If you have been injured or arrested, if you believe someone else owes you money for an injury or other claim, or if you are concerned for a loved one’s safety or legal rights, knowing what to do next can be difficult. California’s legal system is complicated. Knowing which laws apply or knowing which court is the right one, can make it difficult to even to get started.
If you have a legal question or a legal issue in San Diego County these resources may help. While it is not possible to cover every potential scenario (and while there are not free online resources for everything) many San Diego residents will find these resources helpful.
There is no substitute for personalized legal advice, and if you would like to speak with an attorney please contact or call me, Attorney David Rubin, at (619) 719-1087 for a free and confidential consultation.
North County San Diego Criminal Court Resources
Your Court Date
Is your court date coming up? If you lost track of your summons and you are not sure when you are due to appear in court, you can check the North County Court Calendar. If you have an attorney already, contact them and they will make sure you have the date.
Who is in Jail
If you are looking for a loved one and you are concerned that he or she may be in jail in San Diego County, you can run a search online. To look for your loved one’s name in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department database, visit: Sheriff’s Who is in Jail.
Know Your Rights
If you have been arrested, you need to know your rights. If you don’t know your rights, you won’t know when they have been violated, and you won’t be able to protect them in court. For some important information, you can visit the ACLU of Southern California’s website: Know Your Rights.
Office of the Public Defender
If you are facing criminal charges and you cannot afford to hire an attorney, you may be entitled to legal representation by the San Diego County Public Defender. For more information, go here: San Diego County Public Defender Office.
North County San Diego Personal Injury and Small Claims Resources
Steps to Filing a Small Claims Case
Please note: Rubin Law Office is not currently taking small claims matters, but here are some resources for handling your small claims case on your own.
If you believe someone else owes you money for an injury or property damage, but you think the total amount owed is below $10,000, your best course of action may be to file a case in small claims court. You should always get a free consultation before deciding to handle a case on your own, what you think may be a small case may actually be worth more than the $10,000 small claim limit. If it truly is a small claims case, with a little bit of research and preparation it is something you can do on your own. For information on filing a small claims case follow this link to the California Courts: Steps to Filing a Small Claims Case.
Small Claims FAQs
Who can file a case in small claims court? Where do you need to file? What is a small claims advisor? How do you enforce the court’s judgment? These are just some of the questions that are answered on the County of San Diego Superior Court’s Small Claims Information Page.
Small Claims Mediation
In many cases, it is not necessary to go to court in order to resolve a small claim. Mediation can be a highly-effective alternative, and mediation services are available for free through North County Lifeline or the National Conflict Resolution Center For more information, visit: Small Claims Mediation – Frequently Asked Questions.
Preparing for Court
If you are going to court for a personal injury claim, property damage claim or other small claims matter, it is extremely important to be prepared. To find out what you need to do, you can read the California Courts’ six steps to Be Prepared for Your Trial.
Request a Free and Confidential Consultation
Still have questions? I understand. I have been practicing law since 2006, and almost every day I encounter situations in which people are unable to help themselves simply because they don’t have the information they need. Regardless of what you are facing, you don’t have to face it alone. To request a free and confidential consultation, contact me online or call me at (619) 719-1087.