Quick Resource Guide: Eviction Resources for Tenants

How to:

Eviction Process – Step-by-Step for the tenant
Website from the California Courts that takes the tenant through each step of the eviction process.

Landlord-Tenant Litigation – Unlawful Detainer
Benchguide published by the California Judicial Council that explains the eviction process.

Forms

• • Unlawful Detainer – Answer Link to the California Courts Self-Help page to fill out an Answer form in an eviction case
  • Unlawful Detainer – Answer via Tenant Power Toolkit Online resource that helps tenants fill out the Answer forms to respond to an eviction suit.
  • Unlawful Detainer – Answer for Commercial Tenants:  Sample forms, instructions for commercial tenants (created by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, San Francisco Bay Area. Last updated 6.2022 – note that tenants have 10 days to respond)
  • Bay Area Legal Aid UD Answer Packet:  Bay Area Legal Aid has created a guide that contains forms, instructions, and a filing checklist for responding to a UD complaint.  The information in available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese.  Packets last updated 7/2025.
  • Fill out forms using guided interviews via Law Help Interactive From the Alameda County Self-Help Center.

Library Books

• • California Tenant’s Rights, KFC145 .W43 2024. Shelf 108B.  Also available as an eBook via Nolo Press
  • California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities, KFC145 .Z9 C34 Shelf 108B.
  • California Eviction Defense Manual, KFC145 .M6 1993 (shelved at the reference desk).  This title is also available online via CEB Onlaw.
  • California Landlord-Tenant Practice, KFC145 .C34 1997, Shelf 110A.  Also available as an eBook via CEB Onlaw
  • Rutter Group: Landlord Tenant, KFC145 .F75 2024. Shelf 110A.  Also available as an eBook via Westlaw
  • Matthew Bender Practice Guide: CA Landlord Tenant Litigation, KFC145 .W47 2003, Shelf 110A.  Also available as an eBook via Lexis and the Lexis Nexis Digital Library

Mediation Services

Congress of Neutrals
This organization provides free mediation services for landlords and tenants to resolve their issues before going to court. Flyer explaining their services.  (PDF, external)

ECHO Housing
ECHO Housing has trained mediators to assist in resolving housing disputes through conciliation and mediation.  Phone: 510-496-0496

Free Legal Help

Legal Aid Organizations

See our Tenant/Eviction Referrals page for a list of free landlord-tenant Legal Aid Organizations including East Bay Community Law Center, Bay Area Legal Aid, Centro Legal de la Raza, and Echo Housing

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.

LiveChat – Monday-Thursday, 9AM-12PM

• • Access via “Need Help” chat widget
  • Login early. They may stop taking chats before the stated hours once reaching capacity.

Phones

• • Call: (510) 272-1393, Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM
  • Voicemails can only be left during phone hours; Messages are returned within 5 business days.

Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)

CLASP Flyer (PDF)

Free all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday on the month, except for January and July.  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 and an attorney will call you back later that day.

Hire an Attorney

BALI – Bay Area Legal Incubator

125 12^th St., Mezzanine Level, Oakland, CA 94607

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.

Alameda County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services

ACBA can match clients with a carefully pre-screened local lawyer qualified to help you with your legal needs for a $40 administrative fee.  Apply online or 510-302-2222, option 4.

California State Bar

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 4.10.2026