Request for Order (RFO) Hearings in Inyo County, California

In Inyo County, you ask for a family court hearing by filing form FL-300. This hearing is called a Request for Order, or RFO. File it with the Inyo County Superior Court at 301 W. Line Street in Bishop. This courthouse handles family law matters for the county, including the wide, sparsely populated Owens Valley area.

California uses the same notice timeline for a Request for Order in every county. Under California Rules of Court 5.92, moving papers generally must be served and filed at least 16 court days before the hearing. The other party's response on form FL-320 is due at least 9 court days before the hearing. Inyo County follows these statewide deadlines.

Inyo County's Self-Help Center helps people in person Monday through Thursday. It also offers remote services by phone or Zoom every Friday by appointment. This can help residents who live far from Bishop finish Request for Order paperwork.

Some Inyo County family law procedures are not listed in detail on the court's public website. After you file, call the clerk's office directly to confirm your hearing date, courtroom, and any local requirements.

Where hearings are held in Inyo County

Family court hearings in Inyo County are held at the Superior Court of California, County of Inyo, with the county seat in Independence. 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 Inyo 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 Inyo County

The Self-Help Center at 301 W. Line Street in Bishop has walk-in hours Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It also offers remote appointments every Friday by phone or Zoom. For Inyo County residents traveling from Lone Pine, Independence, and other communities, the Friday remote option may save a trip to Bishop.

If your Request for Order involves contested custody or visitation, ask the clerk's office how mediation is scheduled. Also ask whether it uses a recommending model, where the mediator can send the judge a written recommendation, or a confidential model, where mediation stays private. The court's public pages did not specify this.

Inyo County's family law hearing calendar was not published in detail on the pages reviewed. Any local meet-and-confer or tentative ruling rule also was not published in detail. Plan to call the clerk's office at (760) 872-6240 as soon as you file to confirm your hearing date and courtroom.

If the Request for Order filing fee would be a financial hardship, you can ask for a statewide fee waiver on form FW-001 in Inyo County, the same as anywhere in California. The Self-Help Center at 301 W. Line Street can help you complete the fee waiver paperwork with your Request for Order.

Official hearing resources in Inyo County

Inyo County Superior Court handles hearings filings, located at 301 W. Line Street, Bishop 93514. Phone: (760) 872-6240.

No county specific e-filing portal for family law was confirmed during research. Confirm current filing options with the clerk's office.

Inyo County Self-Help Center (https://www.inyo.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at 301 W. Line Street, Bishop. Walk-in hours Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Remote services available by appointment every Friday through phone or Zoom.

• Inyo County Self-Help
• Inyo County Local Rules
• Inyo County Superior Court
• Request for Order (FL-300), California Courts Self-Help

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

Inyo County RFO Hearing FAQs