Monterey County Superior Court is pleased to announce the expansion of Self-Help Services to South Monterey County. The new Self-Help Center operates in Greenfield on the fourth Friday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is located in the Greenfield City Council Chambers at the Greenfield Civic Center. The public is encouraged to make an appointment to ensure service.
The Self-Help Center provides information and assistance to individuals who do not have a lawyer and explains options without giving legal advice or representing any party. The expansion of Self-Help Services to Greenfield will provide greater access to South Monterey County residents who are acting as self-represented litigants and are in need of assistance. Services are available in family law, child support, custody and visitation, small claims, unlawful detainer (landlord/tenant) as well as to answer general questions in both English and Spanish languages. The Greenfield Self-Help Center services mirror the assistance provided in both Monterey and Salinas, where legal and support staff effectively guide selfrepresented litigants with document preparation and review. Group clinics and workshops will likely be arranged in the future based on the needs of the community.
The response thus far has been encouraging and robust, with a fully booked calendar and a waitlist for appointments as South Monterey County residents, who would otherwise need to travel up to 100 miles roundtrip, are now able to receive in-person assistance. Presiding Judge Lydia M. Villarreal stated, “The court is committed to using its resources – staff, as well as technology – to serve all of Monterey County. We hope this is just the beginning of a much larger presence for the court in South County”.
This expansion has been assisted by the court’s recently implemented electronic records management system, making it possible for court staff to access case files remotely which helps to service a greater number of individuals throughout this very widespread county.
Self-Help Services continue to be offered in the Monterey Courthouse on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; and in the Salinas Courthouse on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except for the fourth Friday of the month when staff is in Greenfield.
For more information on Self-Help Services or to set up an appointment, visit the court’s website: http://www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/SelfHelp/.
Categorized in: Court Notices
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