Child Custody and Visitation in Sacramento County, California
A plain-language guide to child custody in Sacramento County, from the forms you file at the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento to mediation, the best-interest standard, and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
Sacramento County is home to California's state capital and includes the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, and Rancho Cordova. Custody cases for families across the county are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento.
Every custody case in California, including in Sacramento County, involves two separate questions. Legal custody determines who makes major decisions about a child's health, education, and welfare, and physical custody determines where the child lives. Each can be awarded jointly or solely, and the judge's decision is guided entirely by the best interest of the child, with no preference for either parent based on gender.
A custody matter can arise inside a divorce or legal separation, or, for parents who were never married, it begins with establishing parentage. Sacramento County uses the same statewide Judicial Council forms required in every California county, so the local variation is mostly procedural, involving which courthouse handles your filing and how Family Court Services schedules mediation.
When parents agree on the terms of custody and visitation, they can submit a written parenting plan for a judge to sign without a contested hearing. That route is typically faster and less stressful for the family, and Sacramento County's self-help resources are available to assist self-represented parents in preparing the necessary forms.
Where custody cases are heard in Sacramento County
Custody and visitation matters in Sacramento County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, with the county seat in Sacramento. Because courthouse locations, hours, and the local Family Court Services or Child Custody Recommending Counseling program 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 Sacramento County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)
How custody is decided in California
California uses the same statewide rules in every county, including Sacramento 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:
- Open or use an existing case: a divorce (Form FL-100), a legal separation, or a parentage case (Form FL-200) for unmarried parents.
- File a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the custody and visitation attachment (Form FL-311) to ask the court for orders.
- Serve the other parent and file a proof of service.
- Attend the mandatory child custody mediation (Family Court Services), which California requires before a contested custody hearing.
- 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 Sacramento County.
Local notes for Sacramento County
Family law filings in Sacramento County are directed to a specific courthouse, so confirm the correct location for your custody case using the official California Courts court finder before you file, rather than assuming the nearest county courthouse handles family matters.
Sacramento County follows California's statewide requirement that parents in a contested custody or visitation dispute attend child custody mediation through Family Court Services before a judge decides the case. The county's self-help center can walk self-represented parents through required forms and procedure, but staff cannot provide legal advice about how your case is likely to be decided.
If domestic violence is part of your situation, a domestic violence restraining order (Forms DV-100 and DV-110) can include temporary custody provisions. In an emergency, call 911, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, is available around the clock.
Step-by-step guides for your Sacramento County custody case
Sacramento County Child Custody FAQs
Which court handles custody cases in Sacramento County?
Custody matters are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento. Use the official California Courts court finder to confirm the specific courthouse location for family law filings before submitting your paperwork.
What is the difference between legal custody and physical custody in Sacramento County?
Legal custody is the authority to make major decisions for your child, such as schooling and medical care. Physical custody is about where the child lives. A Sacramento County judge, applying the same statewide rules used everywhere in California, can order either as joint or sole custody based on the best interest of the child.
Do Sacramento County parents have to go through mediation before a custody hearing?
Yes, if the dispute is contested. California requires mediation through Family Court Services before a judge will rule on custody or visitation, and this applies in Sacramento County just as it does statewide.
The other parent and I were never married. How do we establish custody in Sacramento County?
You will typically need to establish parentage first, then request custody orders using Form FL-300 with the FL-311 custody and visitation attachment. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, so it can help you fill out these forms accurately, but it does not offer legal advice or represent you in court.
This page is general information about California child custody procedure in Sacramento County, not legal advice for your situation. Court locations, programs, and filing details change; always confirm current details with the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento or the official California Courts self-help resources. If your case involves domestic violence, abduction risk, or a child's safety, contact the court's self-help center or a licensed California family law attorney, and in an emergency call 911. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.