Safe at Home Program
Protection from Abuse and Harassment
Safe at Home is a confidential address program administered by the California Secretary of State’s office and is most effective when used as a part of an overall safety plan. Safe at Home offers victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking & elder and dependent abuse, as well as reproductive health care workers, a substitute mailing address to receive first class, certified, and registered mail. This address is also accepted by California state, county, and city government agencies in lieu of a residential or other mailing address where a victim can be tracked down, keeping the residence address confidential and out of the hands of someone who might want to harm the victim. Those needing this service must apply through an enrolling agency: https://www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home/where-find-enrolling-agency
Senior Legal Hotline
Estates Wills and Trusts
Free legal advice and assistance to those age 60+ on almost any civil issue. Common issues are tenants’ rights, estate planning, grandparent’s rights, pensions, and public benefits. No criminal law or assistance with conservatorships. Must have legal immigratnt status.
SH@LL (Self Help @ the Law Library) (formerly Civil Self Help Center)
Accidents and Torts
SH@LL provides general information and basic assistance to people without attorneys on a variety of civil legal issues. All assistance is provided by telephone or Zoom videoconference. Visit “What We Help With” for a list of qualifying cases.
Eligibility: Must be a Sacramento County resident or have a qualifying case in the Sacramento County Superior Court.
Small Claims Advisory Clinic, Sacramento
Courts and Procedure
Free assistance is available for both the plaintiff and defendant.
Tenant Protection Program (City of Sacramento)
Housing
Sacramento’s Tenant Protection Program assists residential tenants and landlords with questions about annual rent increase limits and protections for unjustified evictions, facilitating a fair rate of return or pre-eviction hearings, and administering and enforcing City code.
Unlawful Detainer Advisory Clinic, Sacramento
Housing
Free assistance for both the landlord/plaintiff and tenant/defendant. Walk In only.
Victim/Witness Assistance Program (Sacramento DA)
Crime and Prisons
Advocates provide crisis counseling, orientation to the criminal justice system, community referrals, assistance with applying for victim compensation, a support group for family members of homicide victims, and many other services. Assistance and information is available in several different languages. Special assistance is available to victims of elder abuse and dependent adult abuse.
Victims of Crime Resource Center
Crime and Prisons
California Victims Resource Center may be able to offer limited representation to victims of crime. Through this service, victims will be able to receive assistance from attorneys in exercising their rights at various stages in the criminal justice process (pre-trial, trial and post-trial).
Victims’ Services Unit
Crime and Prisons
Offers crime victims and their families support and information at every stage of the criminal case process.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
Administrative Law
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to provide free basic tax return preparation for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. The California State Controller works with the IRS and other agencies to make these programs available in communities throughout California.
Assistance is generally available from February 1 through April 15th. Dates and times vary by location, and some VITA sites require appointments.
WEAVE, INC.
Family
WEAVE Legal provides legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking. Services include free workshops about how to start your divorce in Sacramento County, completing financial disclosures, and seeking child support & child custody. WEAVE’s attorneys and legal staff also provide consultation, representation and/or forms assistance on a case by case basis for restraining order and related family law matters special immigration petitions (T/U Visa and VAWA Self Petitions) civil harassment restraining orders (for sexual assault victims) and vacatur petitions for survivors of sex trafficking.
Western States Pension Assistance Project
Money Debt and Consumer Issues
Free assistance to people who live in, or earned an employer-sponsored retirement benefit in CA, AZ, HI and NV. No age or income restrictions. Help understanding pension rights, tracking down retirement benefits from past employers, assisting with claims and appeals procedures, interpreting spousal and survivor benefits rights, and advise on rights and options in benefit overpayment situations.