The Fair Employment and Housing act (FEHA), at Government Code section 12965, subdivision (b), requires that individuals must exhaust their administrative remedies with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing by filing a complaint and obtaining a "right-to-sue notice" from the Department before filing a lawsuit under the FEHA. DFEH will accept requests for an immediate DFEH "right-to-sue notice" from persons who have decided to proceed in court. Your DFEH complaint must be filed within one year from the last act of discrimination or you may lose your right to file a lawsuit under the FEHA.

The decision to request such an authorization is a critical one. If you choose to request a "right-to-sue notice" now, the Department will not investigate your complaint. Obtaining a "right-to-sue" and waiving the Department’s investigation is only advisable if you have been instructed to do so by an attorney. If you have decided to request a "right-to-sue notice" at this time, you may click on the paper form link below or use our new online "Right-to-Sue" system.

• If you choose the paper form, the form must be completed and mailed back to the address on the form or the office closest to you.
• If you use the automated system form the instructions are included and you will receive an Right-to-Sue letter at the end of the session.

If you wish to have the Department investigate your complaint instead of requesting a "right-to-sue notice", contact the Department’s Communication Center at 1-800-884-1684 (within California), 1-916-478-7200 (outside California), or TTY 1-800-700-7320 to speak to a representative to make an appointment, or you may use the Department’s Online Appointment System.