New Mexico’s state court system on Thursday announced a new telephone hot line intended to help people without lawyers “navigate the civil legal system,” a news release from the Administrative Office of the Courts, which operates the new help line, said.

The help line, which will operate six days a week, “expands justice” to people who represent themselves in civil court, Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas said in a statement. “Having a reliable source of legal information will help people navigate the complexities of court processes.”

A flyer for the new service emphasizes that the help line, which will be staffed six days a week, will provide legal information, not legal advice, though staff can provide contact information for low- and no-cost legal services and legal fairs.

For example, according to the news release, the free service will help people find:

• court forms
• rules for filing or responding to lawsuits
• self-help videos on legal topics
• other resources for understanding court procedures in civil actions

Those civil actions include landlord-tenant housing disputes; consumer debt matters; and family law situations, such as divorce and child custody.

• New helpline: (855) 268-7804.
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
• Available in English and Spanish; interpreters available for Diné and other languages

“Justice should not depend upon whether a person knows how to navigate the legal system,” Karl Reifsteck, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, said in a statement. “New Mexico Courts are working hard to make sure that everyone can easily access trusted information to address a legal problem.”