Updated August 2026
Request for Order (RFO) Hearings in Los Angeles County, California
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Los Angeles County, from the Request for Order you file at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
In Los Angeles County, a family law hearing on a Request for Order (Form FL-300) is handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Your case goes to the family law courthouse that covers your area. The county has family law departments at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles and at ten other locations, including Van Nuys, Long Beach, Pasadena, Pomona, Chatsworth, Torrance, Santa Monica, Compton, Inglewood, Whittier, and the Antelope Valley. The right place to file depends on where you live.
When you e-file a Request for Order, the electronic filing system sets the hearing date during filing. You do not make a separate scheduling call. The court's local family rules require an RFO to be filed and served at least 45 calendar days before the hearing date. That is longer than the statewide minimum notice period, so plan ahead if you need a hearing soon.
Before a judge hears a contested custody or visitation Request for Order in Los Angeles County, the parents must go to Family Court Services mediation. Los Angeles uses confidential mediation. This means the mediator's file and recommendations are not shared with the judge and cannot be subpoenaed. The mediation itself is free.
Many Los Angeles County family law hearings can be attended remotely through LACourtConnect, the court's remote appearance platform built on Microsoft Teams. Eligibility depends on the courtroom and case type. Check LACourtConnect's family law eligibility page before you plan to appear by video instead of in person.
Where hearings are held in Los Angeles County
Family court hearings in Los Angeles County are held at the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, with the county seat in Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County spreads family law filings across eleven courthouses. Confirm which one covers your ZIP code before you file. Filing in the wrong district will not put your Request for Order in front of the right judge. It can also cost you time under the 45 day filing rule.
Family law e-filing has been mandatory for attorney-represented litigants since November 15, 2021. If you are representing yourself, you are exempt. You can still file your Request for Order on paper at the clerk's window. The court's Self-Help Resource Center can help with the paperwork, but staff cannot advise you on strategy or outcomes.
If your Request for Order includes custody or visitation orders, expect one more step. Family Court Services mediation must happen before the judge hears that part of your case. Confirm your mediation appointment and the fee status for your RFO with the clerk when you file, since exact current totals can change.
Official hearing resources in Los Angeles County
Stanley Mosk Courthouse handles hearings filings, located at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles 90012. Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse at 42011 4th Street West handles Family law RFOs for the Antelope Valley area. Chatsworth Courthouse at 9425 Penfield Avenue handles Family law RFOs for the west San Fernando Valley. Compton Courthouse at 200 West Compton Boulevard handles Family law RFOs for the Compton area. Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse at 275 Magnolia Avenue handles Family law RFOs for the Long Beach area. Pomona Courthouse South at 400 Civic Center Plaza handles Family law RFOs for the Pomona/eastern county area. Pasadena Courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street handles Family law RFOs for the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area. Torrance Courthouse at 825 Maple Avenue handles Family law RFOs for the South Bay area. Inglewood Courthouse at One Regent Street handles Family law RFOs for the Inglewood area. Santa Monica Courthouse at 1725 Main Street handles Family law RFOs for the Westside area. Van Nuys Courthouse East at 6230 Sylmar Avenue handles Family law RFOs for the east San Fernando Valley. Whittier Courthouse at 7339 South Painter Avenue handles Family law RFOs for the Whittier/southeast county area.
The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://www.lacourt.org/casetypeeligibility/UI/EFilingCaseType.aspx?casetype=fl. Family law e-filing has been mandatory for attorney-represented litigants since November 15, 2021. Self-represented litigants are exempt and may still file on paper.
LA Superior Court Self-Help Resource Center (https://www.lacourt.org/laselfhelp/UI/index.aspx?model=1) can help with procedure and paperwork. Free help with family law forms and procedure for people representing themselves; staff cannot give legal advice. Local Rule 5.12 (Chapter Five, Family Division Rules: Request for Order filing and hearing timing) applies; see https://lascpubstorage.blob.core.windows.net/cts-webgrouppublic/LIBSVCJES/CourtRules/Master/LascCourtRules_CH5.pdf.
- LA Superior Court Family Court Services Mediation
- LA Superior Court Local Rules, Chapter Five (Family Division)
- LACourtConnect Family Law Eligibility
- Child Custody Mediation Appointment Request
- LA Superior Court Self-Help Resource Center
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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Los Angeles County RFO Hearing FAQs
Where do I file for a hearing on a Request for Order in Los Angeles County?
File with the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, at the family law courthouse that covers your area. The county has eleven family law locations, including Stanley Mosk in downtown Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Long Beach, Pasadena, Pomona, Chatsworth, Torrance, Santa Monica, Compton, Inglewood, and Whittier. Confirm the correct courthouse for your address before you file.
How is my Request for Order hearing date set in Los Angeles County?
When you e-file Form FL-300, the court's electronic filing system assigns your hearing date during the filing process. Local rules require the Request for Order to be filed and served at least 45 calendar days before that hearing date, so a hearing sooner than roughly six and a half weeks out is not available.
Is Family Court Services mediation required before my custody hearing in Los Angeles County?
Yes, if your Request for Order involves contested custody or visitation. Los Angeles County uses confidential mediation. This means the mediator's file is not shared with the judge and cannot be subpoenaed. Mediation is provided at no cost, and you can request an appointment through the court's online Family Court Services request system.
Can I appear at my Los Angeles County hearing remotely?
Many family law hearings in Los Angeles County qualify for LACourtConnect, the court's remote appearance platform built on Microsoft Teams. Eligibility depends on the courtroom and case type. Check the LACourtConnect family law eligibility page for your specific hearing before you plan to appear by video instead of in person.
How much does it cost to file a Request for Order in Los Angeles County?
The base statewide motion filing fee is $60 under Government Code section 70677(a). Los Angeles County uses that fee for a Request for Order. Requests that include custody or visitation orders can involve an additional charge. Confirm the exact current total with the clerk when you file, or ask about a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
Do I have to file my Request for Order electronically in Los Angeles County?
Only if an attorney represents you. Los Angeles County has required electronic filing in family law cases for attorney-represented litigants since November 15, 2021. If you represent yourself, you are exempt from that requirement. You can still file your Request for Order on paper at the courthouse.
This page is general information about California family court hearing procedure in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or the official California self-help center resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
Hearing guides for nearby counties
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