Child Custody and Visitation in Tehama County, California

Custody cases in Tehama County are filed at the Tehama County Courthouse, 1740 Walnut St., in Red Bluff, the county seat, through the Superior Court of California, County of Tehama. This one courthouse handles family law matters for Red Bluff and Corning along the Sacramento River.

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

Tehama County is a recommending county under Family Code section 3170's mediation requirement. The court's own Family Court Services page says that if parents do not reach an agreement in mediation, the child custody recommending counselor makes a recommendation and the court hearing goes forward. Before that mediation session, which typically runs 1.5 to 2.5 hours, parents must complete an intake packet and watch a required Parent Orientation Video. Both parties must also confirm attendance with the office by the Tuesday before the appointment or it will be cancelled, except in domestic violence cases.

Tehama County accepts e-filing through E-File CA. Self-represented parties may also file custody paperwork on paper. Fax filing is not accepted.

Where custody cases are heard in Tehama County

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

How custody is decided in California

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

Local notes for Tehama County

All Tehama County custody filings go through the courthouse at 1740 Walnut St., Red Bluff. This courthouse serves both Red Bluff and Corning under one Civil and Family Law Division. Documents must be stapled, dated, and signed, with one original plus the appropriate number of copies.

Because Tehama is a recommending mediation county, complete the intake packet and orientation video before your session. You must also confirm your mediation attendance by the Tuesday before your scheduled appointment or it will be cancelled. Contact Family Court Services at (530) 528-7608 or FamilyCourtServices@tehamacourt.ca.gov to schedule.

The SHARP Self-Help Program is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with walk-in help and appointments available. If domestic violence is part of your case, a DV restraining order (Forms DV-100 and DV-110) can include temporary custody terms while your case is pending. The usual attendance-confirmation deadline for mediation does not apply. Call 911 in an emergency. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, is available 24 hours a day.

Official custody resources in Tehama County

Tehama County Courthouse handles custody filings, located at 1740 Walnut St., Red Bluff 96080. Phone: (530) 527-6441.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available. Tehama County accepts e-filing through E-File CA. E-filing is optional for self-represented parties, who may also file on paper. Fax filing is not accepted.

Tehama County Self-Help Assistance & Referral Program (SHARP) (https://www.tehama.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at 1740 Walnut St., Red Bluff. Open Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., walk-ins accepted, appointments also available. Call (530) 527-8649. Covers custody, divorce, support, and restraining order paperwork. Local Rules of Court, effective January 1, 2026 (Tehama County Superior Court Local Rules) applies; see https://www.tehama.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/final-draft-2026-local-rules-10225.pdf.

• Tehama County Family Court Services
• Tehama County Self-Help / SHARP
• Tehama 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.

Tehama County Child Custody FAQs