Child Custody and Visitation in Amador County, California

Custody cases in Amador County are filed at the Amador County Courthouse in Jackson, the county seat. That court handles family law matters for Jackson, Ione, Sutter Creek, and the rest of the county through the Superior Court of California, County of Amador. Parents may file in person or use the court's Journal Technologies eFiling Portal, which is uncommon for family law in small Gold Country counties.

A custody request must be part of a divorce, a legal separation, or, for parents who were never married, a parentage case. After the case is open, either parent can ask for custody and visitation orders with Form FL-300, Request for Order, and the FL-311 attachment. Under Family Code section 3011, the judge decides what is in the best interest of the child. The judge looks at facts such as each parent's ability to provide a safe and stable home and does not favor either parent based on gender.

Amador County uses a different mediation model than many counties. It does not have an in-house Family Court Services office. Instead, the county uses a panel of court-approved private mediators, and Local Rule 13.08 makes that mediation confidential. The mediator cannot recommend a custody outcome to the judge. If the parents do not agree, the mediator reports only the issues that remain unresolved and may suggest a separate custody evaluation by a different, non-confidential evaluator. Family Code section 3170 requires this mediation before a judge hears a contested custody dispute.

Parents who reach an agreement, either on their own or through mediation, can submit a written stipulation for the judge to sign without a contested hearing. In a county this size, that is often the fastest way to move the case forward.

Where custody cases are heard in Amador County

Custody and visitation matters in Amador County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Amador, with the county seat in Jackson. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local Family Court Services or Child Custody Recommending Counseling programs change over time and can differ between branches, use the official California Courts court finder to confirm the current details for your case:

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

How custody is decided in California

California uses the same statewide rules in every county, including Amador County. Custody has two parts: legal custody (who makes major decisions about health, education, and welfare) and physical custody (where the child lives). Either can be joint (shared) or sole (one parent). Judges decide custody based on the best interest of the child, and California law does not favor a parent based on gender.

You can ask for custody orders inside a divorce or legal separation case, or, if the parents were never married, by first establishing parentage. The core steps are:

1. Open or use an existing case: a divorce (Form FL-100), a legal separation, or a parentage case (Form FL-200) for unmarried parents.
2. File a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the custody and visitation attachment (Form FL-311) to ask the court for orders.
3. Serve the other parent and file a proof of service.
4. Attend the mandatory child custody mediation (Family Court Services), which California requires before a contested custody hearing.
5. Attend the hearing if you have not agreed, and receive the court's order (Form FL-341 series, Findings and Order After Hearing on Form FL-340).

There is no six-month waiting period for custody the way there is for a divorce to become final. Parents can also agree on a parenting plan and submit it as a stipulation for the judge to sign, which avoids a contested hearing entirely. If you and the other parent agree, that is almost always the faster and less costly path in Amador County.

Local notes for Amador County

All Amador County custody filings go to the Amador County Courthouse, 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson. The courthouse serves the whole county from one location, so confirm current clerk's office hours before you go. Fax is not accepted for family law filings, so plan to file in person, by e-filing, or as otherwise directed by the clerk.

For mediation, Amador County uses a confidential process through its private mediator panel. That is a meaningful difference from counties with a recommending Family Court Services program. Contact the court at (209) 257-2603 for a referral to a panel mediator, and confirm current scheduling and whether phone or video sessions are available.

The court's Family Law Facilitator, Kori Tearpak, holds drop-in hours Monday and Friday mornings and offers appointments on Tuesdays. The facilitator can help with forms for custody, support, and related filings, but is not your attorney and cannot advise either parent confidentially. If domestic violence is part of your situation, a DV restraining order (Forms DV-100 and DV-110) can include temporary custody terms. Call 911 in an emergency, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, is available 24 hours a day.

Official custody resources in Amador County

Amador County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson 95642. Phone: (209) 257-2603.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://prod-efsp-amadorcounty-ca.journaltech.com/public-portal/?q=Home. Amador County uses the Journal Technologies eFiling Portal for self-represented and represented filers. E-filing is optional for self-represented parties, who may still file on paper in person at the courthouse.

Amador County Self-Help Center (https://www.amador.courts.ca.gov/self-help/local-self-help-resources) can help with procedure and paperwork. Reach self-help by phone at (209) 257-2603 (select the self-help or Family Law Facilitator option) or by email at selfhelp@amadorcourt.org. Drop-in services are limited, so an appointment is recommended. Local Rule 13.08 (Child Custody/Visitation; Referral for Report (Amador County Superior Court Local Rules, revised 01/01/2025)) applies; see https://www.amador.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/2025-01-01_local-rules-court.pdf.

• Amador County Superior Court Family Law
• Amador County Self-Help Resources
• Amador County Family Law Mediators Panel
• Amador County eFiling Portal

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

Amador County Child Custody FAQs