Child Custody and Visitation in San Francisco County, California
A plain-language guide to child custody in San Francisco County, from the forms you file at the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco to mediation, the best-interest standard, and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
San Francisco is unusual among California counties because the city and county are consolidated into a single government. Custody matters for families in San Francisco are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco.
The state's custody framework applies here exactly as it does everywhere else in California. Legal custody covers who has the authority to make major decisions for a child, and physical custody covers where the child lives. Each can be ordered as joint or sole custody, and a judge's ruling is based solely on the best interest of the child, without any preference tied to a parent's gender.
Custody can arise as part of a divorce or legal separation, or, for parents who were never married, it begins with a parentage action. San Francisco uses the same statewide Judicial Council forms required in every California county, so the local variation is administrative rather than legal: confirming the correct courthouse department and how Family Court Services schedules your mediation appointment.
When parents agree on custody and visitation, they can avoid a contested hearing by submitting a written parenting plan for a judge to sign. This is usually the fastest and least stressful route, and San Francisco's family law self-help center is available to assist self-represented parents through the required forms.
Where custody cases are heard in San Francisco County
Custody and visitation matters in San Francisco County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, with the county seat in San Francisco. 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 San Francisco County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)
How custody is decided in California
California uses the same statewide rules in every county, including San Francisco 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 San Francisco County.
Local notes for San Francisco County
Because San Francisco is a single consolidated city and county, family law matters are centered within San Francisco itself, but confirm the exact courthouse and department for your custody case using the official California Courts court finder before filing.
As required throughout California, parents in San Francisco with a contested custody or visitation dispute must attend child custody mediation through Family Court Services before a judge rules on the matter. The court's self-help center can walk self-represented parents through procedure and required forms, but staff there do not provide legal advice about your specific case.
If your situation involves domestic violence, a domestic violence restraining order (Forms DV-100 and DV-110) can include temporary custody provisions while your case is pending. Call 911 in an emergency, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, is available 24 hours a day.
Step-by-step guides for your San Francisco County custody case
San Francisco County Child Custody FAQs
What court handles child custody cases in San Francisco?
Custody cases are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. Since San Francisco is a consolidated city and county, confirm the exact courthouse department for family law matters using the official California Courts court finder.
How is custody decided in San Francisco?
San Francisco judges apply the same best interest of the child standard used statewide in California. Legal custody, the right to make major decisions for a child, and physical custody, where the child lives, are decided separately and can be joint or sole.
Do parents in San Francisco have to attend mediation before a custody hearing?
Yes, for contested custody or visitation disputes. California requires mediation through Family Court Services before a judge will rule, and San Francisco follows this same statewide requirement.
Can I file for custody in San Francisco without a lawyer?
Yes. San Francisco's self-help center supports self-represented parents with procedural questions. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and it can help you complete the required Judicial Council forms accurately, but it does not give legal advice or represent you in court.
This page is general information about California child custody procedure in San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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.