Mobile Self-Help Legal Access Center

  Legal Access
  Is there a fee for using the center?
  What does the Mobile Center provide?
  How do I use the Center?
  Does the Center take the place of an attorney?
  Schedule for Services

Legal Access

Ventura Superior Court's Mobile Self-Help Center was established in October 1999 to bring court information and assistance to those members of the community who could not come to one of the Self-Help Legal Access Centers located in Ventura or Oxnard. The Mobile Self-Help Center is part of a creative public outreach project undertaken by the court to improve access to justice for all members of the community. The mobile center was established to provide the following:

Help people representing themselves with court proceedings
Inform litigants and the public about alternatives to civil litigation in resolving conflict
Provide information on other community and public social service agencies

Is there a fee for using the center?

NO. The center does not charge a fee to use its facilities or for assistance.

What does the Mobile Center provide?

The mobile center provides information to the public on a variety of legal issues including:

Adoption

Conservatorship

Civil Harassment

Guardianship

Evictions (Unlawful Detainer)

Name Change

Small Claims

Appeals

General Civil Cases

Jury Service

Traffic

Juvenile

Family Law

Information is available in the form of books, videos, sample forms with instructions, brochures and legal sites on the Internet. Trained staff is available to provide informational assistance to people needing help understanding the materials or completing court forms. Information is also provided on alternatives to civil litigation.

How do I use the Center?

The mobile center provides a number of options for people to help themselves learn about the law and court procedure. Form packets are available with instructions on how to complete papers to be filed with the court. Videos are available on a number of subjects to view on the video monitor. For those with physical limitations prohibiting access inside the mobile center, all necessary materials and equipment can be brought outside the unit to accommodate those with special needs.

Does the Center take the place of an attorney?

NO. By providing information on court procedure and substantive law, the center can help self-represented litigants to help themselves. Attorneys and center staff cannot represent individuals or give legal advice, but by explaining how to research the law and prepare pleadings, self-represented litigants can develop a better understanding of the court process and be better prepared when they appear in court.