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Office
of The Family Law Facilitator
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Facilitators
for Other California Counties
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"Helping
unrepresented parties through the family court process"
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Introduction
Services Provided by the Facilitator
Disclosure
Hours
of Operation
What
should I bring with me?
Court
Appearances by Telephone (CourtCall) (links to new page)
Related
Resources (links to new page)
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Introduction
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The Office of the
Family Law Facilitator provides assistance to unrepresented parties in
child and spousal support cases. The goal of the Family Law Facilitator
is to provide direction to the unrepresented party.
The Family Law Facilitator is available to assist unrepresented parties
who have questions about Family Law issues, including:
- child
support
- spousal
support
- parentage
- health
insurance
- the availability of community resources to help families.
The Family Law
Facilitator can help you in preparing your own forms and can give you
general information. We
cannot go with you to court.
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Services
Provided by the Facilitator
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The Facilitator's
Office provides forms, samples, and information in the following areas:
- How to
obtain or change child support, spousal support, and health
insurance orders, including providing information regarding support
amounts based upon statutory guidelines;
- How to
obtain or contest a wage assignment;
- How to
calculate child and spousal support;
- How to
set a hearing on child or spousal support arrears;
- How to
set a hearing to reinstate suspended driver's license and other
licenses in child support cases;
- How to
enforce child and spousal support orders;
- How to
complete orders and judgments in family law cases;
- How to
establish paternity; including information regarding genetic testing
and referrals to community agencies,
- How to
complete Answers and Responsive Declarations to Department of Child
Support Services complaints and motions; motions to set aside
(cancel) judgments; fee waiver applications; income and expense
declarations; and wage assignments.
- How to
begin, modify, and finish a family law case;
- Provide
referrals to other community agencies and resources providing
services for parents and children.
- Mediate
child support, spousal support and health insurance issues between
the parties
WHAT IS A FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR?
The Family Code requires the Superior Court in each of
California's 58 counties to maintain an Office of the Family Law
Facilitator to provide self represented parties with education,
information, and assistance with child support, spousal support, and
health insurance issues. These services are available at no
charge.
Each court appoints a California-licensed attorney with
mediation/litigation experience in family law to head the office, and
appoints additional attorneys and support staff depending upon need and
available resources.
The
attorney in the Office of the Family Law Facilitator does not represent
any party, and no attorney-client privilege exists between the attorney
in this office and the individuals seeking assistance. The
attorney is neutral and is available to see parties on both sides of a
dispute who need assistance regarding their family law cases. The
Office of the Family Law Facilitator is prohibited from assisting
parties who are represented by private attorneys or who have an attorney
of record in their family law matters.
HOW DO I GET TO SEE THE FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR?
Parties needing assistance with child support, spousal support, or
health insurance matters can meet individually with a staff member on an
appointment basis. At this meeting, the staff person will assist
the party in identifying the rules and procedures necessary to achieving
that parties' objective, and will assist that party in preparing the
necessary documentation. Depending upon the complexity of
the matter, more than one visit may be required.
For parties seeking assistance with other family law matters such
as dissolution of marriage, private paternity actions, restraining
orders, or custody and visitation issues, the scope of assistance is
more limited. However, with regard to these issues, the staff will
provide basic substantive and procedural information, referrals, and the
necessary legal forms.
The staff is available to review work that customers have
completed on their own. A customer needing document review may call for an
appointment or drop-in on a first come, first served basis.
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Disclosure
The Family Law
Facilitator is not your lawyer. Communications between you and the
Family Law Facilitator and staff is not confidential and no
attorney-client relationship between you and the Facilitator is
established. We may provide information and services to the other party
in your case. You should consult with a private attorney if you want
personalized advice, need a confidential conversation, or need
representation in court.
The Family Law
Facilitator and Staff are not responsible for the outcome of your case.
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Helpful On-Line and Community Resources:
Family Law Facilitators' Self-Help Center
(english)
or (spanish)
(pdf)
California
Court On-Line Self-Help Center
www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov
(DCSS-Department of Child Support Services)
Click here for
EZLegalFile, a computer program that fills out court forms (small claims,
guardianships and family law only).
Self help publications, software, legal information and forms:
http://nolo.com/
THE OFFICE OF THE FAMILY LAW
FACILITATOR
HOURS OF OPERATION
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MONDAY:
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8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. &
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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TUESDAY:
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8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. &
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY:
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8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. &
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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THURSDAY:
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8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. &
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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FRIDAY:
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8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. &
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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LOCATION
Tuolumne County Superior Court
first floor of the Historical Courthouse, 41 West Yaney Avenue, Sonora, CA.
Sonora, CA 95370
Telephone: 209/533-6565
Fax: 209/533-6623
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WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
- A copy of all court
documents related to your case, particularly any current
judgments or orders. At the very least, please provide
the staff with your case number if you have an existing case.
- Papers, documents,
letters that you have received from the Department of Child
Support Services or from the other party concerning your case.
- Copies of your last
three paycheck stubs as well as information regarding any
other income earned by either yourself or the other party.
- W-2 forms for the
last year and your filing status. If you are
self-employed, please provide a copy of your federal tax
return, including your Schedule C and your profit and loss
statement.
- An estimate of your
monthly living expenses, including housing, utilities,
insurance, food, transportation, education, clothing, daycare
expenses, and any extraordinary expenses related to health
care and catastrophic losses.
- Names and birthdates
your children and an estimate of your custodial/visitation
with each child.
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If
you still have questions, e-mail
Family Law Facilitator
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