BANKRUPTCY. In CLP we handle some bankruptcy-related issues, but for most bankruptcy issues we recommend that you contact Public Counsel's Debtor Assistance Project.

At the Bankruptcy Self-Help Desk, you can get advice about whether bankruptcy is a good option for you, and about how to represent yourself in bankruptcy. The Self-Help Desk is open to all persons, including creditors.

Low-income debtors who want to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy may also call 213 385 2977 extension 704 to apply to have a pro bono (free) attorney represent you.

If you think that you need to talk to us (instead of the Debtor Assistance Project), please explain why below, so that we do not refer you to them.

CAR REPAIRS & LEMON LAW. We do not handle legal issues related to car repairs or lemon law.

If you are having problems with someone you paid to repair your car, you may want to contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair at (866) 272-9642.

Lemon law is a very specialized field. To find an attorney who is an expert in lemon law, you may want to contact a lawyer referral service, such as the Los Angeles County Bar Association at (213) 243-1525 or the Beverly Hills Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (free if you use the online form).

If you have a car repair or lemon law issue, and you fill out the application below, we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications we receive.

DEBT COLLECTION. We do handle some wrongful debt collection matters, particularly where:

- you do not owe the debt,

- you did not know about a debt collection lawsuit until after judgment was entered, or

- you are being harassed by debt collectors.

However, if you have been served with a lawsuit and need to file an answer, you should act fast. Please do not wait for us to reply to your application!

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles created an excellent guide about how to file an answer. Court forms, such as the form answer, fee waiver application, order on fee waiver, and proof of service, are available online, or you can obtain copies at a Los Angeles Superior Court Self-Help Center.

The Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, in partnership with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, also offers a debt collection clinic at Norwalk Courthouse:

First, second & third Tuesdays of each month at 2:00 PM

Norwalk Courthouse, Room 104 E

12720 Norwalk Blvd  |  Norwalk 90650

Walk-ins okay.  Or call (213) 974-9662.

EVICTION. We do not handle eviction matters, except in cases where the eviction is related to foreclosure, real estate fraud or elder abuse.

If you have received an eviction lawsuit ("unlawful detainer") you have only five calendar days to file an answer with the court. Please act fast, and do not delay or the landlord can get a default (automatic) judgment against you!

Here are some resources that may help:

- Shriver Eviction Assistance Center helps low-income tenants and landlords in eviction lawsuits.  The other party must be represented by a lawyer, and the case must be filed at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

Mon-Thurs 9:00–12:00 & 1:00–4:00

Fridays 9:00–12:00

111 North Hill St., Room 115  |  LA 90011

Call (818) 485-0578.

- Inner City Law Center handles many landlord-tenant issues. Click here for more information, or call (213) 891-2880.

-The California Courts Website has good information about unlawful detainers here. 

- California Department of Consumer Affairs Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities Guide. Is available here. It has not been updated in several years, but is still a good general resource.

- Rent Control Agencies. Check whether there is rent control in your area, and contact the appropriate agency if you think that this eviction may violate local rent control laws. In the city of Los Angeles, contact the Housing & Community Development Department or call (866) 557-7368.

- Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs. You may file a complaint if you think your landlord violates the law, or call (800) 593-8222.

If you have an eviction issue that is not related to foreclosure, real estate fraud, or elder abuse, and you fill out the application below, we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications we receive.

FAMILY LAW & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. We do not handle family law or domestic violence matters. Here are some free legal resources that may help:

- LAFLA Family Law & Domestic Violence Walk-in Clinics. Priority is given to clients with domestic violence, restraining order and child abduction and concealment issues

Stanley Mosk Courthouse

Mon, Wed & Fri 8:30 — 11:30 and 1:30 — 3:30

11 N Hill Street, Room 245  |  LA 90012

 

Santa Monica Courthouse

Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:30 —11:00

1725 Main St. Room 121  |  Santa Monica 90401

 

Long Beach (George Deukmejian) Courthouse

Mon, Wed & Fri arrive by 9:00 AM

275 Magnolia Ave, Rm 1004  |  Long Beach 90802

- The Los Angeles Center for Law & Justice handles divorce, paternity, custody and visitation issues. Special services for teens 12-24.  Appointment required.  Call (323) 980-3500.

If you have a family law issue, and you fill out the application below, we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications we receive.

FINANCIAL ABUSE OF AN ELDER OR A DISABLED PERSON. We do handle some matters where an elder or a disabled person is being taken advantage of financially. Please fill out the application below.

If you suspect that an elder or a disabled person is being physically or emotionally harmed or neglected or is in danger of being physically or emotionally harmed or neglected, please also contact Adult Protective Services or call (877) 477-3646. In emergencies, please call 911.

