Choose the exact case type and court before filing. Court self-help information and a referral do not establish an attorney-client relationship.
Court fees, service requirements, response deadlines and exceptions depend on the current procedure. A link is an informational starting point, not a complete filing workflow.
Court branches, clerk windows, telephone assistance and remote appearances may have different instructions. Check the cited official page for the applicable channel.
Superior Court for Santa Cruz County. Court locations and divisions handle different case types; confirm the correct branch and service before visiting.
Official local court information and resources for this specific subject. Confirm the applicable case type, filing channel and current instructions with the court.
Local Family Law Division — source-specific information; other procedures and appeals may differ
The Family Law Division of the Santa Cruz Superior Court, located at the Watsonville Courthouse, handles a variety of family-related matters. Some of these case types include; ending a marriage or registered domestic partnership, identifying a child’s legal parents, determining custody and visitation issues, establishing or enforcing child and spousal support, dealing with domestic violence issues, adoptions and minor emancipations. All restraining orders are filed at the Watsonville Courthouse. For more information regarding restraining orders see the courts Restraining Order Division Page.
Local Family Law Division — source-specific information; other procedures and appeals may differ
Required in Family Law cases with children. Use this Co-Parenting Class link for the ONLY class approved by the Santa Cruz Superior Court. This is a FREE class.
Official local court information and resources for this specific subject. Confirm the applicable case type, filing channel and current instructions with the court.
Local Small Claims Division — source-specific information; other procedures and appeals may differ
You may appear in person or through Zoom. If you would like to appear by Zoom you must complete form RA-010 to give notice to the court and other parties of your Zoom appearance. Small Claims cases are heard on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. On the day of your hearing, log in to the Online Virtual Courtroom for Department A. If you are assigned to a different courtroom, you will need to find the link to the department on the Remote Appearance page. Only parties may log in to the Online Virtual Courtroom. Public observation of Small Claims Court is in person only.
Local Small Claims Division — source-specific information; other procedures and appeals may differ
If you intend to appear remotely, you will need to submit your evidence to the court and serve your evidence on the other side before your court date. Make sure to read the Guidelines for Evidence Submission for Non-Criminal Trials and Evidentiary Hearings found on the Local Rules page on when and how to do so. If you have video evidence, make sure you review the separate document, on the same page, about presenting video evidence in the courtroom. If you need help with this, contact the Small Claims Advisor.
Official local court information and resources for this specific subject. Confirm the applicable case type, filing channel and current instructions with the court.
Official local court information and resources for this specific subject. Confirm the applicable case type, filing channel and current instructions with the court.
Local Restraining Orders — source-specific information; other procedures and appeals may differ
All restraining orders requests are filed and heard at the Watsonville court location at 1 Second Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. These restraining orders include domestic violence prevention, elder abuse prevention, civil harassment prevention, workplace violence, private postsecondary school violence prevention, and gun violence prevention restraining orders.
Local Restraining Orders — source-specific information; other procedures and appeals may differ
The Self Help Center located at the Courthouse in Watsonville assists people who do not have lawyers in applying for and responding to restraining orders. Staff provides instructions on how to complete court forms, how to file with the court, how to properly serve the other side, and how to prepare for your court hearing. See the Self Help Center's page for information about how to get help.
The court identifies this subject as part of its civil division. Review the linked local instructions and applicable procedure.
The specifically cited local court subject context; no complete-workflow claim
The Civil Division in Santa Cruz, located at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, processes all civil matters, including general civil, name change applications, probate and unlawful detainer cases. All restraining orders are filed at the Watsonville Courthouse. For more information regarding restraining orders see the Restraining Order Division page.
The Civil Division in Santa Cruz, located at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, processes all civil matters, including general civil, name change applications, probate and unlawful detainer cases. All restraining orders are filed at the Watsonville Courthouse. For more information regarding restraining orders see the Restraining Order Division page.
The court identifies this subject as part of its civil division. Review the linked local instructions and applicable procedure.
The specifically cited local court subject context; no complete-workflow claim
The Civil Division in Santa Cruz, located at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, processes all civil matters, including general civil, name change applications, probate and unlawful detainer cases.
Reviewed local Eviction / unlawful detainer subject context
The Civil Division in Santa Cruz, located at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, processes all civil matters, including general civil, name change applications, probate and unlawful detainer cases.
