Child Support in Modoc County, California

Modoc County's courthouse has a name unique in California: the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center. It is at 205 S East Street in Alturas, 96101, and the phone number is 530-233-6516. To file a child support case here, expect to file paper forms at the window. The court's public portal lets you view recent filings and hearing schedules online. It also shows case parties. It works as a case-viewing tool, not as a full e-filing system.

The Modoc County Local Child Support Agency is at 120 N. Main Street in Alturas. It handles parentage establishment and guideline calculations for county cases. It also collects or enforces support directly.

Modoc uses the same Family Code section 4055 formula used across California. The formula is based on each parent's net income and each parent's share of parenting time. Alturas can be far from other services, so it can save time to use the free online calculator at childsupport.ca.gov/guideline-calculator before you drive in. The check takes about five minutes. After that, you can file a Request for Order (FL-300) with an Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) in person at the Justice Center. You can also ask the local agency to open an enforcement case instead.

Modoc sits in California's remote northeast corner. Confirm current hours before driving to Alturas. This is one of the state's least accessible county seats.

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 Modoc 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 Modoc County

Child support in Modoc County is handled through the Superior Court of California, County of Modoc, 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 Modoc County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)

Local notes for Modoc County

Do not mistake the public portal at portal.modoc.courts.ca.gov for an e-filing system. It lets you check hearing dates and filings already on record. The portal is useful for checking a case, but it is not the place to file a new one. The court states that it does not currently offer online access for submitting new documents. Plan on filing in person at the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center. Before you make the drive to Alturas, confirm current filing options with the clerk.

Modoc's self-help resource, at modoc.courts.ca.gov/self-help/self-represented-resources, can help a self-represented parent with forms and procedure. It will not advise you on how your specific case will be decided. The resource is for procedural help, not legal advice for your situation. Exact hours are not posted online. The court's site also does not confirm if a commissioner or judge typically hears child support matters in Modoc.

Modoc is one of California's most sparsely populated and geographically remote counties. Plan any trip to Alturas around confirmed office hours instead of assuming a walk-in visit will work. A quick check can help you avoid a long drive for a service that is not available when you arrive. The round trip from some parts of the county can take up most of a day.

Official child support resources in Modoc County

Superior Court of California, County of Modoc (Robert A. Barclay Justice Center) handles child-support filings, located at 205 S East Street, Alturas 96101. Phone: 530-233-6516.

The court's public portal lets you view recent filings, hearing schedules, and case parties online, but it functions as a case-viewing tool rather than a full e-filing system; confirm current filing options with the clerk.

Modoc County Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator (https://www.modoc.courts.ca.gov/self-help/self-represented-resources) 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 Modoc (Robert A. Barclay Justice Center)
• Modoc County Self-Help / Family Law Facilitator
• Modoc 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.

Modoc County Child Support FAQs