Legal Definitions - Self-help

In legal contexts, self-help refers to taking matters into one's own hands and using lawful means to protect or restore a legal right without going through the regular legal process. It involves attempting to protect one's interests without a court order and of one's own initiative by doing what one may legally do to protect those interests.

An example of self-help is repossession. If a borrower defaults on a loan, the lender may repossess the collateral without going to court as long as it does not involve unlawful actions or a breach of the peace.

Self-help is not the same as self-defense and may not be exercised in circumstances that might reasonably be expected to lead to violence or a breach of the peace. For example, if someone is trying to take your property, you cannot use self-help to physically stop them.