Child Custody and Visitation in Mono County, California

Custody cases in Mono County are filed through the Superior Court of California, County of Mono, at the Mono County Superior Court, 100 Thompson Way, in Mammoth Lakes, the county's largest community. The county also has a Bridgeport Courthouse near the county seat. Its schedule has changed, so confirm the location for your case before you travel.

A custody request can be part of a divorce or a legal separation. Parents who were never married use a parentage case. After the case is open, either parent may ask for custody and visitation orders by filing Form FL-300, Request for Order, with the FL-311 attachment. Under Family Code section 3011, the judge must decide based on the best interest of the child. The judge considers facts such as each parent's ability to provide a stable, safe home, with no preference based on either parent's gender.

Mono County is a confidential, non-recommending county under Family Code section 3170's mediation requirement. The court's page says the mediator makes no recommendation to the court. If parents do not agree, they must present their case to the judge at the hearing. What is discussed in mediation stays confidential and is not shared with the court. Mediation dates are arranged directly with a mediator from the court's list of approved mediators, not through an online scheduling system.

Mono County offers optional e-filing for self-represented parties. Paper filing is also available at the courthouse.

Where custody cases are heard in Mono County

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

How custody is decided in California

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

Local notes for Mono County

Mono County runs along the eastern Sierra from Mammoth Lakes to Bridgeport. Before you travel, ask the court which location currently handles family law matters, since the Bridgeport branch's schedule has changed at times during 2026.

Mono's mediation is confidential. If you and the other parent cannot agree, the case goes to a hearing, and each parent presents directly to the judge instead of using a mediator's recommendation. Contact the court at (760) 924-5444 to get the current list of approved mediators and set your own appointment.

No dedicated self-help center or family law facilitator was found published for Mono County. For form help, contact the local courthouse and the statewide California Courts Self-Help Center at (800) 953-8000. If domestic violence is part of your situation, a DV restraining order (Forms DV-100 and DV-110) can include temporary custody terms while your 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 Mono County

Mono County Superior Court handles custody filings, located at 100 Thompson Way, Mammoth Lakes 93546. Phone: (760) 924-5444. Bridgeport Courthouse at 278 Main Street handles The county seat's branch courthouse; confirm current operating status with the court, since some proceedings have at times been moved to Mammoth Lakes.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available. Mono County offers e-filing for self-represented parties, and it is optional rather than mandatory. Confirm the current approved provider with the clerk's office.

Mono County self-help resources (https://www.mono.courts.ca.gov/general-information/location-and-contact-information) can help with procedure and paperwork. No dedicated self-help center location or hours were published on the court's site. Contact the Mammoth Lakes courthouse at (760) 924-5444, or use the statewide California Courts Self-Help Center at (800) 953-8000.

• Mono County Child Custody Visitation Mediation
• Mono County Court Location and Contact Information
• Mono County Electronic Filing

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

Mono County Child Custody FAQs