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Family Law Facilitator Services Currently Available

Please note that because of the high demand for remote assistance, our ability to prepare paperwork for customers is extremely limited. Please read below for information on your options.

If you have an existing family law case and need to request new or modified custody, visitation or child support orders, complete the court forms you'll need by using the online Guide and File program https://qrgo.page.link/H9zeM.

If you need to start a new divorce, legal separation or nullity case, complete the court forms you'll need by using the online Guide and File program at https://qrgo.page.link/H9zeM or the online Hot Docs program at https://qrgo.page.link/wHmpD. Please also view the Divorce Workshop video at https://qrgo.page.link/dkc96.

If you need to start a new parentage (paternity) or custody and support case, complete the court forms you'll need by using the online Guide and File program at https://qrgo.page.link/H9zeM or the online Hot Docs program at https://qrgo.page.link/zrSoZ.

For helpful information about the legal issues involved in your case and to obtain fillable PDF court forms, visit www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm.

The Family Law Facilitator is available for the following assistance to self-represented litigants:

Brief informational telephone conferences to discuss your case and to provide guidance about the steps you'll need to take. To request assistance, please visit https://qrgo.page.link/WFmrf.
Online workshops and video chats. To register, please visit https://qrgo.page.link/tm5TW.
A rapid review of your court forms prior to filing at any of the court's branch locations. This is offered during normal court hours without need for an appointment. Rapid reviews are limited to reviews of completed paperwork.
Assistance scheduling an emergency (ex parte) hearing. For assistance, email [email protected] with your name, contact information, case number and an explanation of the emergency.
Assistance with court forms that don't fall into the categories described above. To request assistance, please visit https://qrgo.page.link/WFmrf.

Family Law Facilitator's Office (FLF)

The staff of the Family Law Facilitator's Office (FLF) is available, at no cost, to help unrepresented parents and parties who have questions about family law issues. They can help prepare court forms and provide general legal information. The FLF is staffed by court attorneys, paralegals, and clerks with experience in family law. The FLF does not assist parents or parties who have an attorney of record on file. The attorneys at the FLF are not your lawyers, but are neutral court employees who do not represent any parent or party and may provide information and services to all parties in the case.

Help is provided through group workshops and walk in assistance. For walk in assistance, visit the FLF office at the courthouse where your court file is located. For the location of FLF offices and hours, click here.

Family Law Workshop Appointments

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 - start a divorce, legal separation or nullity case
Guardianships - start a guardianship
Request for Order - request for custody, visitation and/or child support

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

*Note: If you have been married less than five (5) years, have no minor children together born before or during the marriage, including by adoption, and have limited assets and debts, you may qualify for a Summary Dissolution. In that type of case, both parties sign the Petition together and their divorce is granted automatically six (6) months after filing the Petition. Instructions on how to file a Summary Dissolution case.

Family Law Facilitator Message Board

Register Now to Access the Message Board! Receive messages from the FLF specific to your case, find your upcoming hearing information, view the Register of Actions for your case, and link to other helpful family law resources. Already registered? Log in here to access your account. Don't have an account? Sign up by following the instructions below.

The FLF has developed a Message Board (MB) for self-represented litigants to make access to their case information simple and easy to find in one place. To register for the MB, please let Family Law Facilitator staff know when you request assistance. Once your identity is verified (make sure to bring government issued photo identification with you), you will be provided with information to open your case specific account. Click here for more information about the Message Board.

Walk in Assistance

Assistance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Sessions for walk in assistance fill up quickly so arrive early and be prepared to wait.

Our office may review certain family law forms prepared by you and make some copies before you file.

