Self-Help Services and Legal Forms
When you represent yourself, you are referred to as a "self-represented litigant" or "pro-se litigant." Even if you don't have a lawyer, judges and court employees are not allowed to provide you with legal advice and may not be able to speak with you at all about your case outside of the courtroom. Going to court without an attorney can be extremely difficult, so you should learn as much as you can about your legal issue and the services and resources available to you.
COURT FORMS:
Fill-in-the-blank forms are a common way for self-represented litigants to bring their legal issue before a court. However, there are certain risks when using legal forms that should be aware of. For example, many forms found online do not comply with Louisiana law and may be considered invalid. It's also possible that a form will not address your exact situation, or what you hope to accomplish in your court. When using forms, it is always best to find a form provided by the Supreme Court of Louisiana, your local court, or a legal aid organization, rather than a company that charges money. To access available forms, go to the
SRL Forms page.
COURT FORMS + Top 10 List
SELF-HELP SERVICES:
Click on your parish in the drop-down menu below to see available services and forms in your area. Some jurisdictions have self-help centers that you can visit, and others have online resources. There are also several statewide services including online legal advice, legal hotline, and events at public libraries.
Bankruptcy: A
Bankruptcy Self-Help Resource Center is now available in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to assist self-represented litigants with the completion of bankruptcy petitions and schedules, to help guide filers through the court's new Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system, and to provide referrals to attorneys or other legal resources. The Bankruptcy Court encompasses
thirteen parishes.
Click on your parish below for more information about services available.
If you choose to represent yourself, two videos are available to assist you with representing yourself in court:
A Guide to Court Video Introducing Evidence Video