Child Support in Mendocino County, California

Mendocino County uses two courthouse locations: the inland main courthouse in Ukiah and the coastal Ten Mile Branch in Fort Bragg. They are roughly an hour's drive apart on Highway 20. The Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino (Ukiah) is at 100 North State Street, Ukiah, 95482. The court's website does not list a direct phone number, so check with the clerk before you go.

The Mendocino County Local Child Support Agency is at 107 S. State St. in Ukiah, near the main courthouse. It handles parentage establishment, guideline calculations, and direct collection or enforcement of support.

Child support amounts come from one statewide formula, Family Code section 4055. The formula weighs net income and parenting time, and Mendocino applies it the same way as counties up and down the coast. Before you decide whether to file in Ukiah or at the Ten Mile Branch, run your numbers through the free calculator at childsupport.ca.gov/guideline-calculator. Then file a Request for Order (FL-300) with an Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) at the courthouse that handles your matter, or ask the local agency to open a case instead.

Electronic filing is available to most filing parties and their attorneys. The court also has a Court Information Online portal for viewing cases and making payments, so you have more than one way to track a filing without another trip to Ukiah.

How child support is calculated in California

California sets child support with a statewide uniform guideline (Family Code section 4055) that applies the same way in Mendocino County as everywhere else. The formula is based mainly on two things:

1. Both parents' net disposable incomes.
2. The percentage of time the child spends with each parent (the timeshare).

The guideline amount is presumed to be correct, and courts use a calculator to run the numbers. Because the result depends on accurate income, the Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150) you file is what drives your number.

Where child support cases are handled in Mendocino County

Child support in Mendocino County is handled through the Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino, and the county's Local Child Support Agency, which is part of the California Department of Child Support Services. There are two common paths:

1. Either parent files a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with an Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150) inside a divorce, parentage, or custody case.
2. The Local Child Support Agency opens a case to establish, collect, and enforce support, often at no cost to the parents.

Because courthouse and local agency office details change over time, confirm current details using the official California Courts court finder:

Find the Mendocino County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)

Local notes for Mendocino County

The court's website does not fully explain which courthouse location, Ukiah or the Ten Mile Branch in Fort Bragg, handles each family law filing. Call ahead if you are on the coast and want to avoid the drive inland. After your case is open, the Court Information Online portal can help you check status and make payments. Ask the clerk if it also covers initial e-filing for your document type.

Mendocino's self-help resource, at mendocino.courts.ca.gov/self-help, can help a self-represented parent work through the right forms. It cannot tell you how your particular case should be decided, and exact hours aren't posted. The court's site also does not confirm if a commissioner or judge usually hears child support matters here.

Because Ukiah and the coast are far apart, parents who live near Fort Bragg but get assigned to a Ukiah hearing sometimes ask about appearing remotely. Remote appearance is separate from e-filing. Raise it with the clerk when you get your hearing notice.

Official child support resources in Mendocino County

Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino (Ukiah) handles child-support filings, located at 100 North State Street, Ukiah 95482. Ten Mile Branch at 700 South Franklin Street handles coastal branch court.

E-filing is available. Electronic filing is available to most filing parties and their attorneys, and the court offers a Court Information Online portal for viewing cases and making payments.

Mendocino County Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator (https://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Helps self-represented parents with forms and procedure; cannot give legal advice for your situation.

• Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino (Ukiah)
• Mendocino County Self-Help / Family Law Facilitator
• Mendocino County Local Child Support Agency
• California Guideline Child Support Calculator
• Form FL-300 Request for Order
• Form FW-001 Request to Waive Court Fees

Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.

Mendocino County Child Support FAQs