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You are here: Families & Children > Families & Children Links
General Resources
Adoption
Child, Spousal, and Partner Support
Custody and Visitation
Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Dependency
Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulment
Emancipation
Guardianship (Probate Court)
Parentage
Requesting Records
Special Education
General Resources
Facts About Children and the Law 
This site has a list of questions and answers prepared by the American Bar Association.
Juvenile Justice Links
This site has links related to juvenile law topics. Posted by Florida State University.
Kids and the Law: An A--Z Guide for Parents
This question-and-answer guide can help parents learn about the rights and responsibilities of their children. Created by the State Bar of California.
Legal Services for Children
This organization takes calls from children and people calling on behalf of children. The person who answers the call cannot represent a child, but they can give the caller advice and referrals.
Legal Services for Prisoners With Children
This organization provides general advice and referrals to prisoners with family law problems.
Marriage and Family Resources
This site lists books and other resources to help families solve disputes without legal action. Created by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Click here to find a book or video on this list.
Sacramento County Public Law Library Legal Guides
This site has a list of books on family law and other legal topics.
Click here to find a book on this list.
What's Happening in Court?: An Activity Book for Children Who Are Going to Court in California
This online book has activities and useful information to help children involved with the court. It was written by the Judicial Council of California.
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Adoption
Adoption Information
This section has information on adoption and court forms. Created by the Judicial Council of California.
Adoption Records in California Courts
Adoption files are confidential files and not available to the public. The parties and their attorneys to the adoption may obtain copies of adoption files from the court clerk where the adoption was granted. Other requests may require a court order for release of information from the court file. Click here for a list of courts and their contact information.
For more information, go to the Department of Social Services web site .
Adoption Tax Credits
Information from the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site on adoption credit.
The California Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)
The purpose of the AAP program is to assist families in caring for special needs adopted children and to create an incentive to adopt.
California Department of Social Service On-Line Forms and Publications
Web page includes the California Department of Social Services' adoption and publications forms.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Child Welfare Information Gateway connects professionals and concerned citizens to timely, essential information and resources targeted to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
Children and Family Services Adoption
Web site created by the California Department of Social Services.
Children and Family Services Division
Services include assistance in adoptions, foster care, children’s services and child welfare.
Costs of Adopting (PDF)
Booklet prepared by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Costs of Adopting: A Fact Sheet for Families
Fact sheet prepared by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
LawHelpCalifornia Adoption
Information on the Child Citizenship Act and other adoption topics.
National Adoption Directory Search
Includes contact information related to adoption, foster care, agencies, licensing, services, attorney referral service, and more.
Sacramento County Public Law Library Legal Guides
This site has a list of books on family law and other legal topics. (Click on "Family Law" on the left side of the page to find adoption information.) Click here to find a book on this list.
See also Requesting Records.
Court Adoption and Permanency Resource Guide. A program of the Center for Families, Children and the Courts of the Administrative Office of the Courts.
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Child and Spousal Support
Alameda County Question and Answer Handbook for Noncustodial Parents: A question and answer resource on paternity establishment and child support
Prepared by Center on Fathers, Families, and Public Policy.
The Basics of Child Support for Incarcerated Parents
Published by the Judicial Council of California.
Child Support Enforcement Abroad
Posted by the U.S. Department of State.
Child Support Handbook (PDF)
This online handbook has basic information about California's child support enforcement process. Created by the California Department of Child Support Services.
Child Support Publications from the California Department of Child Support Services, regarding establishing parentage and child support, incarcerated parents, wage assignments, and other child support related issues. Available in several languages.
LawHelpCalifornia Child Support
Links to information on child support for incarcerated parents, child support enforcement abroad, child support forms and more. (Select your county or enter your zip code for information specific to the area that you live in.)
Local Child Support Agency (LCSA)
The LCSA in your county can help you get child support even if you don't get public assistance. It can help you raise or lower child support, and enforce a child support order. The LCSA can't help with child custody, visitation, or a divorce.
Click below to:
Find your county's LCSA .
Learn about child support in California (PDF) and the services at your LCSA.
Learn about the state Department of Child Support Services' Paternity Opportunity Program (POP).
If you have a problem in your child support case, the Ombudsperson and Complaint Resolution programs may be helpful to you.
