decide jurisdiction for you.