Different services do different jobs
Court self-help services, mediators, and attorneys are not interchangeable. They have different roles, limits, and costs. This article describes those roles in plain English so you can ask better questions. It does not tell you which option to choose and it does not provide legal advice.
Court self-help centers and Family Law Facilitators
California court self-help services can provide court forms, procedural information, and help understanding court steps. Some Family Law Facilitators can help with child support, spousal support, and health insurance issues. The Family Law Facilitator is not your attorney. Services and availability can vary by county. Check your county court's self-help page and any required disclosure forms for the services, hours, and limits that apply locally.
Mediators
A mediator is a neutral person who helps people discuss issues and try to reach agreements. A mediator does not represent either spouse, does not decide the case, and does not act as a judge. Mediation can happen privately or through court-connected services depending on the county and the issue involved. If you are considering mediation, ask what the mediator does, what the mediator does not do, whether either person may consult an attorney separately, and how any agreement would be reviewed before it is filed with the court.
Attorneys
An attorney can provide legal advice to a specific person, explain rights and obligations, review proposed agreements, negotiate, prepare documents, and represent a client in court. An attorney's role is different from a neutral mediator's role and different from a court self-help center's role. This site does not tell you whether you need an attorney. If you want individualized legal advice, use official legal-help resources, your county bar referral service, legal aid organizations, or another qualified source to understand your options.
How to use this information
Use these descriptions to make a question list. For example: are you looking for forms, procedural information, a neutral conversation, agreement review, legal advice, or court representation? Those are different services. Your county resource page can point you toward court self-help, Family Law Facilitator information, legal aid, law libraries, and bar referral links where verified information is available.
Sources
• California Courts court-based self-help services: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-based-self-help-services • California Courts legal help resources: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/get-free-or-low-cost-legal-help • Judicial Council Family Law Facilitator disclosure, Form FL-940: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/FL-940 • California Courts resolve your dispute out of court: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/resolve-your-dispute-out-court • California Courts Find Your Court: https://courts.ca.gov/find-your-court
Educational note
Legal references and source links above are provided for educational context only. Individual circumstances vary significantly - this is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, custody, child-support, spousal-support, or court advice. Please verify current details with official sources and consult a qualified professional, your county's family law facilitator, or the California Courts Self-Help Center before making decisions.