Free legal resources

You do not need to pay for access to official court forms and many court self-help resources. These links take you to third-party government or nonprofit websites. Check the page's date and your own court's instructions.

California courts

• California Courts Self-Help Guide — explanations of common civil, family, housing, and other court procedures.
• Find and fill out California court forms — official forms and a Word pleading-paper template.
• California Rules of Court — review statewide rules, including formatting rules 2.100–2.111.
• Find your California court — your local court may have additional instructions and self-help information.

United States

• Legal Services Corporation: find legal aid — locate nonprofit legal-aid services in your area.
• USA.gov: free and low-cost legal help — federal government information about legal assistance.
• U.S. Courts: federal court forms — official forms for federal courts.

About pleading paper

California trial court filings can have requirements for margins, numbered lines, signatures, and the first page. Many matters require a Judicial Council form instead of a custom pleading. Use the pleading-paper formatter for your own text only after checking that a pleading paper filing is appropriate and that your court accepts the document format.

This page provides links and general information, not individualized legal advice or legal representation. Links are provided for convenience and are not endorsements.