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Family Court Services: mediation required by state law when parents disagree about custody; telephone mediation for parents outside San Luis Obispo County approved in advance, the Mediation Intake Form received at least 24 hours before the appointment; mediation for parents only; separate sessions in domestic violence cases; child custody evaluations and the forms each parent delivers; the Family Court Services Subpoena Process - an official subpoena (form SUBP-001) served at least 10 calendar days before the hearing, the evaluator's availability confirmed, a $275 witness fee, and notice when the hearing is taken off calendar or continued; the online parenting class whose certificate satisfies the court's parent education requirement before final orders; and the stepparent adoption questionnaire.
California > Second Appellate District > San Luis Obispo County > Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
Paying Family Law Fees Family Law Court Processes Family Law Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulment Paternity, Custody and Support Request for Order Domestic Violence Restraining Order Mission To assist parents of minor age children in reorganizing their family following separation or divorce in a manner that will enable the children to continue having healthy relationships with both parents. Mediation Mediation is required by California State law when parents are in disagreement about the custody of their child/ren. Mediation is a process of assisting parents in developing a parenting plan and is a neutral setting for discussing arrangements for the children, and to reduce acrimony and provide guidelines for parenting after separation or divorce. Mediation is a means of settling parenting disputes outside of court. Each parent is given the opportunity to be heard, and the objective is to develop parenting plans that meet the needs of the child/ren. Mediation is confidential from the Court process, and the mediator does not make recommendations to the Court if the parents are in disagreement. If an agreement is reached, the stipulation/agreement is submitted to the Court only after the parties have agreed in writing. For more information regarding the procedures for scheduling a mediation appointment, contact Family Court Services between the hours of 8:30 am and 4 pm on Monday through Thursday at (805) 706-3608. Mediation by Phone Family Court Services can accommodate requests for long distance and out of state telephone mediation for parents who reside outside San Luis Obispo County. All telephone mediations must be approved by FCS prior to the scheduled appointment. For telephonic mediations a Mediation Intake Form (see below) must be received by the parent pre-approved to call in at least 24 hours prior to the appointment time. The intake form can be sent to Family Court Services via email at slo-fcssec@slo.courts.ca.gov, by fax at (805) 706-0210, or mailed to the following address: Family Court Services 1050 Monterey St., Rm. 224 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 Mediation is for parents only New spouses, significant other relationships and extended family members are not to be included unless previously approved by Family Court Services. Children are not included unless previously arranged by Family Court Services. Please contact FCS prior to your appointment if you wish to have a support person present because of domestic violence or if you have any questions about who is to attend mediation in your particular matter. Please do not bring your children to mediation. Mediation Documents Mediation Intake Form Mediation Orientation Mediation Exit Survey Domestic Violence and Child Custody Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders In cases involving domestic violence, mediation is conducted in a manner to protect all the parties. Family Court Services' policy is to meet with each party separately. FCS schedules each appointment at separate times. FCS's goal is to protect all parties during the mediation experience in order to create the best possible environment to help families develop parenting plans with as little conflict as possible and with the highest level of satisfaction possible. Child Custody Evaluations NINOS: EL DESAFIO DEL DIVORCIO REGISTRO: Llame a la oficina de antemano a los Servicios de la Corte de Relaciones Familiares para registrarse y obtener informacion, al numero 805-226-3251. Debe tener disponible el numero del caso civil o del divorcio para darselo al secretario. Clases en espanol son ofrecidas, y son citadas de acuerdo con los registrados. COSTO: gratis Este programa satisface los requisitos del programa de educacion antes de que se le otorga las ordenes judiciales para finalizar el caso. In cases with ongoing unresolved disputes between parents, the Court may order a child custody evaluation. The evaluation is conducted by a court appointed evaluator. The focus of a child custody evaluation is to assess the individual and family factors that affect the best interests of the child/ren. The primary purpose and function of a child custody evaluation is to gather information about the family in a comprehensive and unbiased manner, and to report back to the court with a recommendation for a parenting plan that will help the child/ren maintain relationships with both parents in a manner that best serves his/her needs. To accomplish this end, a child custody evaluation usually includes (1) an assessment of each parent's historical involvement and current capacities for parenting and their ability to manage conflict; (2) an assessment of the child's functioning and developmental needs and the child's wishes where appropriate; and (3) an assessment of each parent's functional ability to meet the child's needs, which includes evaluation of the interaction between each adult and child. Some evaluations are much more limited in scope than others. This will be described in the evaluation order. Your evaluator will review the process for your family during your first appointment with them. If a custody evaluation is ordered by the court for your family, please be sure to read through the order carefully. We need your help to get things started, and the order will give you directions on how to proceed. Contact Family Court Services with any questions at 805-706-3608. With an ordered custody evaluation only, we require that each parent fill out the following forms and deliver them to Family Court Services: Family Court Services Intake Form (AKA: Custody evaluation personal data sheet) Family Court Services Digital Evidence Policy Release of Information Child Custody Evaluation Information Sheet (JC Form FL-329-INFO) NOTE: For full evaluations, please complete a release of information form for each treatment professional who is working with or has recently worked with you and your children (IE: schools, therapists, pediatricians). For partial evaluations you only need to complete release of information forms for those professionals outlined in your order. If the court has ordered that the evaluation only consist of interviewing your children, then you will need to turn in the following form to Family Court Services instead of the forms outlined above: Child interview parent questionnaire Family Court Services Subpoena Process Parties requesting testimony from a Family Court Services (FCS) Mediator/Evaluator or Court Investigator at a court hearing or trial must serve an official subpoena (Civil Subpoena for Personal Appearance at Trial or Hearing Form SUBP-001). The subpoenaing party shall serve the subpoena at least 10 calendar days before the hearing to allow adequate time to prepare and review the evaluation or report. Please note, the Mediator/Evaluator or Court Investigator may testify remotely if permitted. To subpoena a Mediator/Evaluator or Court Investigator, please do the following: Confirm Availability – Contact FCS in advance via email at slo-fcssec@slo.courts.ca.gov or by phone at (805) 706-3608 to confirm the evaluator’s or court investigator’s availability. Payment of Witness Fees - Once availability is confirmed, the parties must provide a check in the amount of $275 for witness fees, made payable to San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Fee exceptions apply to court appointed counsel or parties with a court-approved fee waiver of the case. Submit the Subpoena and Fees – Please place the subpoena and witness fee check in an envelope addressed to Family Court Services. The envelope may be placed in one of the drop boxes at the courthouse entrance or delivered to the Clerk’s Office at the San Luis Obispo Branch, located at 1050 Monterey St., Rm. 220, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Hearing or Trial Taken Off-Calendar - If the hearing for which the subpoena applies is taken off-calendar or continued, the subpoenaing party shall notify FCS via email or phone, at their earliest convenience. Hearing or Trial Continued - If the hearing for which the subpoena applies is continued, a new subpoena will not be necessary. However, the parties are required to contact FCS, at their earliest opportunity, to determine the evaluator’s or investigator’s availability on the continued hearing date and send email notification to slo-fcssec@slo.courts.ca.gov. The notification shall include the parties’ names, the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court case number, the name of the evaluator or court investigator, and the continued hearing date and time. Family Court Services Subpoena Process Parent Education Parenting After Separation - Free Online Course La Crianza De Los Hijos Despues De Separacion - Curso En Linea Gratuito La Crianza De Los Hijos Despues De Separacion es una clase que se ocupa de las necesidades de los ninos cuyos padres mantienen hogares separados. La clase tambien proporciona informacion sobre el proceso de mediacion y el “como” de mantener una constante relacion co-parental. La clase esta en linea y a su propio ritmo. Este programa satisfice las exigencies del tribunal,para la educacion de los padres antes de recibir las ordines finales. Cuando termine la clase despues de registrarse en linea, se le enviara un certificado de finalizacion por correo electronico. Archive simplemente este certificado con el tribunal en San Luis Obispo, Ca. en 1035 Palm St. Rm. 385 o en la sucursal de Paso Robles, Ca. localizado en 901 Park St. in Paso Robles, Ca. Tomar clase en línea Parenting After Separation is a class which addresses the needs of children whose parents maintain separate households. The class also provides information about the mediation process and the "how to" of maintaining an ongoing co-parental relationship. The class is online and self-paced. This program satisfies the Court's requirements for parent education prior to receiving final orders. When you complete the class after registering online, you will be immediately emailed a certificate of completion. Simply file this certificate with the court in San Luis Obispo at 1035 Palm Street, Rm 385 or at the Paso Robles Branch at 901 Park Street. Take Online Course Local Resources for Mental Health Treatment The County of San Luis Obispo maintains a directory of local mental health providers. The Court is providing this link to assist parents in finding services that might be helpful to their family or to comply with court orders. Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement of the provider by the Court. Mental Health Provider Directory Stepparent/Domestic Partner Adoption If you have filed a stepparent or domestic partner adoption request, please fill out the following questionnaire and deliver to Family Court Services. Stepparent/Domestic Partner Adoption Questionnaire Document Authentication Document Authentication by Clerk Instructions Getting Copies of Court Files Standing Order Initial Standing Order 1.1.26 Order Relieving Minor's Counsel 08.21.24 Order Relieving Minor's Counsel 08.29.24 Contact Information San Luis Obispo Branch 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 Counter Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 706-3600 Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Paso Robles Branch 901 Park Street Paso Robles, CA, 93446 Counter Hours: Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 706-3600 Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Paying Family Law Fees
Paying Family Law Fees Family Law Court Processes Family Law Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulment Paternity, Custody and Support Request for Order Domestic Violence Restraining Order Mission To assist parents of minor age children in reorganizing their family following separation or divorce in a manner that will enable the children to continue having healthy relationships with both parents. Mediat
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-08 (California T4 San Luis Obispo build 2026-10-08) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-san-luis-obispo/pages/divisions__family.html (the page as fetched 2026-10-08; 658288 bytes, sha256 48d29d2f18512e1dc8c0e9dbcbd2128a5a2296e2a4a78ae453e320134fd3605d) with html-compose.py (the Orange composer): the article's content sections (section.jcc-section, div.jcc-news-full) and, as recomposed 2026-10-08, its title banners (div.jcc-hero: their lead and aside text; the first banner's heading, the page title, set aside as chrome) - the site header, menus, breadcrumb and footer lie outside them; each block starts a line and each table cell is set on its own line; chrome removed: 1 item; proof (the multiset of non-space characters equals the containers' text less chrome and scripts) passes. Review note: Chapter 19 (carded) states the Family Court Services mediation and custody evaluation rules (Rules 19.34 to 19.40); this page adds the subpoena process, telephone mediation and the parent education class. Corrected 2026-10-08 (California T4 banner correction): the first composition read the content sections alone and left out the text the page prints in its title banner (1 line, now where the page prints it); the card's other text is unchanged.
6 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in GIUSEPPINA MIRANDA's division.
4 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in HILARY CREARY's division.
2 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in NATASHA DEPRIMO's division.