Most people do not delay because they cannot afford a lawyer. They delay because they do not know which kind of lawyer to call, and by the time they find out, a deadline has passed. This guide maps the problem to the practice area and tells you the clock that is already running.
What kind of lawyer do I need?
Match what happened to you against this list.
| What happened | Who handles it | General deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Hurt by someone else’s carelessness | Personal injury | 2 years |
| Car crash | Car accident | 2 years injury, 3 property |
| A vehicle the dealer cannot fix | Lemon law | About 4 years |
| Injured on a shift | Workers’ compensation | Report 30 days, file 1 year |
| Not paid for all your hours | Unpaid wages | 3 years, often 4 |
| Fired for an unlawful reason | Wrongful termination | 3 years to file with CRD |
| Treated differently or harassed | Discrimination | 3 years to file with CRD |
| A letter from your licensing board | Licence defence | 15 days to answer |
| Disability claim denied | Disability benefits | 60 days to appeal |
| Harmed by medical treatment | Medical malpractice | 1 year from discovery |
| An older adult being neglected | Elder abuse | 2 years, 4 financial |
| Eviction notice | Housing | 5 days to respond |
| Sued over a debt | Debt and consumer | 30 days to respond |
| Immigration status or a notice | Immigration | Varies, often short |
| Divorce, custody, support | Family law | 30 days after service |
| A will, a trust, or a death | Wills and estates | Creditor periods are short |
| Arrest or charge | Criminal defence | 10 days for a DMV hearing |
Which deadlines are shortest in California?
These are the ones people miss, and none of them is measured in years.
- Five days to file a response after being served with an eviction. Miss it and the landlord can take a default judgment and a lock-out order.
- Ten days to request a DMV hearing after a DUI arrest. It is separate from the criminal case.
- Fifteen days to file a notice of defence after a licensing board serves an accusation. Miss it and the board can act by default, without a hearing.
- Thirty days to respond to a lawsuit, including a debt collection suit.
- Sixty days to appeal a Social Security disability denial.
- Six months to present a claim against a city, county or state agency under Government Code section 911.2. This catches anyone injured on public property, and county-employed caregivers.
How much does a lawyer cost in California?
It depends on the kind of case, and in several of these areas the honest answer is nothing up front.
Personal injury, car accidents and elder abuse are generally taken on contingency: no fee unless the case succeeds, then an agreed percentage. Lemon law is different and better — where the claim succeeds the Song-Beverly Act makes the manufacturer pay your attorney fees. Social Security disability fees are capped by federal regulation and paid from back pay only if you win. Workers’ compensation fees in California are set by the appeals board and come out of the award.
Whatever the arrangement, get the fee agreement in writing and read who pays case costs if the claim fails.
Do I need a lawyer at all?
Sometimes not, and it is worth saying so. A wage claim can be filed with the Labor Commissioner for free. Every California superior court has a self-help centre and a family law facilitator. Legal aid organisations handle evictions at no cost. LawHelpCA lists free help by county.
What is generally not worth doing alone: responding to a licensing board, defending a case where the other side has a lawyer and an insurer, or signing anything that releases a claim.
What should I do first?
Write down the dates while you still remember them, keep every document exactly as it arrived including envelopes, and do not give a recorded statement or sign a release until you have taken advice. Then work out which deadline applies to you from the table above, and treat it as sooner than it looks.
Where to get help
Unified Savers is free for California healthcare workers. Tell us what is happening and we will point you at the right kind of attorney for it: find a lawyer.
Unified Savers is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. This article is general information about how this kind of matter works in California, not legal advice about your situation, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines described here are general rules and exceptions frequently make them shorter.