Workshops, Clinics & Presentations


Finish Your Dissolution Workshop
In our Finish Your Dissolution Workshops, Family Law Facilitators are available to assist you with reviewing the final forms to finish your dissolution case. This workshop is available for those who have completed the initial stages of the divorce case and are ready to submit their proposed Judgment for the court to review. In addition, this workshop is open to you if you have previously submitted a proposed Judgment but your forms were returned by the court for corrections. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please come to our drop-in hours or contact us on LiveChat so that a staff member can review the status of your case and pre-screen you for registration. For more information on how to contact our office, please check our webpage.

Please note that this workshop is not appropriate if you are preparing for a trial date. The Family Law Facilitator’s Office does not assist with trial preparation.
Small Claims Workshops
The Small Claims workshops will walk you through the initial forms and steps to file a small claims case. Workshops will be offered once a month at each of the following locations: Martinez, Richmond, and Pittsburg courthouses. Please note that these workshops will provide a general overview of the small claims process and forms. Specific case questions will not be answered. If you are interested in attending a small claims workshop, please contact the Small Claims Advisor at smallclaims@contracosta.courts.ca.gov to be pre-screened and registered.
Guardianship of the Person Workshop
The Guardianship of the Person Workshops will assist you in completing the initial forms to start a probate guardianship case for a minor child. You must have completed the forms and need a review your forms only. In the workshop, the Probate Facilitator can review your forms and explain further steps in the guardianship process. This workshop can also assist you if you have a Tentative Ruling in a guardianship case that you need to address or clear before your next hearing date. If you are interested in attending a workshop, please contact the Probate Facilitator by emailing probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail at (925) 608-2066 to be pre-screened and registered.

Please note that these workshops are for assistance with cases seeking guardianship of minor children only. The Self-Help Center does not assist with cases seeking guardianship of an estate.
Civil Self-Help Clinic (Unlawful Detainers/Evictions, Civil Name and Gender Change)
The Civil Self-Help Clinic provides procedural information, legal forms, and the review of completed forms for unlawful detainer/eviction cases and with civil name and gender change cases. Note: The clinic is open to tenants responding to an unlawful detainer case and to landlords seeking assistance with initiating an unlawful detainer case or filing a default judgment. If you are interested in attending the Civil Self-Help Clinic, please email selfhelpcivil@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or leave a voicemail at (925) 608-2128 to be pre-screened and registered for the Clinic.

Please note that this clinic is not appropriate if you are preparing for a trial date. The Civil Self-Help Clinic does not assist with trial preparation.
Civil Harassment Restraining Order Clinic
The Civil Harassment Restraining Order Clinic is available to assist you with filling out the forms to start a civil harassment restraining order case or with the response forms to a request for a civil harassment restraining order. Staff are also available to review completed forms as well as answer any questions about civil harassment restraining order forms. Assistance is provided on a first come, first served basis.
Location: Peter L. Spinetta Family Law Building
751 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Room: Room 144-A, Lobby
Hours: Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Important Information:
• Self-Help Center staff can provide guidance on how to complete forms and can review completed forms, but staff members do not fill out forms and declarations for customers.
• Please plan to arrive early to allow yourself time to find parking.
• Please do not bring children to the workshop.

• For Martinez workshops only: Free drop-in childcare services for children ages 2 through 12 years old are available at the Children’s Waiting Room in the Peter L. Spinetta Family Law Center. This service may be used by customers conducting court business in the Family Law Building, attending a family law or domestic violence hearing date, or using self-help services, such as attending a workshop.

• To check if you are eligible to use the Children’s Waiting, please see their webpage:Children's Waiting Room.

• Bring a photo ID. There may be times when court staff will need to see a photo ID in order to complete their task or function.
• If you cannot speak or read English well, please bring someone to help interpret for you, if you can. We have bilingual staff but we cannot guarantee that they will be available at the time of your workshop.
• Self-Help Center staff can provide legal assistance to help you represent yourself in your court case but cannot give you legal advice. If you want legal or strategic advice, you should speak to a private attorney outside of the court. Self-Help Center staff members are not your attorneys. Staff members do not go to court with you and they are not responsible for the outcome of your case.