Family Law & Support

Court Calendars

Department 4A, 4B, and 5A Calendars

Court begins promptly at 8:15 AM in all courtrooms. The public is expected to dress appropriately when attending court. Shorts and tank tops are not allowed in the courtrooms.

Remote Hearings

To attend a Law and Motion matter or an Ex Parte hearing remotely as permitted under Local Rule 7-116, or if granted approval for any other type of Family Law hearing (including Domestic Violence hearings) pursuant to Local Rule 7-115, follow the instructions below.

The courtroom clerk may make announcements and the judge or clerk will call the calendar. Please mute your phone when you are not speaking and unmute when you are speaking.

Call (209) 992-5590 a few minutes prior to your hearing time. Follow the prompts and use the bridge number and PIN for the department where your case will be heard:

• Department 4A: Bridge 6950, PIN 8348
• Department 4B: Bridge 6944, PIN 1475
• Department 5A: Bridge 6942, PIN 4178

If your matter is not permitted to be heard remotely or approval has not been granted, the matter may not be heard. It is the party’s or attorney’s responsibility to comply with local rules to avoid delay.

Fees

View the Statewide fee schedule for Family Law-related cases. The filing clerk will notify you of the filing fee at the time of filing.

You may download a fee waiver from the California Courts website and submit it with your filing.

Filings

Clerks cannot assist you in completing your forms. For help completing forms or determining which forms may apply to your situation, visit the Pro Per Clinic. For filing window hours, see the general information page.

Mediation and Child Custody Recommending Counselors

Mediation is provided by the court at no cost to families who need help reaching an agreement regarding child custody and visitation. All matters scheduled for child custody or visitation for the first time must complete the mandatory mediation orientation.

To reduce the spread of illness, litigants are not ordered to attend Mediation Orientation training in person, but are instructed to watch the video before their court appearance:

• Orientation to Family Court Mediation and Child Custody Recommending Counseling (Video) 
• Orientación a la Mediación de la Corte de Familia y Asesoramiento de Recomendación de Custodia de Menores (Video en Español) 

If you have multiple reasons for appearing in court (such as custody/visitation and support), custody/visitation will be heard in Department 4A and may then be transferred to Department 5A or DCSS (Room 503 on the 5th Floor) for support issues. Check with the courtroom clerk before leaving.

Family Support Division

Family Support filings can be made on the 4th Floor at 180 E Weber Ave., Stockton, CA 95202. See the department’s office hours above.

If you will appear in Department 5A for support issues, you may be asked to present proof of employment, proof of income, and proof of expenses. Not having this information may delay your appearance.

Helpful Information

• The court only provides interpreters in limited cases. Check with the filing clerk to see if you qualify. If you do not qualify, you must provide your own interpreter. If you do not bring an interpreter, your hearing may be postponed.
• Do not bring children to your court date unless ordered by the court. Courtroom discussions are not appropriate for children, and the lobby may be tense. If you must bring children while filing, they must be supervised at all times.
• Proper attire must be worn in all courtrooms. Shorts and tank tops are not allowed. If you are not dressed appropriately, you may not be allowed to enter, your case may be rescheduled, or the court may rule in your absence.
• Be on time for all court appearances and scheduled appointments. If you are late, your case could be postponed or the judge could rule against you.
• If you need an accommodation, download the Request for Accommodations form (MC-410) and submit it to the clerk at the family law window.

Department of Child Support Services

The Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) is not a branch of the Court.

DCSS can assist with collecting support on an existing court order and helping establish an order for support, paternity, and medical insurance issues. Contact DCSS directly for more information.

Filing a Restraining Order

If you are a domestic violence or elder abuse victim, you can file a request in Superior Court. The court provides restraining order packets. Packets may be obtained at any court branch during regular business hours, online in the Form Packets section of this website, or at the California Courts website.

Documents may be typed or hand-printed in blue or black ink and must be legible. Do not use lined paper or colored paper for declarations. Declarations and exhibits are limited to 10 pages each unless you have prior permission to submit a longer declaration.

If submitted to the clerk’s office no later than 10:00 AM, and completed correctly, the order may be available for pickup at 3:30 PM the same day.

You are not required to disclose your address and phone number. If you choose not to disclose this information, write “Confidential” in place of your address and phone number.

For shelter or community services in San Joaquin County, you may contact:

• PREVAIL (formerly the Women’s Center): (209) 941-2611
• Battered Women’s Crisis Line: (209) 465-4878
• Sexual Assault Line: (209) 464-4997
• San Joaquin County Family Justice Center: (209) 468-2500

Other services that may be helpful:

• Child Protective Services: (209) 468-1333
• San Joaquin County Family Justice Center: (209) 468-2500
• Even if police have arrested your attacker, release from jail may happen at any time. It is your responsibility to request notification of an inmate’s release.
• You can ask the District Attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also have the right to file a civil suit for losses suffered as a result of the abuse.
• Sexual assault by a person known to the victim, including a spouse, is a crime.

Instructions for Preparing a Findings and Order After Hearing

• FOAH forms are available in your forms packet, online at California Courts, or at the clerk’s office (4th Floor, 180 E Weber Ave., Stockton, CA 95202).
• Print neatly in blue or black ink.
• Include all rulings made during your hearing. If needed, you can purchase a copy of the minute order. Wait at least two days after the hearing date before purchasing. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Call Records Management at (209) 992-5697 to confirm it is ready.
• Return completed forms to the Clerk’s Office as soon as possible. Processing time varies. Do not call to check document status.
• To receive the order by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with proper postage. Orders without return postage may be picked up within 30 days during regular business hours. Items not retrieved within 30 days of processing will be shredded.
• If the other party was in court, mail them a copy. If they were not in court, they must be personally served. File the Proof of Service after service is completed.