Child Custody and Visitation in Calaveras County, California

Custody cases in Calaveras County are filed at the Calaveras Superior Court in San Andreas, the county seat. The court handles family law for San Andreas and Angels Camp, as well as the rest of the county, through the Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras. The court has its own in-house Family Court Services program, so custody mediation takes place locally instead of through a referral to another county.

A custody request may be part of a divorce or legal separation. For parents who were never married, it is part of a parentage case. After the case is filed, either parent can ask for custody and visitation orders with Form FL-300, Request for Order, and the FL-311 attachment. Family Code section 3011 requires the judge to base the decision on the best interest of the child. The judge looks at issues such as each parent's ability to provide a safe and stable home. The law gives no preference based on either parent's gender.

Calaveras is a confidential, non-recommending county under Family Code section 3170's mediation requirement. The in-house mediator generally will not recommend a specific custody or visitation result to the judge if the parents cannot reach an agreement. The mediator may recommend that the child be appointed an attorney or that the case be sent for a separate custody evaluation. Before the mediation session, the court requires a free orientation. It is offered online or in person and lasts about an hour.

Calaveras County also offers e-filing through the statewide Odyssey eFileCA portal. E-filing is optional for self-represented parties who would rather file paper documents at the courthouse.

Where custody cases are heard in Calaveras County

Custody and visitation matters in Calaveras County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras, with the county seat in San Andreas. 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 Calaveras County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)

How custody is decided in California

California uses the same statewide rules in every county, including Calaveras 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 Calaveras County.

Local notes for Calaveras County

All Calaveras County custody filings and hearings go through the courthouse at 400 Government Center Drive in San Andreas. Family law motions are generally placed on the calendar on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 2. If you ask to appear remotely, Form RA-010 must be filed at least two court days before the hearing, by 3:00 p.m.

Mediation is usually scheduled about two weeks before your hearing after a Request for Order or Order to Show Cause on custody is filed. Plan for the required orientation and the mediation session to happen during that period. If there is a history of domestic violence or an active protective order, tell the court's front counter staff before your appointment. The court can arrange separate mediation sessions and protect your address.

The Self-Help Center is open weekday afternoons from noon to 3:00 p.m. It can help type and review custody forms. The Family Law Facilitator generally holds appointments Tuesdays and Wednesdays by calling ahead to (209) 754-1443. If domestic violence is part of your case, a DV restraining order (Forms DV-100 and DV-110) can include temporary custody terms while the case is pending. Call 911 in an emergency. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, is available 24 hours a day.

Official custody resources in Calaveras County

Calaveras Superior Court handles custody filings, located at 400 Government Center Drive, San Andreas 95249. Phone: (209) 754-9800.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://california-efm.tylertech.cloud/SRL. Calaveras County uses the statewide Odyssey eFileCA portal. E-filing is optional for self-represented parties, who may also file on paper.

Calaveras Superior Court Self-Help Center (https://www.calaveras.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Open Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., call (209) 754-1443. Walk-ins are accepted and remote consultations are available. Staff can help type and complete forms but cannot give legal advice. Local Rules of Court, effective January 1, 2026 (Calaveras Superior Court Local Rules) applies; see https://www.calaveras.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/calaveras-superior-court-local-rules-eff-1-1-2026.pdf.

• Calaveras Superior Court Family Court Services
• Calaveras County Child Custody Mediation
• Calaveras Superior Court Self-Help
• California Odyssey eFileCA Portal

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

Calaveras County Child Custody FAQs