Self-Help Resource Centers

Our Self-Help Resource Center (SHRC) is a place where individuals who do not have an attorney can find information and guidance about their legal issues. These individuals are often referred to as self-represented litigants, meaning they are representing themselves in court without a lawyer.


Our volunteers do not provide legal advice, only information on options available to them, and assistance with appropriate forms.


The Self-Help Resource Centers are managed by The Pro Bono Project and staffed by trained volunteers.

Domestic Matters

While individuals (also known as self-represented litigants) are encouraged to have a lawyer represent them, financial limitations sometimes prevent many from securing counsel.


The most common issues for people seeking to represent themselves in state courts are domestic matters.

  • 103 Divorces
  • Custody (establishing custody, modifying custody, custody violations)
  • Adult & Minor Name Changes
  • Modifying Child Support


Many state courts, including the Louisiana Supreme Court, provide online self-help resources and downloadable court forms on their websites, which individuals can access for additional guidance.  Additional state-wide forms and information are available on Louisiana Law Help.

Self Help Resource Center Virtual Hotline
For Domestic Issues in Orleans or Jefferson Parish


Monday-Friday

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

504-881-1171

Email: selfhelp@probono-no.org



If you would like to volunteer at our Self-Help Resource Centers, contact us. 


What do volunteers provide SHRC visitors? 

Volunteers can assist visitors at SHRCs with...

  • Access to printed out court forms
  • Assistance completing court forms
  • Free notary services for court approved forms
  • Assistance preparing for a court appearance
  • Answers to general questions about court procedures



 

Volunteers do not give legal advice, but assist visitors with access to legal forms, information, and referrals.

  • What is a Self-Represented Litigant?

    People who represent themselves in court without a lawyer are called Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs), also sometimes called pro se litigants.  Under the law, a SRL is held to the same standards and duties as an attorney admitted to the practice of law in the state of Louisiana.  A Self-Represented Litigant is presumed to know the law. This means that a SRL is expected to know what the law requires and how to accomplish this in accordance with the appropriate statues and court rules.


    The Self-Help Resource Center provides SRLs with legal information & court-approved forms. No legal advice is provided.

  • What is not provided to SHRC visitors?

    The Pro Bono Project and its volunteers do not provide legal advice to the public. Information on our website, at the Self-Help Resource Center (SHRC), and through its hotline—including any forms, files, or links—is intended only as general information and guidance for self-represented litigants. It should not be considered legal advice.


    The Pro Bono Project cannot answer questions about how this information applies to a specific case. Individuals seeking legal advice should consult with a qualified attorney.


    When more complex legal issues arise, individuals are provided with information about their available legal options, including how to apply for legal aid or how to find and hire a private attorney.


    These materials do not create or limit any legal rights and should not be cited in court filings; parties should rely on the applicable laws and court rules.

  • How do I provide feedback on my experience at a SHRC?

    We appreciate your feedback.  Contact selfhelp@probono-no.org. 

Orleans Civil District Court Self-Help Resource Center

Self-Help
Resource Centers

Orleans CDC

421 Loyola Avenue, 1st Floor

New Orleans, Louisiana 70112


Monday | 9:00AM-NOON

Wednesday | 9:00AM-NOON

Friday | 9:00AM-NOON

Orleans CDC Self Help Desk

The Orleans Parish Civil District Court Self-Help Resource Center is an operation of The Pro Bono Project, in partnership with the court and the clerk's office, and with funding from the Louisiana Bar Foundation.


The Self-Help Resource Center is a volunteer-driven service, offering court-approved forms and legal information to self-represented litigants in domestic (family law) matters. The center normally operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 12 noon, excepting court holidays. Visitors must be signed in by 11:30 a.m. in order to receive service the same day. The Self-Help Resource Center is not a notary service, and volunteers will notarize only the court-approved forms available at the center.


The Self-Help Resource Center is not able to provide legal advice or representation, but can provide referral resources for those seeking legal advice or representation.

Bankruptcy Matters

In federal bankruptcy court, self-represented filers often file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13  bankruptcy protection. 


The Pro Bono Project operates a SHRC at U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana to assist self-represented filers with the completion of bankruptcy petitions and schedules, to help guide filers through the court’s new Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system, and to help visitors, before they file, receive information on referrals for attorneys or other legal resources.