If you are unable to attend an FLF divorce workshop, there are general written instructions and a video guide available online at the California Courts website at http://www.courts.ca.gov/1229.htm#tab8762 to assist you. In addition to the forms shown in the instructions and video, there is a local form, Family Law Certificate of Assignment that must be filled out and filed along with the other required court forms. Bring your completed paperwork to the FLF location at the courthouse where you intend to file your action to have them looked over by FLF staff prior to filing. The FLF will conduct a brief review of your paperwork (up to 15 minutes) and will focus on the Summons (JC Form FL-110), Petition (JC Form FL-100), and, if there are minor children, the Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) (JC Form FL-105). If the corrections needed are minimal they may be made at the time of the review. If there are substantial corrections or you need further information or instruction outside of the brief review, you may be referred to the FLF divorce workshop for more in depth assistance..

Services provided by FLF

Assistance in choosing and completing forms for family law actions
Assistance and information regarding:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child and spousal support
- Parentage actions
- Petitions for divorce, legal separation, nullity, and dissolution of domestic partnership
- Service of process
- Modifications of existing orders
- Response to a court action
- Formal orders after hearing and judgments
- Guardianship actions
- Joinders for custody in an existing family law case when the requesting party is a relative and has the child in his/her custody
- Wage assignments in family law cases

Services not provided by FLF

Assistance with discovery *
Assistance with contempt forms *
Assistance with subpoenas/subpoenas duces tecum *
Most property division and property ownership issues
Assistance with trial preparation, except for brief explanation of process and forms
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
Grandparent petitions for visitation
Adoptions, including step-parent adoptions
Legal research or points and authorities
Enforcement, except for wage assignments in family law cases
Appeals or writs

*The San Diego Law Library has reference materials and self-help guides available in these areas. To view a list of FREE LEGAL WEBSITES compiled by the San Diego Law Library, see http://sandiegolawlibrary.org/services/web-resources/.

What to expect when visiting the Family Law Facilitator's Office

Before assistance can be provided, you will be required to fill out and sign an Intake/Disclosure form. The form requests basic information from you, such as your name, address, telephone number, etc., court and case related information, and what type of assistance you are seeking. It also discloses required statutory information about the FLF program. A staff person will review your intake form with you and determine if the assistance you are seeking may be provided by the FLF. If so, procedural assistance will be provided, including guidance on completing court forms and information about the family law court system. If assistance cannot be provided, a referral to an alternate agency or service provider may be given.

How Long Will It Take?

For walk in assistance, depending on the number of individuals in the session and the issues involved, your wait time could be all morning or all afternoon. Priority is given to domestic violence restraining orders and cases just heard in the courtroom and referred to the FLF. If you have an appointment for a workshop, assistance should be completed within the timeframe scheduled for the workshop.

What Should I Bring with Me?

For workshop appointments:

Follow the instructions provided in FLOW.
Downloaded or purchased court forms as instructed.
Completed Intake/Disclosure form.

For walk in assistance:

A copy of all court documents relating to your case. Your papers should be organized by date, with the oldest paperwork on the bottom and the newest on the top.
For financial issues:
- Written proof of your income from all sources for the past 12 months
- Pay stubs for the last two months
- Your W-2 forms for last year
- Your latest tax return
- If you are disabled, proof of your disability and monthly disability income
- If you are unemployed, proof of your unemployment and monthly unemployment income
- Information about your monthly expenses
Filing fees. Click here to see if you qualify for a fee waiver. In Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) cases, no filing fees are required on support issues.

Envelopes and Stamps

Copies of your Findings and Order After Hearing will be mailed to you.
To receive a copy of your Findings and Order After Hearing, submit one standard #10 envelope with two postage stamps.
Judgment submission requires three standard #10 envelopes, one large 9-1/2 by 12-1/2 manila envelope and fourteen (14) postage stamps.

Finishing Your Case

You started your case by filing your Petition. Now what?

There are two (2) basic steps to finish your case:

Step 1: Have the other party properly served with the filed paperwork.

Step 2: Obtain a Judgment, via agreement, default or trial.

You don't need to wait until your Self-Represented Family Case Resolution Conference (SFRC) to finalize your case. If you and the other party have a full agreement or if the other party does not file a Response (within 30 days of being served), the FLF may be able to assist you. Assistance is available on a first come, first served, walk in basis or you can sign up online for the Finish My Case workshop at https://iflow.sdcourt.ca.gov/.

