What Is the Family Law Information Center?

The Sutter Regional Family Law Information Center is a legal education office designed to help people representing themselves choose and fill out the correct legal forms in their Family Law Matters. Help is available to all residents of Sutter, Yuba and surrounding counties for:

Establishing or changing child support orders
Establishing or changing spousal support orders
Establishing Paternity (Uniform Parentage actions)
Responding to Family Support court actions
Fee Waiver applications

Additionally, help is available for low-income residents for the following topics:

Dissolution, legal separation and nullity
Obtaining or changing child custody and visitation orders
Property issues
Enforcement of existing judgment by writ or wage assignment
Domestic violence restraining orders
Temporary orders
Responding to a Family Law court action
Referrals to other agencies as available and appropriate

Do I need an appointment?

It is best to make an appointment to see the Facilitator to discuss specific questions and concerns that you may have. Emergency walk-ins may be seen between appointments, as time permits and at the Facilitator's discretion; however, the surest way to be seen is with an appointment.

Are there clinics?

If you need help with completing your paperwork, you may want to sign up for one of the clinics offered each month by the Family Law Information Center. Clinics are available on the most often requested topics, and monthly calendars with topics and times are available through the Family Law Information Center office. Since most clinics are held on a first come, first served basis, it is wise to sign in about 15 minutes early. Clinic information is also available by calling the Family Law Information Center.

Who is the facilitator?

The Family Law Facilitator is an attorney who can discuss your Family Law matters with you, answer your questions, and explain what your options are, so you can make an informed decision about what action to take and are better informed regarding court procedure.
The Family Law Facilitator is a neutral party. That means he or she cannot tell you what you should or must do. The Facilitator cannot represent you in court. If the other party in your court matter asked for the Facilitator's assistance, they would receive the same services from the Facilitator as you.
The Facilitator is the supervising attorney for the Family Law Information Center. The Family Law Information Center staff works under the direction of the Facilitator.

Each county in the state of California has a Family Law Facilitator, but not every county has a Family Law Information Center.

What should I bring?

In general, you should bring any paperwork you have been served with, or any paperwork or letters that pertain to your case. Most clinics require forms that can be obtained from the civil division of the court where you plan to file your action. Call the Family Law Information Center for more specific information.

What are the clinic topics?

Dissolution/Legal/Separation/Nullity
Preparation of Petition and Summons.
Instructions for service of process.
Preparation of Default or uncontested Judgment.
Orders After Hearing
Preparing orders from minutes of your hearing
Modification of Existing Orders
Preparation of Order to Show Cause to change an existing support or custody/visitation order, and to obtain temporary orders.
Uniform Parentage
Obtaining judgment of paternity and orders for custody, support, and visitation in non-marital relationships. Including preparation of Petition and Summons, instructions for service of process, and default Judgments.
Answers/Responses
Responding to papers which have been served upon you. How to complete, file and serve.
Child Support
How to obtain, modify and enforce your support order.