Rule 10.960. Court self-help centers

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.960

Current text effective January 1, 2016.

#(a) Scope and application

This rule applies to all court-based self-help centers whether the services provided by the center are managed by the court or by an entity other than the court.

#(b) Purpose and core court function

Providing access to justice for self-represented litigants is a priority for California courts. The services provided by court self-help centers facilitate the timely and cost-effective processing of cases involving self-represented litigants and improve the delivery of justice to the public. Court programs, policies, and procedures designed to assist self-represented litigants and effectively manage cases involving self-represented litigants at all stages must be incorporated and budgeted as core court functions.

#(c) Staffing

Court self-help centers provide assistance to self-represented litigants. A court self-help center must include an attorney and other qualified staff who provide information and education to self-represented litigants about the justice process, and who work within the court to provide for the effective management of cases involving self-represented litigants.

#(d) Neutrality and availability

The information and education provided by court self-help centers must be neutral and unbiased, and services must be available to all sides of a case.

#(e) Guidelines and procedures

The Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness must recommend to the council updates to the Guidelines for the Operation of Self-Help Centers in California Trial Courts as needed. It should, in collaboration with judges, court executives, attorneys, and other parties with demonstrated interest in services to self-represented litigants, develop and disseminate guidelines, procedures and best practices for the operation of court self-help centers. The guidelines and procedures must address the following topics:

#(1) Location and hours of operation;

#(2) Scope of services;

#(3) Attorney qualifications;

#(4) Other staffing qualifications and supervision requirements;

#(5) Language access;

#(6) Contracts with entities other than the court that provide self-help services;

#(7) Use of technology;

#(8) Ethics;

#(9) Efficiency of operation; and

#(10) Security.

(Subd (e) amended effective January 1, 2015; previously amended effective February 20, 2014.)

#(f) Budget and funding

A court must include in its annual budget funding necessary for operation of its self-help center. In analyzing and making recommendations on the allocation of funding for a court self-help center, Judicial Council staff will consider the degree to which individual courts have been successful in meeting the guidelines and procedures for the operation of the self-help center.

(Subd (f) amended effective January 1, 2016.)

#History

Rule 10.960 amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted effective January 1, 2008; previously amended effective February 20, 2014, and January 1, 2015.

Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.