Family Law Courthouse

What type of cases are handled in the Mendocino County Family Law Court?

The Mendocino County Family Law court handles all cases concerning family-related matters and domestic relations including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, domestic violence, spousal support, child visitation and custody, child support and restraining orders. All of these matters are handled in the Family Law Division of Superior Court of Mendocino.

Superior Court of Mendocino serves the following cities/towns: Albion, Anchor Bay, Boonville, Branscomb, Brooktrails, Calpella, Caspar, Cleone, Comptche, Covelo, Dos Rios, Elk, Fort Bragg, Gualala, Hopland, Inglenook, Laytonville, Leggett, Little River, Longvale, Manchester, Mendocino, Navarro, Noyo, Old Hopland, Philo, Piercy, Pine Grove, Point Arena, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, Rockport, Talmage, Ukiah, Willits, Westport, Yorkville.

Will my court case records be made public?

In most instances, yes it will. Every court file and order becomes public record. Any individual can go to the Superior Court of Mendocino and request to see any record.
There are 3 exceptions. First, if the case itself is confidential (ie. juvenile (under 18 years) case, or an adoption). Second exception is the confidential portion of a family law file, an example would be child custody evaluations and recommendations. The third exception is when a party requests and is granted an order to mark a document as confidenial or sealed. If you are unsure about what is confidential and what is not, ask the Superior Court of Mendocino clerk.

Can I hire an attorney to represent me?

Yes, by law you are allowed to hire an attorney to represent you and offer you legal advice.

Who can I ask if I have questions about my case?

The best place to seek answers for your case specific questions is the Superior Court of Mendocino Clerk. Every court has a clerk whose job it is maintain the files and records of the court. They are also available to provide information and assist you with manners regarding your case. This is often the best place to seek answers for your particular matter. NOTE: The court clerk is only able to give legal information, they are not able to give legal advice. If you need legal advice you need to contact an attorney.

What are the requirements for filing for Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) in Superior Court of Mendocino?

In the state of California, there is a residency requirement where you or your spouse must have lived in California for the last six (6) months, and have lived in Mendocino County for the last three (3) months in order to file for divorce in Mendocino County.

What is a Family Law Facilator and what do they do?

A Family Law Facilitator is a licensed attorney who acts a neutral third party who can further assist you with your Family Law matters. Every county in California now provides this free legal service. Please contact the Superior Court of Mendocino (see contact info on this page) to find out if your county provides a Family Law Facilitator. A Family Law Facilitator is able to provide general legal information, assistance in filling out court forms, and answer general legal questions. The Family Law Facilitator is NOT your attorney, NOTE: The Family Law Facilitator is only able to give legal information, they are not able to give legal advice. If you need legal advice you need to contact an attorney.

How do a file my Family Law case?

As each case is different and requires different forms, you will need to contact the court to see which forms are applicable for the case you are filing. If you need assistance in filing or legal advice you will need to contact an attorney, the court will only provide you with legal information. Legal information, such as the information on the website is NOT legal advice. Only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice. NOTE: Be very careful when filling out the forms, verifying all information including names are correct, even a small mispelling of a name can cause delays in your case. You should also make copies of all documents for your own personal records.

Superior Court of Mendocino Family Law Location

• Mendocino Family Law

  Address: 100 North State Street, Room 107 Ukiah, CA 95482-4416
  Phone: 707-468-2001
  Fax: 707-463-6850
  Mailing Address: P.O.Box 431, Riverside, Ca. 92502
  Court Clerk Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
  Telephone Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday – Friday