Court Assistance Program (CAP)
Free Family Law Information for Self-Represented Individuals
Navigating the family court system can be overwhelming. The Court Assistance Program (CAP) is designed to help self-represented individuals better understand the family law process and access court-related information.
CAP is offered through Community Legal Services and is provided at no cost to eligible individuals.
Our goal is to improve access to justice by helping people better understand court procedures, legal documents, and next steps in their family law matter.
What We Do
CAP provides legal information and court process assistance to self-represented individuals involved in family law matters.
Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to assist with:
- Understanding the family court process
- Explaining court forms and documents
- Reviewing procedural requirements
- Providing information about family law issues
- Referring individuals to other legal or community resources
- Assisting with certain family law matters that fall within our scope of service
Important
CAP does not provide legal advice.
We are not your lawyer, and using our services does not create a lawyer-client relationship unless specifically confirmed by Community Legal Services.
You remain responsible for all aspects of your case, including:
- Filing documents
- Meeting court deadlines
- Attending court appearances
- Making decisions about your case
Who Provides the Service?
Community Legal Services is a student-run legal clinic.
Law students work under the supervision of a licensed lawyer and may assist clients within an approved scope of service. Students act as agents and receive ongoing guidance and supervision from clinic lawyers.
This model allows us to help more members of our community while providing practical legal education to future lawyers.
Eligibility for Services
Community Legal Services is committed to improving access to justice for low-income individuals.
As a result, eligibility for services is based on financial criteria and the nature of the legal issue.
Completing our intake form does not guarantee that we will be able to provide assistance. Each request is reviewed to determine:
- Whether the matter falls within our scope of service
- Whether there are any conflicts of interest
- Whether financial eligibility requirements are met
- Whether clinic resources are available
Family Law Services Available
CAP may be able to assist with matters involving:
- Decision-making responsibility (custody)
- Parenting time
- Contact issues
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Child protection proceedings
- Assistance to kin claimants in child protection matters (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives)
- Uncontested divorces
Family Law Services Not Available
At this time, CAP does not provide assistance with:
- Equalization of net family property following separation
- Adoption matters
- Marriage annulments
- Appeals of family law decisions
- Contested matters that include a claim for divorce
If your matter falls outside our scope, we may be able to provide information about other organizations or resources that may be able to assist you.
Service Limits
There is significant demand for our services.
To ensure that we can support as many members of our community as possible, assistance is generally limited to four hours per person.
The amount of assistance available may vary depending on the nature of your matter and clinic capacity.
Before You Submit a Request
To help us assess your situation, please be prepared to provide:
- Your name and contact information
- The name of the opposing party or parties
- A brief description of your family law matter
- Information about any upcoming court dates or deadlines
- Your gross income to determine eligibility
- Any accommodation or interpreter needs
Accessibility and Accommodation
Community Legal Services is committed to making its services accessible.
If you require accommodations to access our services, please let us know when completing the intake form.
This may include:
- Accessibility accommodations
- Communication supports
- Language interpretation services
- Other accommodations related to disability or access needs
We will do our best to support your participation in our services.
Request Assistance
If you believe your matter falls within our scope of services, please complete the intake form below.
Once your information is received, a member of our team will review your request and determine whether we may be able to assist.
Disclaimer
Information provided through the Court Assistance Program is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a lawyer.
Submitting an intake form or communicating with CAP does not guarantee service and does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
