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Self-Help Resources & Information

Educational Videos & Resources

The Superior Court of Orange County provides the following educational videos:

Divorce:
Child Support:
Civil Harassment:
Consumer Law:
Elder Law:
Juvenile:
Small Claims:
Unlawful Detainer:
Other:

Please see the following website pages for additional resources and instructional materials to help with filling out court forms: Virtual Self-Help Law Center Forms Instructions and Virtual Self-Help Center Video Room for information on various court processes

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Other Resources and Media

If you still have questions after viewing the videos and media, you may stop by any of our Self-Help Centers. Our trained staff is ready to assist you.

Links to Court’s Main Website

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Court Related External Links

SELF-HELP WEBSITE LINKS TO OTHER WEB PAGES

Our web pages have many links to other organizations, such as other government agencies, non-profit community based organizations, and for-profit entities. When you select these links, they will open in a new window, for your convenience.

While we offer these links in order to assist you in finding the services you may need, please be aware that the policies that apply to our website may not be the same as the terms of use for other web sites. In addition, the Court cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by linked sites.

The inclusion of a link to an external website is not intended as an endorsement of:
  • Any product or service offered or referenced by the linked websites,
  • The organizations sponsoring the linked websites, or
  • Any views that might be expressed or referenced in the linked websites.
COURT RELATED EXTERNAL LINKS:
LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICES:
OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

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Other Resources

The resources listed on this page and throughout this website are not exhaustive. There are many ways to find legal information and help:

  • Website search
  • Self-Help Legal Books
  • Government Agencies
  • Non-Profit Groups
  • Public and Law Libraries
  • Yellow pages of your phone book
  • Friends and family

Sometimes, you have to talk to several people before you get help. If you talk to someone but they cannot help you, ask them who can.

Service of Civil Documents by Orange County Sheriff

Throughout this website you will read about the requirements to "serve" Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims documents on the other party. Using the Orange County Sheriff for service of process for civil documents. (example: serving complaints, petitions, plaintiff’s claims, etc.) Alternatives to the Orange County Sheriff are licensed process servers or a person you choose who is at least 18 and not involved in the case.

LOCATIONS:

Deliver documents to the Orange County Sheriff at the following location:
Civil Process Services
909 N. Main St. Suite 2
Santa Ana, Ca 92701
Phone: (714) 569-3700

INSTRUCTIONS :

You must give the Sheriff exact instructions. Please carefully review the Sheriff’s Instructions for Service of Process by visiting:
https://www.ocsheriff.gov/civil

Each request for civil process services must include instructions signed by the attorney of record or the party without an attorney. Instructions must provide all the information necessary for the Sheriff’s Department to attempt service of the process.

Download the required forms:

• Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers (SER-001 form)
• Special Instructions for Writs and Levies (SER-001A form)

The Sheriff’s Department is unable to serve documents without the required Service Instruction form.

Most requests for process services may be submitted online using the e-Filing Portal. Requests for service of process may be submitted in person at 909 N. Main St. Suite 2, Santa Ana, Ca 92701,
Phone: (714) 569-3700.

Cities Served:

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Balboa, Brea, Buena Park Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Coto De Caza, Cypress, Dana Point, El Toro, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Newport Coast Placentia, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rossmoor, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Out of County Services:

If you need to serve a document outside of Orange County, the California State Sheriff’s Association website contains information for the Sheriff’s Departments throughout California.

HOURS:

Business hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday-Friday.

FEES:

Fees for the service of documents vary. For further information call or check the Orange County Sheriff: https://ocsheriff.gov/civil

Status of a Case:

The status of a case can be checked on the Civil File Status Portal which provides information about active civil cases filed with the Sheriff’s Department. Parties may query their case to determine the status of services, wage garnishments, bank levies, payouts, interest and amount to satisfy.

Further Information:

For questions, please email CivilStatCentral@ocsheriff.gov or call (714)569-3700.
Check further with the Orange County Sheriff for further information on serving documents, evictions, seizing and selling property, assets, and other service of process.

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