Who is a Family Law Facilitator?
A family law facilitator is a legal aid type person that is offered by the Santa Barbara County programs for self-represented parties. Although they are not part of the Court they are available for all family law matters that are on calendar in Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara. They are available to address child custody and visitation issues, child support , spousal support and disclosure issues. Typically a party can get in the same or next day if needed otherwise they will schedule an appointment as soon as possible. They do not offer appointments for mediation but merely perform investigative functions, do a custody evaluation, and make recommendations to the Court. They are prohibited from giving legal advice and are not attorneys. They are not licensed to practice law they merely assist parties for whom they are assisting in becoming educated about the law.
What a Family Law Facilitator Member can Assist With in Santa Maria
Family law facilitators serve an important role for couples considering divorce, marriages or domestic partnerships who need information about the legal procedure and paperwork related to a divorce, a child custody arrangement, or a child support or spousal support matter.
If you visit the family law facilitator room of the Superior Court of California in Santa Maria or discuss a matter with a family law facilitator at a family law court orientation, you will most likely hear about the types of services offered by family law facilitators in the area. Typically, a family law facilitator will provide a spouse with assistance regarding these specific family law matters:
As you can see, a family law facilitator offers general information and assistance related to divorce, family law and the creation of paperwork. They cannot provide you with specific legal advice about your particular situation. A family law facilitator can help you make a judgment about what type of legal action you may want to pursue or help you identify the resources that are available to you. In other words, a family law facilitator helps you understand how the legal process can best work for you and your family.
Advantages of Hiring a Family Law Facilitator
With no representation, Santa Maria family law facilitators provide individuals with assistance in representing themselves in family law matters. They can assist in the preparation of trial documents for individuals as well. The family law facilitator’s services include assisting parents in the attempt to reach a "Stipulated Judgment" or Order regarding the issue of spousal support, child support, child custody and visitation, and property issues. The goal of the family law facilitator is to assist parties in completing their agreements or trial documents in such a way that can be presented to the Court for approval without the assistance of an attorney. The Family Law Clinic is available to assist individuals in understanding the law and how it applies to their case. In essence, the Santa Barbara County Family Law Clinic is a free service offered by the Santa Barbara County Superior Court to assist low income individuals to address their family law case from beginning to end.
How To Locate a Family Law Facilitator in Santa Maria
When it comes to locating a family law facilitator in Santa Maria, California, there are a few key resources that can be utilized. First and foremost, you may want to begin your search by visiting the website of the Santa Barbara Superior Court. The court has a dedicated page that lists all of the resources available for individuals navigating waters of family law, including information specifically about family law facilitators.
Another option for finding a family law facilitator is to contact local legal aid societies. These organizations often provide services to low-income individuals who may not be able to afford an attorney. They can help to direct you to a family law facilitator in your area , or provide you with valuable assistance in resolving your family law issues.
Finally, you may want to explore online directories that list family law facilitators by location. A search for "family law facilitator Santa Maria" on Google, for example, will yield a number of results that can help get you started on your journey towards resolving your family law issues.
Preparing for a Consult with a Family Law Facilitator
For a successful appointment with a family law facilitator, knowing what to bring and how to use the appointment effectively can be invaluable. While you don’t need to have all your questions answered or have documents in perfect order, there are some things you can do ahead of time to make the most of your visit.
The first step in preparing to meet with a facilitator is to decide if the meeting is right for you. It can be beneficial to have all your paperwork organized for a facilitator, but it’s not necessary to retain one if you’re only looking for an initial consultation. You don’t have to be going through divorce to apply for facilitation services, either — you may simply have questions about custody or support orders, or you may need to respond to court documents filed by another person in your life.
Once you decide that a meeting will benefit your case, spend some time combing through your paperwork so you can find what best applies to your situation. If you know who’s asking for what and why, it’s easier to know where to look. Ignoring documents won’t help you get or keep the custody arrangements or support payments you need to succeed.
At the beginning of your appointment, the facilitator will talk about how they can and cannot help you. A facilitator can help you fill out forms for child custody, visitation and child support, but they do not represent you in court. When you have questions about mediation, need to pursue paternity testing, or have questions about service of process, they cannot provide you with legal advice.
In order to make the most of your appointment, come prepared with a list of questions you want to ask, as well as recent documents you think might be applicable to your situation. A facilitator is able to review these documents and address issues that come up during your appointment, but coming in with organized paperwork means more time to ask specific questions. Even if you don’t know how to ask a question, having documentation of your situation means you can look to the facilitator for guidance on how to proceed.
Bring an open mind and don’t forget to be patient, even if you feel frustrated with the person you’re seeking support from. A family law facilitator cannot provide legal advice, so be sure to check out other resources if you need assistance with your case.
What a Family Law Facilitator Cannot Do
While there is no dispute that family law facilitators are a great resource, it is also important to know what Family Law Facilitators cannot do. A family law facilitator is not an attorney, and the family law facilitator cannot give you legal advice. Rather, the family law facilitator cannot give any advice about the best possible legal outcome in your particular matter. The family law facilitator also cannot give legal advice about what will happen in your specific situation. In other words, family law facilitators are not there to play the role of an attorney in the court system.
For example, the family law facilitator may give you general guidance on neutral triangles and visitation orders so that you can prepare to speak to an attorney. However , the family law facilitator cannot give you legal advice about what is best for your family. You should always consult with an attorney to find out more about the legal rights given to you under the law.
Ultimately, the family law facilitator is a great tool in the Santa Barbara family law court system. The family law facilitator can help you complete the proper forms for your case, attend hearings with you, and teach you how to understand the family law forms at issue. But the family law facilitator cannot give you specific legal advice regarding what should occur in your particular case. If you need to speak to an attorney, contact Santa Barbara family attorney Michelle Jacoby.
