Updated August 2026
Request for Order (RFO) Hearings in El Dorado County, California
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in El Dorado County, from the Request for Order you file at the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
To schedule a family law hearing in El Dorado County, file a Request for Order, Judicial Council Form FL-300, with the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado. The calendar clerk sets the hearing date when you file. El Dorado has two family law courthouses, the Placerville Building C Branch and the South Lake Tahoe Branch. The right branch depends on where your case was filed. Confirm the correct branch before you file papers or go to a hearing.
After a Request for Order is filed, California Rules of Court 5.92 requires you to serve the notice of hearing on the other party at least 16 court days before the hearing date. Any responsive declaration, Form FL-320, must be filed and served at least 9 court days before the hearing. El Dorado's local rules add county steps to that statewide timeline. These include a meet and confer requirement, income and expense declaration deadlines when support or fees are involved, and a tentative ruling system that can decide some law and motion matters without a court appearance.
El Dorado covers a large area, from the Sacramento foothills to the Tahoe basin. That distance can affect planning. A party in South Lake Tahoe and a party in Cameron Park or El Dorado Hills may be working with different courthouses, different self-help center hours, and a long drive between them. Plan for that when the hearing date is set.
Self-represented filers can use the Family Law Facilitator/Self-Help Center at either branch for help with procedure and forms. Staff cannot give legal advice or predict how a judge will rule.
Where hearings are held in El Dorado County
Family court hearings in El Dorado County are held at the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado, with the county seat in Placerville. 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 El Dorado 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:
- 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).
- 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).
- The responding party can file a responsive declaration, generally at least 9 court days before the hearing.
- Attend Family Court Services mediation first if custody or visitation is contested.
- Attend the hearing; some courts issue tentative rulings in advance, and some allow remote appearance by video or phone.
Local notes for El Dorado County
El Dorado's tentative ruling system applies under Local Rule 8.05.07 and California Rules of Court 3.1308. The court posts rulings and the written reasons online by 2:00 p.m. the court day before a law and motion hearing. The same information is available by phone from either branch. If no party requests oral argument by 4:00 p.m. that day, the tentative ruling becomes the final order automatically. Check the posting before assuming the hearing will be argued in person.
Remote appearances in El Dorado moved to Unicorn Digital Courtroom in February 2026. This replaced the court's earlier Zoom and VCourt telephonic setup. For family law matters, registration opens 14 days before the hearing. You must finish registration at least 15 minutes before the hearing. A $25 remote appearance fee plus a convenience fee applies unless a fee waiver is on file.
Custody disputes go through Child Custody Recommending Counseling before a contested hearing. If parents disagree, the counselor can make a recommendation to the judge. Prepare for that appointment as carefully as you prepare for the hearing. This includes completing the required intake questionnaire. Parties who live more than 120 miles from their assigned courthouse can ask to appear by phone for that session using local Form F-102.
Official hearing resources in El Dorado County
Placerville Building C Branch, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado handles hearings filings, located at 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 120, Placerville 95667. Phone: 530-621-5047. South Lake Tahoe Branch, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado at 1354 Johnson Blvd. handles Family law matters, including Requests for Order, for cases filed out of the South Lake Tahoe basin area. Both the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe branches hear family law cases; which one handles a given case depends on where the case was filed, so confirm with the clerk or the court's online locator before filing or appearing..
The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling. eFiling is mandatory in family law cases for attorneys but optional for self-represented parties, who may still file on paper. Filings must go through an authorized Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) listed on the court's site.
Family Law Facilitator/Self-Help Center (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law-facilitatorself-help-center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Operates at both the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe branches. Staff can explain procedures and help review forms but cannot give legal advice. Phone: Placerville 530-621-5098, South Lake Tahoe 530-573-3066. Local Rule 8.01.01 (Meet and Confer Requirement) applies; see https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf. Local Rule 8.05.01 (Date, Time, and Place of Hearing on Request for Order) applies; see https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf. Local Rule 8.05.07 (Tentative Ruling System) applies; see https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf. Local Rule 8.06.05 (Remote Appearances) applies; see https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf. Local Rule 8.10.02 (Child Custody Recommending Counseling Scheduling) applies; see https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf.
- El Dorado Superior Court Family Law division
- Family Law Facilitator/Self-Help Center
- Local Rules PDF
- Remote Appearances
- Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC)
- Fees & Bail Schedules
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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El Dorado County RFO Hearing FAQs
Where do I file a Request for Order in El Dorado County?
File Form FL-300 with the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado. Use the Placerville Building C Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch, depending on where your case was filed. Both branches hear family law matters. Confirm the correct location with the clerk's office before you file or go to a hearing.
How does El Dorado County set my Request for Order hearing date?
Under Local Rule 8.05.01, the calendar clerk sets the date, time, and place of a family law hearing when you file. A separate scheduling office does not set it. The hearing still must be far enough out to meet the statewide 16 court day notice requirement under California Rules of Court 5.92.
Do I have to meet and confer before an El Dorado County RFO hearing?
Yes, in most cases. Local Rule 8.01.01 requires the parties, and their attorneys if they have them, to meet and confer in good faith. They must try to resolve the issues before a motion or Request for Order is heard. This requirement is waived in cases involving domestic violence.
Can I appear remotely for a family law hearing in El Dorado County?
Yes, if the court allows it. El Dorado uses the Unicorn Digital Courtroom platform for remote appearances. Family law participants can register online starting 14 days before the hearing. Registration must be completed at least 15 minutes before the hearing begins. A $25 remote appearance fee plus a convenience fee applies unless a fee waiver has been granted.
Is Family Court Services mediation confidential or recommending in El Dorado County?
El Dorado has a recommending program called Child Custody Recommending Counseling. If parents cannot agree on custody or visitation, the counselor can make a recommendation to the judge. The counselor does more than help the parties talk, so the appointment carries more weight than a purely confidential mediation session.
How much does it cost to file a Request for Order in El Dorado County?
The fee is $60 under the statewide motion fee set by Government Code section 70617(a), if it is not the very first paper you have filed in the case. If paying the fee would be a hardship, you can ask the court for a fee waiver using Form FW-001.
This page is general information about California family court hearing procedure in El Dorado County, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines, local rules, and courtroom procedures change; always confirm current details with the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado or the official California self-help center resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
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