How to:
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- Alameda County Divorce Process (PDF, external)
- Filing for Divorce- Step-by-Step
Website from the California Courts that explains how to file for divorce in California, with links to required court forms.
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- Responding to a Divorce- Step-by-Step. How to respond to a divorce petition in California.
- Divorce Process Flowchart (PDF, external)
- Legal Separation information
Forms
Library Books
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- How to Do Your Own Divorce in California, KFC126 .Z9 S532, shelf 108B and at the reference desk.
- Family Law Basics, KFC115 .F36 2019, shelf 109B. Also available at the Dublin Library and Fremont Main Library.
This book is a step by step guide for divorce, paternity, custody, support, and domestic violence issues. Includes explanations and instructions for filling out court forms. - California Family Law Practice & Procedure, KFC115 .C34 1994, shelf 109B. Also available as an eBook through Lexis and the Lexis Digital Library.
- Practice Under the California Family Code, KFC126 .A75 C4 1992, shelf 109B. Also available as an eBook through CEB OnLaw.
- Rutter Group: Family Law KFC126 .H6, shelf 109B. Also available as an eBook through Westlaw.
Free Legal Help
Alameda County Court Self-Help Center
Contact the SHC via phone or chat to ask a questions, make an appointment, or register for a workshop. The Self-Help Center does not take walk-in patrons, but you may make an appointment to talk to someone in person.
Family Law LiveChat
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- This is a chat is specifically for family law questions. Monday – Thursday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM; Friday, 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- Access via “Chat now” chat widget
- Login early. They may stop taking chats before the stated hours end if they reach capacity
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Phones
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- Self-Help Center: (510) 272-1393, Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM
- Voicemails can only be left during phone hours; Messages are returned within 5 business days
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Workshops
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- Start Divorce/Legal Separation/Annulment Workshop offered monthly.
- Family Financial Disclosures Workshop offered monthly.
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Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)
CLASP Flyer (PDF)
Free all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday/month. Volunteer attorneys speak with individuals for 15-20 minutes. To make an appointment, call the intake line at (510) 485-9933 between 10:00 am – noon on the first Saturday/month (except for January and July) and an attorney will call you back later that day.
All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc.
3137 Castro Valley Blvd, #210, Castro Valley, CA, 94546 (510)-999-7732
Providing equal access to justice for low-income and modest-means litigants in the Bay Area.
Hire an Attorney
BALI – Bay Area Legal Incubator
Affordable legal services. Some attorneys offer sliding scale fees. In-take form available on website, and you can also read the profiles and get contact information for the BALI attorneys.
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- Address: 125 12th St. (Mezzanine Leval), Oakland, CA 94607
- BALI Website
Alameda County Bar Association Attorney Referral Service
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- Receive a match with a carefully pre-screened local lawyer qualified to help you with your legal needs. There is a $40 administrative fee, but the initial consultation with the attorney is free. If you want to hire the attorney, you will need to discuss that separately.
Phone: 510-302-2222 Option 4 - You can also apply online
- Receive a match with a carefully pre-screened local lawyer qualified to help you with your legal needs. There is a $40 administrative fee, but the initial consultation with the attorney is free. If you want to hire the attorney, you will need to discuss that separately.
The California State Bar lists basic information about all attorneys registered to practice law in the state of California. In addition, the site also provides an attorney referral service for the public to find qualified attorneys in their county.
Updated 4.9.2026
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