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Serving court papers is an important and required part of the legal process. If you don't do it correctly, your case can't move forward. Read the information below carefully.

If you've been caring for a child who was declared a dependent of the juvenile court and you want to become more involved in the court case, you can ask the judge to find that you are the child's de facto parent. As a de facto parent, you will have the right to participate more in the child's court case.

This page offers resources for parents, foster parents, guardians, and others who care for a child who is not doing well in school. The resources include information about children's special education rights and where to get legal help.

The court clerk will file your petition. The judge will then review your petition and make a determination.

This guide has general information about your options if you get a traffic ticket. 

• How to pay for a ticket
• How to contest the ticket (ask for a trial)
• What happens if you ignore a traffic ticket

It also has information about traffic school, fix-it tickets, and how to appeal a ticket. 

Emancipation is a legal way for a 14 to 17-year-old to become free from their parent's custody and control. In many ways, they are legally like an adult. 

This Guide has basic information about what emancipation means, how to become emancipated through the court, and resources where you can get more information and help.

This guide can help you:

• Understand what a guardian does
• Become a probate guardian
• Respond (object) if someone started a court case to become your child's guardian
• End a guardianship 
• Ask for visitation rights, as a parent, in a guardianship 

Find out what responsibilities and duties you'll have if you become a limited conservator.

You may need to take care of a few basic things after you get divorced. Most of them aren't part of the court process, like changing your will, insurance policies, or other legal or financial papers that include you and your ex-spouse or former domestic partner.

Later on, it's possible you may need to go back to court. For example, if you

If you are a parent and your child was removed from the home because of child abuse or neglect, you are now a part of a juvenile dependency case. The steps below will walk you through the dependency process and your rights in that process.

To finish your divorce or legal separation, you need to decide how you'll divide property and debts​, whether anyone will pay spousal support​, and how you will care for and support your children (if you have them).

You can do this by working with your spouse (or domestic partner) to reach an agreement. If you can't agree you can ask the court

Before you ask the court to become a guardian, find out what you will be required to do if you become a guardian. You will have rights, but also many responsibilities, just like a parent.

If you don’t file a Response on time, your spouse can ask for a default. This means asking the court to decide the case without your input.  

If you have a lawyer and then decide to represent yourself, or if you hire a lawyer after starting the case yourself, you'll have to let the court know there's a change. To do this, you fill out a Substitution of Attorney (form MC-050) which you file with the court. You also do this if you switch lawyers. 

Often, your lawyer (attorney) will