Learn about:
Ombudsperson Program
Complaint Resolution and State Hearing Program
 ALERT! The local child support agency (LCSA) doesn't represent the parents or the children. The LCSA lawyers aren't your lawyers. You aren't a legal client, and the information you give the LCSA isn't confidential.
LCSA lawyers can give certain information about your case to other agencies, the other parent, or the other parent's employer or lawyer.
The law says the LCSA will make the final decision on child support enforcement, even if the custodial parent disagrees.
Parents have the right to get advice from a private lawyer or legal aid group at any time.
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A Quick Reference Guide to the California Offices of the Family Law Facilitator
Published by the Judicial Council of California.
Sacramento County Public Law Library Legal Guides
This site has a list of books on family law and other legal topics.
Click here to find a book on this list.
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Custody and Visitation
Alameda County Question and Answer Handbook for Noncustodial Parents: A question and answer resource on paternity establishment and child support
Prepared by Center on Fathers, Families, and Public Policy.
California's Access to Visitation Grant Program - Directory of Supervised Visitation Agencies
List of supervised visitation agencies that have received Access to Visitation Grant Program funding (current and past) through the Superior Court as a subcontractor.
Child Custody Mediation: Focus on the Child's Needs
This video has information on court procedures, mediation, child custody evaluation, parenting plans, supervised visitation, and effective presentation of child custody information to the courts. Created by the Judicial Council.
Click here to find this video.
District Attorney/Child Abduction Unit
Your local district attorney can help when a person takes or keeps a child from his or her lawful custodian, when a parent with a right to visitation keeps the other parent from visitation as decided by the court order, or when a person who has custody takes away the noncustodial parent's visitation rights. This statewide roster of district attorneys is posted by the California District Attorneys Association.
A Guide for the Non-Professional Provider of Supervised Visitation (PDF, 48 KB)
This booklet provides answers to questions for non-professional providers of supervised visitation.
Kids Count
This site has resources to help parents make a parenting (custody) plan and to help their children through the divorce and separation process.
International Parental Child Abduction
Web site created by the U.S. State Department.
LawHelpCalifornia Custody/Visitation
Links to information on what happens to your child after you are arrested, child custody mediation, court forms and more. (Select your county or enter your zip code for information specific to the area that you live in.)
Mediation, Child Custody, and Domestic Violence: What is child custody mediation?
Pamphlet created by the Judicial Council of California.
Police
If you have a child custody order, your local police may be able to help you enforce it.
Sacramento Superior Court Family Court Services
This site has information about helping children through a divorce and dealing with child custody issues.
Sacramento County Public Law Library Legal Guides
This site has a list of books on family law and other legal topics.
Click here to find a book on this list.
Supervised Visitation Network
This site may help you find supervised visitation services in your county. Click on the "Service Providers Dir." link in the left-hand column to find providers in California.
What Should I Know About Divorce and Custody?
A State Bar of California pamphlet.
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Delinquency and Dependency
California Youthful Offender Parole Board
The official Web site of the California Youthful Offender Parole Board.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice
The official Web site of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice
The Equity Project
This web site has information on ensuring fairness and respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in juvenile delinquency courts.
How Does California's Juvenile Justice System Work?
This site has an explanation of how the California juvenile justice system works. Written by the California Legislative Analyst's Office.
U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
This is the official Web site of the U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Children and Family Services Division
This site was created to help and protect needy and vulnerable children.
Emergency Response Hotline Numbers for County Child Protective Services
This site has a list of child protective services hotline telephone numbers for all California counties. Posted by the California Department of Social Services, Children and Family Services Division.
Every Child, Every Hearing (PDF). A booklet that provides information on how to ensure the daily well-being of children in foster care by enforcing their rights. Published by the Judicial Council of California.
Fight for Your Rights: A Guidebook for California Foster Youth, Former Foster Youth, and Those Who Care About Them (in pdf format)
A Guidebook to inform foster youth, former foster youth, and advocates about the services and issues that are important to youth preparing for the transition from foster care to self-sufficiency.
LawHelpCalifornia Child Abuse/Neglect
Links to information on the dependency court system, local resources for teens and more. (Select your county or enter your zip code for information specific to the area that you live in.)
Queer & Trans Youth in California Foster Care Have Rights!
