Request for Order Hearings in Concord and Contra Costa County, California

In Contra Costa County, the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa hears a Request for Order (Form FL-300) at the Spinetta Family Law Center in Martinez, the county seat. People in Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and every other Contra Costa city file their family law Request for Order at that one central family law courthouse.

Contra Costa uses what the court calls Family Law Departments and Direct Calendaring. This means your case is assigned to a specific department. That department handles scheduling for your case, instead of one countywide calendar handling every case the same way. The court also offers remote appearance options for family law matters. Its site refers to these as Court Calendars and Remote Appearances, but the exact policy can vary by department.

If your Request for Order involves a disputed custody or visitation issue, Contra Costa requires Family Court Services mediation first. The county uses a tiered process. In Tier 1, mediation is confidential. The mediator will not recommend anything to the judge if you and the other parent do not agree. Only the points you actually agree on are shared with the court. If Tier 1 does not resolve the dispute, you can be referred to Tier 2 or Tier 3 mediation. Those tiers can include information gathering or a recommendation from the mediator.

Family Court Services generally schedules mediation appointments at least two weeks before a disputed custody or visitation hearing. Parents who cannot reach an agreement must attend mediation before the judge will make permanent custody or visitation orders.

Where hearings are held in Contra Costa County

Family court hearings in Contra Costa County are held at the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa, with the county seat in Martinez. Because courtroom assignments, remote appearance options, and local procedures change over time, use the official California Courts court finder to confirm current details:

Find the Contra Costa County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)

How a family court hearing works in California

In California, a party who wants the court to decide something while a case is pending, such as temporary custody, support, or attorney's fees, files a Request for Order (Form FL-300). The core steps are:

1. File the Request for Order (Form FL-300) with a supporting declaration and, if support or fees are at issue, an Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150).
2. Serve the other party by the deadline the court sets, generally at least 16 court days before the hearing (California Rules of Court, rule 5.92).
3. The responding party can file a responsive declaration, generally at least 9 court days before the hearing.
4. Attend Family Court Services mediation first if custody or visitation is contested.
5. Attend the hearing; some courts issue tentative rulings in advance, and some allow remote appearance by video or phone.

Local notes for Contra Costa County

Every Contra Costa family law case goes through the Spinetta Family Law Center in Martinez. That gives you one address to plan around, which can make logistics simpler than in counties with several courthouses. The part that changes is the direct calendaring structure. Once your case is assigned to a department, that department manages your Request for Order timeline. Track your specific department and its contact information instead of relying only on general court hours.

Learn Contra Costa's tiered mediation model before your first Family Court Services appointment. Tier 1 confidential mediation gives you a chance to work things out privately. If it does not resolve the custody or visitation dispute, you may be referred to Tier 2 or Tier 3. In those tiers, the mediator's role can include a recommendation that goes to the judge.

Mediation appointments are generally set at least two weeks before a disputed custody hearing. Keep that lead time in mind when you file your Request for Order, especially if scheduling conflicts could push your mediation date later than you expect.

Official hearing resources in Contra Costa County

Spinetta Family Law Center handles hearings filings, located at 751 Pine Street, Martinez 94553. Phone: 925-608-1000.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://contracosta.courts.ca.gov/self-help. unverified: confirm the specific approved e-filing service provider for Contra Costa family law with the clerk.

Contra Costa Family Law Facilitator (https://contracosta.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Covers divorce, parentage, custody and visitation, child support, and spousal support; offers a live chat and an online Family Law Appointment Tool at appointments.cc-courts.org. Staff cannot give legal advice. Family Law Departments and Direct Calendaring (Contra Costa Superior Court family law calendaring structure) applies; see https://contracosta.courts.ca.gov/family-law.

• Contra Costa Superior Court Family Court Services
• Contra Costa Superior Court Request for Order Packet (FamLaw-006)
• Contra Costa Superior Court Self-Help
• Contra Costa Superior Court Family Law Court Appearances

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

Contra Costa County RFO Hearing FAQs