Legal Info: Legal Resources in Santa Cruz County
/Because the United States’ legal system is so large and complex, lawyers and attorneys will often specialize in a particular category of law. This is why you might have to consult multiple legal resources or lawyers if you’re needing support in different legal matters.
Legal information: information about law and the legal system which is true for everyone, regardless of a person’s individual situation.
Legal advice: recommendations on what to say or do in order to achieve a specific outcome in your personal legal matter.
Who does what?
The law in very specific on what people in different roles can and cannot do.
Who can provide legal information? Any individual, group, or organization, whether online or in person. It’s always good to double-check the accuracy of the legal information you receive as well as how old it is, as laws often change.
Who can provide legal advice? Only a licensed lawyer.
Who can issue a valid legal order or decision? Only a judge.
Who can enforce a legal order? Law enforcement.
List of Commonly Used Legal Resources in Santa Cruz County
Last updated June 2023. Services, locations, or contact information may have changed since the last update.
Superior Court of Santa Cruz County
Look up information about your legal matter
Link to appear via Zoom at a hearing
Database of all legal forms in all languages officially allowed
Santa Cruz Courthouse
701 Ocean Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
United States
(831) 420-2200
Watsonville Courthouse
1 Second Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
United States
(831) 786-7200
Lawyer Referral Service of Santa Cruz County
By law, every county in the U.S. must have a means of referring people to lower-cost legal consultation services. In Santa Cruz County, the LRS provides a 30-minute legal consultation with a lawyer for $50.
Ph: (831) 42504755
Self-Help Center of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court
Family law
Landlord/tenant
Emancipations
Restraining orders
Name change
Small claims
Limited conservatorship
Gender change
Collections
Ph: (831) 786-7200, option 4
Address: 1 Second St., Room 301 – Watsonville, CA
The Law Library is an extension of the Self-Help Center and is located on Ocean Street near Downtown Santa Cruz.
District Attorney (DA) of Santa Cruz County
The District Attorney (DA) is the prosecuting body that decides which cases will move forward to a criminal trial. If law enforcement has ever arrived to a domestic violence incident in which you were involved, it can be helpful to contact the DA to verify whether or not any protective orders have been issued on your behalf or whether the DA has chosen to prosecute a case. The victim’s advocate of the DA’s office can also inform you of your legal rights regarding any criminal proceedings.
Information on criminal cases
Victim’s Witness services
Victim Compensation program
Ph: (831) 454-2400
Address: 701 Ocean St., Rm 200, Santa Cruz
County Sheriff - Civil Division
Serving respondent with restraining order paperwork
Verifying “Proof of Service”
Information on copies of police reports
“Civil stand-bys”
Ph: (831) 471-1121
Address: 5200 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE)
Offender/inmate tracking
Notification of offender release
Information for victims of crime
Available online or via mobile app
Ph: 1 (866) 277-7477, option 2
Safe at Home (California Secretary of State)
Confidential mailing address system for survivors of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and trafficking.
Walnut Avenue’s advocates can support a person in the application for a Safe at Home address.
Ph: (877) 322-5227
Conflict Resolution Center
Note: the CRC does not provide mediation in cases where domestic violence is involved. Walnut Avenue and the CRC offer a collaborative program specific to domestic violence called Space for Change.
Divorce mediation
Neighbor/community dispute
Workplace disputes
Small claims
Victim/offender dialogue
Parent & teen mediation
Ph: (831) 475-6117
Address: 1414 Soquel Ave., Suite 216, Santa Cruz
WomensLaw Email Hotline
The purpose of this Email Hotline is to provide U.S.-based legal information related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. All emails are answered or reviewed by an attorney. However, we cannot provide legal advice or representation and we cannot call you on the phone. You can expect to receive a response within 1-5 business days.
California Rural Legal Assistance
Landlord/tenant
Housing discrimination
Employee rights
LGBTQ+ rights
Laborer’s rights
Ph: (831) 724-2253
Address: 21 Carr St., Watsonville
Santa Cruz County Immigration Project (SCCIP)
Citizenship/residency applications
U-visas
Family visa petitions
Temporary protected status (TPS)
Renewal of green cards, DACA, work permits
FOIA requests/consular inquiries
Support for families impacted by ICE
Childcare safety plans
Watsonville: (831) 724-5667 | 406 Main St., Suite 218, Watsonville
Day Worker Center of SCC: (831) 724-5667 | 2261 7th Ave., Santa Cruz
Davenport Resource Service Center: (831) 425-8115 | 150 Church St., Davenport
Catholic Charities
Citizenship/visa applications
VAWA applications
Immigration legal advice
Work authorization renewal
Legal card replacement
Translation for birth, death, & other legal certificates
Santa Cruz: (831) 431-6939
Watsonville: (831) 722-2675
Senior Legal Services
For residents of Santa Cruz or San Benito Counties age 60+.
Tenant/landlord
Power of attorney
Wills/trusts
Homeless prevention
MediCal
Guardianship
Advanced healthcare directive
Consumer debt
Declaration of homestead
Main office line: (831) 426-8824
Santa Cruz: 501-F Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
Watsonville: 114 E. Fifth St., Watsonville
For Local College Campuses
Cabrillo College: Title IX Office
Cabrillo College is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all members of the campus community (students, staff, faculty, and campus guests) can work and learn in an atmosphere free from violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, intimidation, and retaliation. Every member of the community should be aware that the College prohibits all forms of gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation.
Information and instructions to file a report here.
UCSC: Title IX Office
The Title IX Office works to prevent and address gender-based discrimination and harassment. Title IX also receives and responds to reports of misconduct, including sexual misconduct, and will work to remedy and prevent future harm.
Email: titleix@ucsc.edu
Ph: 831-459-2462.
UCSC: Care Office
CARE (Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education) serves the UC Santa Cruz community by providing free and confidential support to those impacted by sexual assault, intimate partner/domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment.
Email: care@ucsc.edu
Ph: (831) 502-2273
If after hours, leave brief message with name and a safe number to call where we can identify as CARE.
Last updated June 2023.