Child Support in Tuolumne County, California

Tuolumne County's child support agency serves four counties from one office. The Central Sierra Child Support Agency, at 975 Morning Star Drive in Sonora, handles cases for Tuolumne, Alpine, Amador, and Calaveras counties, so parents in any of those counties work with the same staff.

The courthouse is specific to Tuolumne County: 12855 Justice Center Dr., Sonora, CA 95370, phone (209) 533-5555. The court's site mentions fax filing but does not list a general e-filing portal. Confirm current filing options with the clerk before you assume anything has been submitted online.

Support is based on Family Code 4055 statewide. This is the same formula used in all California counties. It compares each parent's net income with the percentage of time the child spends with each parent. You can get a free estimate at childsupport.ca.gov, then file Form FL-300 with an FL-150 income declaration at the Justice Center, or contact Central Sierra Child Support Agency directly.

If the filing fee is a problem, ask the clerk for a fee waiver, Form FW-001. After an order is entered, California generally adds an automatic income withholding order to the paying parent's wages. That rule applies the same way regardless of which of the four counties the case came from. The Justice Center and the Central Sierra Child Support Agency office are separate, so a parent using the agency for collections usually does not need to appear at the courthouse.

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 Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne County

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

Local notes for Tuolumne County

Central Sierra Child Support Agency serves four counties from one office in Sonora, so it handles a broader caseload than many rural offices its size. That can help explain delays if a case seems to be moving slowly. Parents from Alpine, Amador, or Calaveras counties use the same Sonora address as Tuolumne County residents.

The court's site mentions fax filing, but it does not name a dedicated e-filing portal. Calling (209) 533-5555 before you submit anything is the safer step, especially if a deadline is close.

The self-help center and family law facilitator can help with FL-150 and FL-300 forms and general procedure, but not with advice about a specific case. Hours aren't posted, so confirm before visiting the Justice Center. A parent who moves between any of the four counties the agency covers, Tuolumne, Alpine, Amador, or Calaveras, usually keeps the same Sonora contact instead of transferring the case to a new office.

Official child support resources in Tuolumne County

Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne handles child-support filings, located at 12855 Justice Center Dr., Sonora 95370. Phone: (209) 533-5555.

The court's site mentions fax filing but does not name a general e-filing portal; confirm current filing options with the clerk.

Tuolumne County Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator (https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law/family-law-facilitator) 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 Tuolumne
• Tuolumne County Self-Help / Family Law Facilitator
• Central Sierra 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.

Tuolumne County Child Support FAQs