Family & Children

Family law is the term generally used when referring to actions for divorce, legal separation, annulment, parentage, child custody, visitation, support (child and spousal), domestic violence restraining orders, and family related issues. Court hearings on these types of issues are heard in Family Court.

• Family Court, North County Division, will be offering a walk through judgment day mid-year. Click here for the dates.
  
  
• Family Court, East County Division, will be offering a walk through judgment day mid-year. Click here for the dates.
  
  
• Family Court, South County Division, will be offering a walk through judgment day mid-year. Click here for the dates.
  
  
• Family Court, Central Division, will be offering a walk through judgment day mid-year. Click here for the dates.
  
  
• (FLOW) Family Law Facilitator's Office Online Workshop Reservation System
  
  Don't have time to wait in line? Schedule an appointment online, download the required forms and receive a checklist for the following Family Law Facilitator workshops:
  
  
  • Divorce, legal separation, nullity
  • Request for Order (custody/visitation, child support)
  • Finish My Case (settlement agreements, default judgments, service of process questions)

Visit https://iflow.sdcourt.ca.gov to schedule your appointment.

• The court does not normally provide court reporters in family law matters, with limited exceptions. Effective September 5, 2017, official court reporters will NO LONGER be provided for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) hearings or for Request for Order (RFO) hearings of 40 minutes or less. If you have a DVRO or RFO hearing scheduled on or after September 5, 2017 and if a reporter is scheduled to report and/or if you requested a court reporter for the hearing, due to this recent policy change, a reporter will not be provided. For information on how to arrange and pay for a certified shorthand reporter for your hearing and to request a refund if you paid a court reporter fee for your upcoming hearing, visit the Court Reporter Information page.

• The online webform, Notice of Continuance Request/Settlement, is available on the assigned judicial officer's/department's page located under "Judges and Departments".
  
  
• See the Language Access page for information about requesting an interpreter.

Divorce, Legal Separation, or Annulment
Persons wishing to terminate their marital or domestic partner relationship may file for divorce, legal separation, or annulment. Issues of child custody, visitation, support, and property division may also be resolved in those cases.

Parentage
Parents who are not married may file a parentage (paternity) action to establish the existence of a parent-child relationship. Besides determining the existence (or non-existence) of a parent-child relationship, issues of child custody, visitation, and support may also be addressed.

Domestic Violence
Persons involved in situations where abuse has occurred (or threats of abuse) between them and a person they have a close personal relationship with, may apply for domestic violence restraining orders in Family Court.

Self Help Services
Family law cases involve serious, and often complex, legal issues. You should consider consulting with a family law attorney before you make the choice to represent yourself. If you decide to represent yourself and need general legal information or help in filling out court forms, self help services are available through the Family Law Facilitator's Office. Detailed information can also be located on the California Courts website under the "Self-Help" section at http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp