Educational Resources
Educational Resources
Free procedural guides, legal explainers, statutory references, and educational materials for families, advocates, and policymakers navigating California family court.
Procedural Guides
How Family Court Works
Step-by-step explanations of family court procedures based on the California Rules of Court and Family Code.
How to Read a Family Court Petition
An explanation of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (FL-100), Petition for Legal Separation, and related forms. Covers what each section means, what is being requested, and how to interpret the relief sought.
Understanding Temporary Orders and Emergency Hearings
An explanation of how temporary custody, visitation, and support orders work in California family court — including the Request for Order (FL-300) process, emergency DVRO procedures, and how temporary orders can be modified.
The Family Court Hearing: What to Expect
A procedural walkthrough of what happens at a typical family court hearing — courtroom protocol, the role of the judicial officer, how evidence is presented, oral argument, and how decisions are communicated. Written for first-time litigants.
Service of Process in Family Court
A plain-language guide to service of process requirements in California family court, covering personal service, service by mail, proof of service forms, and what happens when service is contested or avoided.
Discovery in Family Law Cases
An overview of the discovery process in California family court proceedings, including Form Interrogatories (FL-145), document requests, depositions, and the use of subpoenas — and how these differ from discovery in civil cases.