This brochure has information on the rights of lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender youth in California foster care. Created by the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
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Divorce, Separation, Annulment
Divorce Manual - A Client Handbook
This manual covers many topics, including selecting and working with a lawyer. Created by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Going to Court Without a Lawyer: A Guide for Handling Uncontested Divorces, Legal Separations, and Annulments (PDF)
This brochure will help you understand the court process and fill out the legal forms you will need for an uncontested Divorce, Legal Separation, or Annulment. Prepared by the Judicial Council of California.
LawHelpCalifornia Divorce
Links to information on pension issues for divorced parents, older couple divorce, court forms and more. (Select your county or enter your zip code for information specific to the area that you live in.)
Sacramento County Public Law Library Legal Guides
This site has a list of books on family law and other legal topics.
Click here to find a book on this list.
What Should I Know About Divorce and Custody?
A State Bar of California pamphlet.
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Emancipation
Emancipation Guide: Questions and Answers about Emancipation for Teenagers. (PDF)
A web guide posted by Legal Services for Children.
See also on this site:
Your Options: Your options when you cannot live with your parent
Web page posted by Legal Services for Children.
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Guardianship (Probate Court)
| NOTE: Guardianships are often handled in probate court. But if a child is a dependent of the juvenile court, only the juvenile court can appoint a legal guardian for the child. If the child in your case is a dependent of the juvenile court, go to the Juvenile Court Guardianship section of the Self-Help Center. |
Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit
Someone who's related to a child can fill out a form called a "caregiver's authorization affidavit." This lets that person sign up the child for school and get medical treatment for the child. A non-relative who fills out a caregiver's authorization affidavit can sign up a child for school and agree to school-related medical care.
If you have any problems using this program, contact us at: equalaccess@jud.ca.gov.
Sacramento County Public Law Library Legal Guides
This site has a list of books on guardianship law and other topics. Click on "Probate Law" in the left navigation bar.
Click here to find a book on this list.
Information About Guardianship (Probate Court)
Section of the Self-Help Center that provides information about guardianships.
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Parentage
Alameda County Question and Answer Handbook for Noncustodial Parents: A question and answer resource on paternity establishment and child support
Prepared by Center on Fathers, Families, and Public Policy.
Establishing Paternity (PDF)
Section of the Child Support Handbook published by the California Department of Child Support Services.
LawHelpCalifornia Paternity
Links to information on the rights and responsibilities of incarcerated parents, how to establish parentage and more. (Select your county or enter your zip code for information specific to the area that you live in.)
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Requesting Records
Adoption Records in California Courts
Adoption files are confidential files and not available to the public. The parties and their attorneys to the adoption may obtain copies of adoption files from the court clerk where the adoption was granted. Other requests may require a court order for release of information from the court file. Click here for a list of courts and their contact information.
For more information, go to the Department of Social Services web site .
Searching for Birth Relatives
Web page provides publications and links to assist adopted persons to find family information. Post by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Where to Write for Vital Records
This Web page tells you where to write to ask for birth, death, marriage, or divorce records anywhere in the country.
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Special Education
American With Disabilities Act: ADA Home Page
This site was created by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
This organization's Web site provides advocacy resources on many topics related to disability.
California Department of Education/Special Education Division
This is the official Web site of the California Department of Education, Special Education Division.
California Department of Rehabilitation Web Site
Community Alliance for Special Education (CASE)
This Web site has information on special education rights and responsibilities.
Every Child, Every Hearing (PDF). A booklet that provides information on how to ensure the daily well-being of children in foster care by enforcing their rights. Published by the Judicial Council of California.
LawHelpCalifornia Special Education
Links to information on getting quality special education for your child, the legal rights of students with disabilities and more. (Select your county or enter your zip code for information specific to the area that you live in.)
National Center on Education, Disabilities, and Juvenile Justice: Parent Support
This site discusses issues related to youth with disabilities who are referred to the juvenile justice system.
The National Information Center for Children and Youth With Disabilities (NICHCY)
NICHCY is a national information and referral center with information on disabilities and related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. NICHCY focuses on children and youth (from birth to age 22).
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
This Web page is posted by the U.S. Department of Education.
A Parent's Guide to Special Education/Special Needs
This site has practical information for nonlawyers. It was created by the Council for Disability Rights.
Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI)
PAI helps people with physical, developmental, or psychiatric disabilities. PAI employees work with students with disabilities and their families to enforce students' rights to be educated in integrated settings. Other services include referral to other resources, advocacy training, and representation in administrative and judicial proceedings, investigation of abuse and neglect, and legislative advocacy.
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Last modified: 01/05/2009
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