Read this Superior Court’s named legal-service referrals or procedural self-help information. Independent providers decide their own eligibility and appointments. Court self-help information does not create an attorney-client relationship or promise representation.
Service area: Santa Cruz County — local court legal-information/referral context. Area details & sources
Court procedural self-help or explicit referral only; no attorney representation, confidential legal advice, full case eligibility or uniform free document-copying claim.
The Santa Cruz Superior Court offers a free Self Help Center (SHC) to assist self represented customers with a variety of basic legal issues.
Shared California Courts self-help guidance, available for all 58 California county court contexts; local procedures and individual circumstances vary.
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
You probably know what divorce means. In California, the legal word for divorce is dissolution.
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
Dissolution is the legal process to end a marriage or domestic partnership. It includes both divorce and a simpler option called summary dissolution. In some cases, people may choose a different legal process, like legal separation or annulment.
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
Small claims court allows you to sue a person, business, or government agency that you think owes you money. Generally, you can only sue for up to $12,500 in small claims court (or up to $6,250 if you’re a business). You can ask a lawyer for advice before you go to court, but you can't have one with you in court.
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
Get basic information and links to sample legal documents (like a will or a power of attorney) to have a plan if you or someone you love becomes sick or dies.
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
If you need a restraining order, first find out what type of restraining order you need. Your court's self-help center ↗️ (link opens in a new tab) can help if you're not sure. Once you know, select that type to find the type of protection it offers, how to ask for one, and how to renew or enforce it.
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
If someone asked for a restraining order against you, choose the type of restraining order they asked for below to find out more about your options. The forms you got have the name of the type of restraining order listed on them.
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
If you already changed your name and need a copy of a court order, contact the court where your case was filed.
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
This guide explains the eviction process (called unlawful detainer) for residential evictions only. It includes steps for:
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
There are a number of resources that may be able to help you with free and low-cost legal help
Shared California Courts Self-Help Guide. Read the instructions for your situation and check the local court requirements.
Service area: California statewide self-help information; this is one shared guide, not a separate local provider in each county. Area details & sources
Shared statewide guidance; local procedures, case types and exceptions may differ
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford court fees, you can ask the court for a fee waiver.
California Courts referrals to tenant-rights guidance, local legal information, housing resources and the appropriate state agencies.
Service area: Shared California statewide tenant information and official resource referrals; local laws and individual eligibility vary. Area details & sources
California Courts resource referral; confirm the services offered by the actual local court
Each court has a self-help center that offers free legal information. Find out from your local court what type of services they offer.
The California Attorney General’s information about renter protections, habitability, lockouts, discrimination and other landlord/tenant issues. Statutory exceptions and local rules affect protections.
Service area: Shared California statewide tenant information and official resource referrals; local laws and individual eligibility vary. Area details & sources
DOJ guidance on checking additional local tenant protections; no determination that a particular tenancy is covered
In addition to the statewide requirement that landlords have just cause before evicting a tenant, local laws may offer additional protections to residential tenants. Tenants and landlords should consult local resources to see whether their city or county has rules that may offer additional tenant protections.
DOJ referral for unresolved housing-condition concerns; contact the actual local code-enforcement or health authority
If a landlord refuses to make repairs, tenants should contact their local code enforcement office or local health department. Cities or counties may also have their own rent board or rent control program that deals with building health and safety.
As a tenant, knowing your rights is critical. Under California law, residential tenants are protected from certain rent increases and may be protected from certain types of evictions.
The Department of Real Estate’s official landing page for the 2026 California Tenants guide, with English and Spanish document links.
Service area: Shared California statewide tenant information and official resource referrals; local laws and individual eligibility vary. Area details & sources
DRE landing-page description of its informational guide
This guide is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
California Civil Rights Department information on fair-housing protections, reasonable accommodations, prohibited retaliation and housing-discrimination resources.
Service area: Shared California statewide tenant information and official resource referrals; local laws and individual eligibility vary. Area details & sources
Current Civil Rights Department fair-housing information; the webpage lists the complete protected characteristics and applicable exceptions
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is responsible for enforcing state fair housing laws that make it illegal to discriminate against or harass someone because of a protected characteristic, such as their gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.