Family faqs
Frequently Asked Questions:
This page is designed to help you find answers to any Family Court questions you may have.
- FAQs:
- Child Support
- Custody/Visitation
- Divorce
- Domestic Violence/Restraining Orders
- Family Forms
- Paternity
- Records/Case Files
- Other
- Emailing Family Court
- Legal Assistance
- FAQs
Note: Please be aware, the questions and answers below were taken from actual specific questions that are frequently asked on our website. The answers you see were directed to a specific person and may not be generic in nature. For this reason you may see specific gender references such as "Father" or "Mother" rather than a generic reference such as "Parent.
- Child Support:
- Changing a child support order: I would like motion to change a court order. What do I need? I presently have a court order re: child support arrears. Click for Answer -->
- Collecting child support: My father has not paid his full child support, and has moved to evade paying the rest of his obligation. How can we collect what is due? Click for Answer -->
- Child support for children removed from custody: My children were removed out of my custody by Child Protective Services. I understand that I will be asked to pay child support for my children and would like to know how much I will be asked to pay each month. Click for Answer -->
- Child support without divorce or separation:. My husband has agreed to sign the necessary paperwork with a notary. We are married and we do not want to get a divorce or separation. What paperwork do I need? Click for Answer -->
- Using Dissomaster to compute child support: Can a person (who is not an attorney) have access to the computer that is downstairs at Family Court to find several different scenarios on the "Dissomaster" software? Click for Answer -->
See more FAQs about child support on the Self-Help Child/Spousal Support page!
- Changing a child support order: I would like motion to change a court order. What do I need? I presently have a court order re: child support arrears. Click for Answer -->
- Custody/Visitation:
- Regaining custody after foster care: I have four children who have been in foster care for three years. What can I do to gain custody of them? Click for Answer -->
- Changing county in custody case: My original divorce was in another county. My ex has custody now but my children have been living here in Santa Clara county for over a year. Click for Answer -->
- Grandparent visitation rights: I need to file a petition on behalf of my mother-in-law, to establish grandparents visitation rights. Click for Answer -->
- Enforcing visitation rights: I would like to get some information on how to enforce my visitation rights through your office in a legal way. Click for Answer -->
- Regaining custody after foster care: I have four children who have been in foster care for three years. What can I do to gain custody of them? Click for Answer -->
- Divorce:
- Copies of divorce records: How can I get copies from a divorce years ago? Click for Answer -->
- Out of county divorce filing: When should I file after moving? Can the Self-Help Center help me? Click for Answer -->
- Help with filing for divorce: Is there an office I could go to obtain the proper forms and to get assistance on how to complete and file the forms? Click for Answer -->
- Dismissing a divorce case: Click for Answer -->
- Copies of divorce records: How can I get copies from a divorce years ago? Click for Answer -->
- Domestic Violence/Restraining Orders:
- How do I file a restraining order? See the Restraining Order section of this website.
- Anger management class: How do I sign up for court-ordered anger management classes? Click for Answer -->
- How do I file a restraining order? See the Restraining Order section of this website.
- Family Forms:
- Request for Order form: Where can I find information on how to file a "Request for Order?" Click for Answer -->
- Withholding income for child support: I have an order/notice to withhold income for child support for one of our employees and it states that I must furnish a copy to the employee along with form FL-450 within 10 days - Where do I get form FL-450? Click for Answer -->
- Removing child's court-ordered attorney: What form is used to remove a court appointed attorney for a child? Click for Answer -->
- Local Family Forms, Fees and Rules of Court: Where to find them? Click for Answer -->
- Request for Order form: Where can I find information on how to file a "Request for Order?" Click for Answer -->
- Paternity:
- Paternity tests: I would like information on where to have a paternity test taken to validate whether I am the father of my newborn daughter. I have been charged with non-payment of child support and face legal action by the Dept. of Child Support Services. Click for Answer -->
- Paternity on birth certificate: I need to change the father's name on my daughter's birth certificate. I have a DNA report. Click for Answer -->
- Paternity tests: I would like information on where to have a paternity test taken to validate whether I am the father of my newborn daughter. I have been charged with non-payment of child support and face legal action by the Dept. of Child Support Services. Click for Answer -->
- Records/Case Files:
- How can I view or get copies from my court file? Click for Answer -->
- Court fees for copies: How much do I have to pay for copies and certification? See the "Records Related Fees" section of the current local fee schedule .
- How can I view or get copies from my court file? Click for Answer -->
- Other:
- Change of address: I need to get a copy of change of address form. I have already filed the necessary preliminary papers for my divorce, but I now live in France, and cannot process it without a change of address form. See Form & Filing FAQs.
- Guardianship: I would like to find out how to obtain legal guardianship of a child. See Guardianship page in the Probate section of this website.
- Missed/skipped orientation/mediation: My ex. didn't go to the orientation for mediation. Now what? Click for
Answer -->
- Dismissing a Family Law case: How do I dismiss my Family Law case (such as my divorce)? Click for Answer -->
- Change of address: I need to get a copy of change of address form. I have already filed the necessary preliminary papers for my divorce, but I now live in France, and cannot process it without a change of address form. See Form & Filing FAQs.
- Child Support:
- Emailing Family Court
If you are unable to find the answer to your Family Court-related question after reviewing the pages in our Family Self-Help section of this website, the Family Division pages, and the Frequently Asked Questions above, you can contact our Family Department by email at selfhelp@scscourt.org. If your question is not covered on the Court's websites, we will do our best to respond to your question within 48 hours.
- Legal Assistance
We cannot give legal advice, only legal information. Please refer to our Free & Low-Cost Legal Help page, and consider visiting our Self-Help Center/Family Law Facilitator's Office.
Other FAQ pages:
- Civil FAQs
- Courtwide FAQs
- Criminal FAQs
- Form and Filing FAQs
- Jury Services FAQs
- Juvenile FAQs
- Probate FAQs
- Small Claims FAQs
- Traffic FAQs