The Cook Division in Santa Maria is the family law courthouse the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara designates for North County, the northern half of the county that includes the Santa Ynez Valley and the Lompoc Valley.
What This Guide Covers: The Cook Division's address and role, the Lompoc Division's limited family law function, the Family Law Facilitator's office, and what to bring when you file. For the full California divorce process specific to this county, see our Santa Barbara County divorce guide.
The Cook Division
The Cook Division is located at 312-C East Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454. It is the family law filing location for North County Santa Barbara, generally covering Santa Maria, Lompoc, the Santa Ynez Valley, Guadalupe, Orcutt, Buellton, and Solvang. If your address falls within this area, this is where you would file your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form FL-100) and related paperwork.
The Lompoc Division
The Santa Barbara Superior Court also operates a Lompoc Division, located at 115 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, CA 93436, which the court's own division information describes as handling a limited range of family law matters alongside limited civil, criminal, and traffic cases. Its Family Law Facilitator assistance is based out of the Cook Division office in Santa Maria rather than in Lompoc itself. If you live in the Lompoc area, confirm directly with the court which family law filings Lompoc currently accepts and which must go to Santa Maria.
Family Law Facilitator
Self-represented filers can get procedural help, not legal advice, from the Santa Barbara Superior Court's Office of the Family Law Facilitator at the Cook Division, which also serves Lompoc-area filers. The office assists with forms and general procedure for divorce, custody, and support matters, but staff cannot give legal advice or tell you what to request.
Current hours and appointment requirements can change. Confirm directly on the Santa Barbara Superior Court's website, or by phone, before making a trip.
If You Live on the South Coast
If you don't live in North County, your family law case is filed at the Anacapa Division instead, located at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara. That division serves the South Coast, generally the city of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, and Carpinteria. See our dedicated guide to the Anacapa Division for South Coast filing details.
What to Bring When You File
Filing requirements are set statewide, not by individual division.
- Your completed Petition (Form FL-100) and Summons (Form FL-110), signed where required
- Copies of each form (confirm the Cook Division's current copy requirements)
- The filing fee, or a completed Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001) if you qualify
- A photo ID
For the full statewide filing process, see How to File for Divorce in California Without a Lawyer, and for every form referenced above, see our complete California divorce forms hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I file my divorce at the Cook Division?
If you live in North County Santa Barbara, generally Santa Maria, Lompoc, the Santa Ynez Valley, Guadalupe, Orcutt, Buellton, or Solvang, this is your designated family law division. The South Coast, generally the city of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria, files at the Anacapa Division instead.
Where is the Cook Division located?
At 312-C East Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454, per the Santa Barbara Superior Court's own location page.
Can I file family law paperwork in Lompoc instead of Santa Maria?
The court's Lompoc Division handles a limited range of family law matters, and its Family Law Facilitator assistance is based out of the Cook Division office in Santa Maria. Confirm directly with the Santa Barbara Superior Court which filings Lompoc currently accepts before relying on that location.
Can Virdix tell me whether my case belongs at the Cook Division?
Virdix prepares the Judicial Council forms your case needs, but confirming your specific division depends on your address and is something to verify directly on the Santa Barbara Superior Court's website before filing.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix prepares the California Judicial Council forms your Santa Barbara County divorce needs, mapped to what the Cook Division accepts. Virdix is free during our open beta.
Start Your California Divorce Paperwork →
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Courthouse hours, self-help availability, and filing procedures can change; always confirm current information directly with the Santa Barbara Superior Court before filing. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed California family law attorney.
Sources: Santa Barbara Superior Court, Superior Court Organization and Locations; Santa Barbara Superior Court, Santa Maria Cook Division.