Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Page 2
Judicial Council of California Launches Spanish Version of Online Self-Help Center
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Spanish version of the California Courts Online Self-Help Center Web site has been launched, the Judicial Council of California announced yesterday.
The new site, Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, duplicates “all 900 pages” of the existing English-language site, Ellen McCarthy of the Judicial Council’s Office of Communications said. The site includes information about obtaining low cost legal help, handling litigation in small claims court, conservatorship, elder abuse, name changes, landlord/tenant law, divorce, guardianship, domestic violence, and dealing with traffic tickets, among other topics.
The site is located at www.sucorte.ca.gov.
The council’s announcement noted that 4.3 million Californians represent themselves in court each year. In a statement released by the council, Chief Justice Ronald M. George said even those who have a lawyer may find the site helpful.
The Web site is maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts, the council’s staff agency.
The English-language site contains links to some materials in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese, but only the Spanish section duplicates all the self-help materials, McCarthy said. Adding additional materials in more languages will depend on the availability of funding, she explained.
Copyright 2003, Metropolitan News Company