Children's Waiting Room

Topics discussed at the Family Law Facilitator's Office may not be appropriate for minor children. While supervised children's waiting rooms are available at each courthouse, space is limited and on a first come first served basis. If you have minor children, you are encouraged to make other child care arrangements while visiting the facilitator's office. If your minor child does accompany you during your visit, please be advised that you may be asked to return at a later date if having your child with you makes it difficult to provide service.

Children's Waiting Room Re-Opening Schedule:

Central Division - Now Open
- Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 -5 p.m.
East County Division - Now Open
- Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 -5 p.m.
South County Division - Now Open
- Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 -5 p.m.
North County Division - Currently Closed
Juvenile Court - Currently Closed

FLF Court Locations to Serve You In-person services are currently limited to requests for a restraining order
Central Courthouse 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Fourth Floor, Room 480 Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases. Sign in time: 8:00 a.m. in lobby of courthouse. Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Fifth Floor, Room 571 Guardianship orientation workshop held every Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at FLF on 4th floor, Room 480. No appointment necessary. Arrive early as space is limited. Guardianship forms assistance by appointment only. Call (619) 844-2869 to schedule appointment. After guardianship petition has been filed, walk-in assistance to file an objection, request termination, seek visitation orders, or correct defects in pleadings is available on Monday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 571.	North County Courthouse 325 South Melrose Drive Vista, CA 92081 Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases. Sign in time: 8:00 a.m. in lobby of south entrance to courthouse. Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.
East County Courthouse 250 E. Main Street, 2nd floor El Cajon, CA 92020 Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases. (Filings in DCSS cases must be done at the Central Courthouse.) Sign in time: 8:00 a.m. in lobby of courthouse. Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.
South County Courthouse 500 Third Avenue, Room 300 Chula Vista, CA 91910 Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases. (Filings in DCSS cases must be done at the Central Courthouse.) Sign in time: 8:00 a.m. in lobby of courthouse. Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.
All offices are closed to the public from noon to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. To determine which FLF office to visit check Where to File Your Case.

FLF Court Locations to Serve You

In-person services are currently limited to requests for a restraining order

Central Courthouse
1100 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Fourth Floor, Room 480
Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases.

Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.

Fifth Floor, Room 571
Guardianship orientation workshop held every Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at FLF on 4th floor, Room 480. No appointment necessary. Arrive early as space is limited.

Guardianship forms assistance by appointment only.
Call (619) 844-2869 to schedule appointment.

After guardianship petition has been filed, walk-in assistance to file an objection, request termination, seek visitation orders, or correct defects in pleadings is available on Monday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 571.

North County Courthouse
325 South Melrose Drive
Vista, CA 92081

Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases.

Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.

East County Courthouse
250 E. Main Street, 2nd floor
El Cajon, CA 92020

Assistance with divorce, parentage, child custody/visitation, child and spousal support, and all issues in Department of Child Support (DCSS) cases. (Filings in DCSS cases must be done at the Central Courthouse.)

Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.

South County Courthouse
500 Third Avenue, Room 300
Chula Vista, CA 91910

Session begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.

All offices are closed to the public from noon to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To determine which FLF office to visit check Where to File Your Case.

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO

OFFICE OF THE FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

The Family Law Facilitator's Office offers the following workshops by appointment only:

Divorce workshop
Request for Order workshop (child custody/visitation, child support)
Finish My Case workshop (settlement agreements, default judgments)

To make an appointment for one of these workshops, visit https://iflow.sdcourt.ca.gov.

GUARDIANSHIP ORIENTATION WORKSHOPS – Walk In
(For more information, click here)
(No appointment necessary for this workshop)

Location	Days and Times
Family Law Facilitator's Office Central Courthouse 1100 Union Street, 4th floor San Diego, CA 92101	Thursdays in English, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Forms assistance by appointment. Call (619) 844-2869.