If you are unsure whether an elder or disabled person is being harmed or neglected, contact the non-emergency number of your local police department, and ask them to do a "welfare check." Officers will visit the person's home to see how they are doing.

FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS. We do handle some matters relating to for-profit schools. Please fill out the application below.

If you are a former Corinthian (Everest or Wyotech) student, and you have federal loans, you may qualify for loan forgiveness. We have set up a website here, where you can hear the stories of students like you, learn about loan discharge, and watch a step-by-step guide on how to apply to have your federal loans discharged.

FORECLOSURE & FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS. We do handle some matters relating to foreclosure and foreclosure-related scams. Please fill out the application below.

FRAUD & UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES. We handle many matters relating to fraud, and businesses who take advantage of consumers. Please fill out the application below.

IDENTITY THEFT. We do handle some matters related to identity theft, and will try to answer questions you may have. However, few people who experience identity theft need a lawyer. Resolving identity theft is annoying and time-consuming, but with some good information you should be able to handle it yourself.

We recommend the Federal Trade Commission's self-help guide, Taking Charge. It includes a companion website, identitytheft.gov, which provides detailed advice to help you fix problems caused by identity theft, along with the ability to:

Please review these resources before applying for services.

LANDLORD-TENANT ISSUES. We do not handle landlord-tenant matters, except in cases where the problem is related to foreclosure, real estate fraud or elder abuse.

Here are some free legal resources that may help:

- Inner City Law Center handles many landlord-tenant issues. Click here for more information, or call (213) 891-2880.

- The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles also handles some landlord-tenant issues. Click here for more information, or call (800) 399-4529.

- California Department of Consumer Affairs Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities Guide. Is available here. It has not been updated in several years, but is still a good general resource.

- Rent Control Agencies. If you are having problems, check whether there is rent control in your area, and contact the appropriate agency. In the city of Los Angeles, contact the Housing & Community Development Department or call (866) 557-7368.

- Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs. You may file a complaint if you think your landlord violates the law, or call (800) 593-8222.

If you have a landlord-tenant issue that is not related to foreclosure, real estate fraud, or elder abuse, and you fill out the application below, we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications we receive.

PERSONAL INJURY & INSURANCE. We do not handle matters related to personal injury, or problems with insurance companies.

If you have a problem with a health insurance company, you may qualify for free legal help from the Health Consumer Center, which is part of Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles. Call (800) 896-3203 for more information.

To find a private (for-profit) attorney who specializes in personal injury or insurance, you may want to contact a lawyer referral service, such as the Los Angeles County Bar Association at (213) 243-1525 or the Beverly Hills Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (free if you use the online form). These attorneys rarely charge up-front fees.

If you have a personal injury or insurance issue, and you fill out the application below, we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications we receive.

PROBATE. We do not handle probate matters, such as estate planning, wills, trusts, conservatorships or decedents' estates. Usually, the only exception is if you are facing foreclosure because your mortgage is in the name of your deceased spouse.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services offers some probate-related services, particularly in the area of conservatorships. Visit them here, or call (323) 939-0506 for more information.

To find a private (for-profit) attorney who specializes in probate, you may want to contact a lawyer referral service, such as the Los Angeles County Bar Association at (213) 243-1525 or the Beverly Hills Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (free if you use the online form). The Beverly Hills Bar association also offers a "modest means" referral service for lower-cost  representation in the areas of estate planning and probate. Be sure to ask about that program.

If you have a probate issue, and you fill out the application below, we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications we receive.

REAL ESTATE FRAUD. We handle many matters related to real estate fraud. Please fill out the application below.

WAGE GARNISHMENT & BANK LEVIES. We handle some matters related to wrongful wage garnishment and bank levies, particularly where you do not owe the underlying debt, or you did not know about the lawsuit.

However, if you have received a notice of garnishment or levy, you need to act fast! Please do not wait for us to reply to your application!

If you want to stop or reduce the garnishment or levy, you need to file a Claim of Exemption. If you miss the 10-day deadline, you will not be able to get your money back. However, if one paycheck is garnished, you can still try to stop or reduce the garnishment of future paychecks.

The Sacramento Law Library has some good online guides about the Claim of Exemption process:

- click here for wage garnishments

- click here for bank levies.

It can be very confusing to figure out when your 10 days expire, so please just file the Claim of Exemption as soon as possible!

If you do not think you were served properly, you may include that argument in your Claim of Exemption, but it is extremely risky to rely on improper service as a way to stop the process or get your money back later.

OTHER. Please consider whether your legal issue fits within one of the categories above. For example, many issues fall within the "fraud and unfair business practices" category.

If your matter does not fall within any of the above topics, it is unlikely that we handle that issue, and we may not reply to you because of the high volume of applications that we receive.