Child Custody and Visitation in Plumas County, California

Custody cases in Plumas County are filed and heard at the Plumas County Courthouse, 520 Main Street, in Quincy. The case goes through the Superior Court of California, County of Plumas. This one courthouse serves Quincy and Portola, the county's other incorporated city, in the northern Sierra Nevada.

A custody request may be part of a divorce, a legal separation, or a parentage case for parents who were never married. 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. The law does not favor either parent because of gender.

Plumas County is a recommending county under Family Code section 3170's mediation requirement. The court's Family Court Services page says that if the parents do not reach agreement, the mediator, also called the Child Custody Recommending Counselor, sends a recommendation to the judge. The judge then makes the final custody decision. Local Rule 6.5(d) states the same requirement.

Plumas County has no e-filing portal for family law matters. Custody papers are filed on paper in person or by mail. Fax or email filing may be available in some circumstances under Local Rule 1.10.

Where custody cases are heard in Plumas County

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

How custody is decided in California

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

Local notes for Plumas County

Plumas County has one courthouse for both Quincy and Portola. Every custody filing and hearing goes through 520 Main Street in Quincy. Mountain weather can affect court schedules in this area. Confirm current hours before you travel, especially in winter.

Plumas is a recommending mediation county. Parents must complete Good Faith Mediation. If you and the other parent do not agree, the mediator's recommendation goes to the judge. Contact Family Court Services directly at (530) 283-6232 to schedule your session. Telephone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Family Court Services and Self-Help office is in Room 104 of the courthouse. It is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with appointments recommended. 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 Plumas County

Plumas County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 520 Main Street, Quincy 95971. Phone: (530) 283-6232.

The filing fee is $60. Plumas County has no e-filing portal for family law cases. Self-represented parties file on paper in person or by mail, and may use fax or email filing under Local Rule 1.10 in some circumstances.

Plumas County Family Court Services / Self-Help (https://plumas.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located in Room 104 of the courthouse, 520 Main Street, Quincy. Open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., appointments recommended; call (530) 283-6232 to schedule. Covers dissolution, custody and visitation mediation, and guardianship forms. Local Rule 6.5(d), Mediator's Recommendation (Plumas County Superior Court Proposed Local Rules (revised effective July 1, 2026)) applies; see https://plumas.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/proposed-local-rules-2026.pdf.

• Plumas County Family Court Services
• Plumas County Self-Help
• Plumas County Family Law Division
• Plumas County Local Rules of Court

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

Plumas County Child Custody FAQs