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Self Help Center in Salinas Temporarily Closed

Due to limited staffing, the Self-Help Center in Salinas will be temporarily closed to the public from June 23, 2025 until July 31, 2025.  The Monterey Self-Help Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 4:00 at 1200 Aguajito Road.  The King City Self-Help Center is open on Tuesday from 9:00 to 3:00 at 250 Franciscan Way.  You can also contact the Self-Help Center by calling 831-647-5800 ex. 3005 or by emailing selfhelpcenter@monterey.courts.ca.gov.  Thank you for your patience as we work to serve each person as promptly as we can.

Debido a limitaciones de personal, el Centro de Autoayuda en Salinas estará cerrado temporalmente al público desde el 23 de junio de 2025 hasta el 31 de julio de 2025. El Centro de Autoayuda de Monterey está abierto de lunes a viernes de 9:00 a 4:00 en 1200 Aguajito Road. El Centro de Autoayuda de King City está abierto los martes de 9:00 a 3:00 en 250 Franciscan Way. También puede contactar al Centro de Autoayuda llamando al 831-647-5800 ext. 3005 o enviando un correo electrónico a selfhelpcenter@monterey.courts.ca.gov. Gracias por su paciencia mientras atendemos a cada persona lo más pronto posible.

Mediation in Civil Cases

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral third person helps the parties reach a voluntary resolution of a dispute. Mediation is an informal, confidential, and flexible process in which the mediator helps the parties to understand the interests of everyone involved, and their practical and legal choices.

It can help people resolve civil, family, juvenile and other matters in a less adversarial setting. Court mediation programs have been shown to save the parties time and money, improve satisfaction with the court's services and reduce future disputes and offenses.

The mediator helps the parties to:

  • communicate better,
  • explore legal and practical settlement options, and
  • reach an acceptable solution of the problem.

The mediator does not decide the solution to the dispute; the parties do. Mediation can result in a legally enforceable contract agreed to, in writing, by the parties.

Mediators are allowed to charge for their time, although some court-sponsored programs are free to all Monterey County residents.

California Superior Courts increasingly encourage and offer mediation for a broad range of issues and case types. The Monterey Superior Court currently provides a court-directed mediation program for some civil cases for no to little cost and facilitates a small claims and unlawful detainer mediation program. The Small Claims and Unlawful Detainer Mediation Program is at no cost to the litigants if both parties are self-represented. In addition, the court also offers mediation services for child custody and visitation disputes at no cost to the parties.

Application Form

Please find the application form below. Applications will be reviewed by the ADR Executive Committee. Applicants will be notified of the decision to approve the applicant for the CDM Panel, or to admit the applicant to the CDM Panel pool for future consideration or to reject the applicant. 

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