Child Abuse/Neglect

A Guide to Going to Court

Going to Court

Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees

In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.

Ask for an emergency (ex parte) order in your case

Child Custody Basics

This webpage has basic information about California laws around child custody, what the courts are looking for in your documents, what the process looks like, and enforcing your orders. Start here!

Child Protective Services (CPS)

Child Protective Services (CPS) serves abused and neglected children and their families. For more information about CPS, their referral process, and resources, please visit this site.

Court's Resource for Child Abuse & Neglect

The juvenile court gets involved in the lives of children when there are concerns that a parent is not able to keep his or her child safe from abuse or neglect (and the court starts a juvenile dependency case), or minors are accused of breaking the law.

Financial Safety Planning

Financial safety and understanding financial abuse.

Resources for Victims of Cyber Exploitation

Resources for people who have had intimate photos or videos published or distributed without their consent. The resources include a background on what cyber exploitation is, an overview of relevant laws, and victims' rights, and many resources that may help.