Effingham Public Library

The Effingham County Legal Self-Help Center is a place where you can learn about the law, your legal rights, and how to go to court. If you have a legal issue, you can go to this legal self-help center to:

  • use a computer for free,
  • search online for answers to your legal questions,
  • find and prepare court forms, and
  • find instructions on how to handle common legal problems.

The Legal Self-Help Center does NOT provide legal advice to its patrons. See below for more information about what this center does offer.

Address

200 N Third St.
Effingham, IL 62401
United States

Hours of operation
Currently: closed
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 8:00 am-7:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am-7:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am-7:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am-7:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Amenities:

This center offers

Computers & Internet
WiFi
Online court forms
Online legal info
Online referrals to legal help
Website navigator
Printers
Scanners

Notes

  • Printing: Orders of Protection are printed for free; otherwise, $0.25 cents per page
  • Scanning: $0.25 cents per page
  • Website navigator: Navigation help is provided during open hours
This center does not provide:
  • Paper court forms
  • Printed legal info
  • Referrals to legal aid
  • Court navigator
  • "Lawyer in the library" program

Common legal issues

Getting a divorce
Explains the divorce process, including the difference between contested and uncontested divorce. Also describes how you qualify and what you can expect during the process.
Suing someone for $10,000 or less
Lists items that a person can and cannot sue for in small claims court.
Being sued for $10,000 or less
Explains how to respond to a small claims case if you are the one being sued.
Going to court for an eviction case
Eviction is when a landlord makes a tenant leave a unit. The landlord must give the tenant notice and go through the court process. The notice must say why the tenant is being evicted.
Order of Protection basics
Explains who is eligible to ask for an Order of Protection. Also includes what they can ask a judge to include in it. This is also called a "restraining order."