17 Resources
California's official Judicial Council self-help website covers every step a mother needs to file or modify a custody case in any of the state's 58 county superior courts. Plain-English guides walk you through FL-300 requests, parenting plan templates, and the mandatory mediation process that precedes contested hearings. Fee waiver forms (FW-001) and Spanish-language packets are available alongside short explainer videos. Use it as your first stop before paying for an attorney.
Online statewide resource · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
The largest family court system in the United States, LA Superior handles tens of thousands of custody filings each year through its Stanley Mosk Courthouse self-help center. Walk-in workshops staffed by attorney-supervised facilitators help mothers complete custody, visitation, and DVRO paperwork at no cost. Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin interpreters are available on request. Plan for a half-day visit and arrive before 11am to secure same-day intake.
(213) 974-9759 · 500 W Temple St Room B-96, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
San Francisco's ACCESS Center on the 5th floor of the McAllister Street courthouse is staffed by family law facilitators who help mothers draft petitions, RFOs, and stipulated agreements. Free child custody recommending counseling (CCRC) orientation is provided before any contested hearing, a San Francisco requirement under Local Rule 11.17. Same-day appointments are limited; arrive by 8am or reserve a slot online. Filing fee waivers are processed on-site for low-income mothers.
(415) 551-0605 · 400 McAllister St Room 509, San Francisco, CA 94102 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
San Diego Superior's Family Law Facilitator's Office at the downtown Hall of Justice helps mothers prepare custody filings, paternity petitions, and parenting plan stipulations free of charge. The office runs weekly clinics and a guideline child support calculator workshop. Staff cannot represent you in court but will review your paperwork before filing. Self-represented mothers should bring birth certificates and any military deployment orders if the father is active duty at Camp Pendleton or Coronado.
(619) 450-5200 · 1100 Union St 4th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Sacramento Superior's Family Relations Courthouse on Power Inn Road offers free workshops where mothers can file custody RFOs, paternity actions, and request fee waivers in a single visit. Court Connect terminals provide e-filing access for those without home computers. The clerk's office closes Fridays for processing, so plan visits Monday through Thursday. Mediators trained in trauma-informed practice handle initial custody recommending counseling for Sacramento County cases.
(916) 875-3400 · 3341 Power Inn Rd Room 113, Sacramento, CA 95826 · Mon-Thu 8:30am-4pm · Visit Website
The Lamoreaux Justice Center in the City of Orange is OC's dedicated family law campus, handling all custody, paternity, and DV restraining order cases for the county's 3.2 million residents. Self-Help staff offer a daily walk-in clinic on the 7th floor where mothers can complete and review forms before filing downstairs. Court-connected mediation through Family Court Services is mandatory before any contested custody trial. The center is closed Fridays.
(657) 622-5500 · 341 The City Dr S 7th Floor, Orange, CA 92868 · Mon-Thu 8am-4pm · Visit Website
California Family Code Section 3170 requires mediation in every contested custody case before a judge will hear the matter. Family Court Services in each county provides this mediation free of charge, typically lasting one to two hours. Mothers experiencing domestic violence can request separate sessions with no in-person contact with the other parent. If no agreement is reached, the mediator's recommendation goes to the judge in roughly half of California counties (the 'recommending' counties including LA and Sacramento).
(888) 889-9900 · Available in all CA counties · Varies by county · Visit Website
The State Bar's certified Lawyer Referral and Information Service connects mothers to vetted family law attorneys throughout California. A reduced-fee initial consultation (typically 5-50 for 30 minutes) lets you discuss custody strategy before committing to representation. The Bar's online directory also flags Certified Family Law Specialists, attorneys who have passed extra exams in the field. Mothers experiencing abuse can request a domestic-violence-experienced attorney during intake.
(866) 442-2529 · 180 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94105 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Riverside Superior's Family Law Self-Help Center serves Inland Empire mothers from Corona to Coachella Valley, with satellite operations in Indio, Murrieta, and Hemet. Court facilitators help complete petitions for custody, paternity, and modification, plus the FL-150 income declarations courts require. Mediation orientation videos are screened in both English and Spanish before the FCS appointment. Walk-in hours fill quickly, especially Monday mornings.
(951) 777-3147 · 4050 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
A project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, WomensLaw.org explains California custody and visitation law from a survivor's perspective. The site details how DV history affects custody under Family Code 3044, the rebuttable presumption against giving custody to an abuser. Free email-based legal questions are answered within 5-7 days by staff attorneys. Translation tools cover 100+ languages, and the safety-exit button leaves no trace in browser history.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The American Bar Association's Section of Family Law publishes plain-English guides for mothers navigating custody, including the model Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act explanations relevant to interstate moves. Free public resources include the Family Advocate magazine archive and Q&A toolkits. The ABA also offers a free directory to find legal aid programs nearby. Useful for mothers wanting to research before retaining a California attorney.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The federal Office of Child Support Services oversees the Title IV-D program that funds California's DCSS network. Their site explains how interstate custody and support orders are enforced under UIFSA when a parent moves out of state, a frequent issue for California mothers whose former partners relocate to Nevada, Arizona, or Texas. Tribal child support program contacts and access/visitation grant information are also included.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The federal USA.gov portal aggregates custody and child support information with direct links to California DCSS and the Judicial Council. Explainer pages cover how to find a missing parent, modify orders across state lines, and use the Federal Parent Locator Service. Useful as a neutral starting point for mothers unsure where state versus federal jurisdiction applies. All content is available in Spanish through the español.usa.gov mirror.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Child Welfare Information Gateway, run by the Children's Bureau at HHS, publishes research-based factsheets on custody, kinship caregiving, and reunification, particularly useful for California grandmothers and aunts taking on relative care. State statute summaries explain California's standards for emergency placement, ICWA compliance, and parental rights termination. Free downloadable handbooks and family group decision-making guides round out the toolkit.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NCJFCJ trains the judges who will hear your California custody case and publishes the Safe and Together model used by trauma-informed family courts. Their public-facing resources include the Greenbook on safety planning for mothers in custody disputes involving abuse, and benchcards used by judges to weigh DV evidence. Reading their materials helps mothers understand what the court is supposed to consider, valuable preparation before any hearing.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute provides the cleanest free annotated source of California Family Code online, with cross-references to relevant federal statutes and Supreme Court rulings on parental rights. Useful when a mother needs to cite an actual statute section, like Family Code 3044, in a self-represented filing. The wex law dictionary explains jargon judges and attorneys use. No registration or paywall.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
FindLaw is one of the longest-running public legal information sites, with a California-specific custody section that covers physical vs legal custody, joint vs sole arrangements, and the move-away standard from In re Marriage of Burgess. Articles are reviewed by California-licensed attorneys. The site also runs a free lawyer directory if you want to consult locally after researching. Useful for understanding what your judge will be looking at.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website