Discovery Class | Discovery Lab | Name Change | Guardianship
NOTE: WORKSHOPS ARE CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE due to the pandemic. We apologize for the inconvenience. You can always access videos of the workshops from our Self Help Videos page.
Name Change and Guardianship appointments are available by phone until our in-person workshops resume. To request an appointment, call (916) 476-2731. We will return your call within two business days to discuss whether you are eligible for service and then schedule a longer phone appointment.
No assistance is currently available for requesting or responding to discovery. Our entire discovery class is available to view for free on our Discovery Video Series page or our YouTube channel.
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Workshops are for Sacramento County residents or people with cases in Sacramento County Superior Court that fall within our scope of services only. Please read “Issues the staff CANNOT assist you with” for cases that fall outside of the scope of our services.
The following workshops are currently available at the Civil Self-Help Center. No appointments or reservations are made for the workshops in advance of the day of the workshop.
***Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the workshops.***
***WORKSHOPS WILL BE CANCELLED BY 1:45 P.M. IF NO ONE ATTENDS. ***
Introduction to Written Discovery Class
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., 1st Thursday of every month.
The class is also available on video on our Discovery Video homepage or YouTube.
Come to understand what discovery is, how to answer questions you received by mail, and how you can use discovery yourself. Bring a USB flash drive to download sample forms. Arrive by 1:20 p.m.
Discovery Lab
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Thursday.
Work on your discovery requests or responses in this computer lab. Bring your USB flash drive with your requests or responses. No entrance after 3:15 pm. Lab closes promptly at 3:30 p.m. The Introduction to Written Discovery Class is a prerequisite for the Discovery Lab.
Note: Assistance with in-scope cases only. Please read “Issues the staff CANNOT assist you with” for cases that fall outside of the scope of our services.
Name Change Workshop
1:30 p.m., Mondays.
If you want to change your name, we can help you complete the legal forms and tell you what steps you will need to take after you file. Arrive by 1:20 p.m. Must bring proof of Sacramento County residence. Please plan to stay for 2 hours.
Confidential Safe-at-Home Name Changes are done by appointment only. Instead of the workshop, come in for an appointment before 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday.
Guardianship Workshop
Part I: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Part II: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For non-parents (grandparent, aunt/uncle, other relative or interested party) seeking legal authority for the care and custody of and control over a minor child when the child’s parents are unable to do so. Class is limited to petitioners filing a case in Sacramento County, for Guardianship of the Person only.
In Part I of this two-part workshop, you will learn about the process of filing for guardianship; how to prepare for the home visit and court hearing; and how to complete the required court forms. Then, about a week later in the Part II class, you will finish completing the forms for submission to the court to start your case.
You will leave the workshop series with completed forms and full instructions on how to proceed.
Part I is a prerequisite for the Part II Class.
For Part II, you must bring:
- The “homework” that was discussed in Part I.
- The court forms that were distributed in Part I.
Workshops may last up to 2 hours, so plan your parking and child care accordingly. All parking meters now accept credit cards, in addition to bills and coins. Some metered parking near the library is for one hour only. Click here for information on parking options.