Updated August 2026
Request for Order Hearings in Santa Ana and Orange County, California
A plain-language guide to asking for a family court hearing in Orange County, from the Request for Order you file at the Superior Court of California, County of Orange to deadlines and what to expect, prepared without hiring an attorney.
In Orange County, the Superior Court of California, County of Orange hears a Request for Order (Form FL-300). All family law filings, including RFOs, go through the Family Law Clerk's Office at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in the city of Orange. People in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, and every other Orange County city file their Request for Order at that single central location.
You can file your Request for Order by e-filing. You can also use the courthouse drop box outside the Lamoreaux Justice Center's main entrance at any time. Local Rule 705 says the face sheet of your RFO paperwork must state the hearing date, time, and department. It must also identify the specific issues the judge needs to decide. Complete that cover information correctly before you file.
If your Request for Order involves contested custody or visitation, Orange County requires the parents to attend Family Court Services mediation first. The county uses confidential mediation. This means what you discuss with the mediator is not shared with the judge, except when the mediator must report suspected child abuse. Mediation itself is free.
Many Orange County family law hearings can be attended remotely by Zoom or WebEx. The link depends on the department hearing your case. The court asks participants to log in about fifteen minutes before the scheduled time.
Where hearings are held in Orange County
Family court hearings in Orange County are held at the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, with the county seat in Santa Ana. 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 Orange 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 Orange County
All Orange County family law filings go through one location, the Lamoreaux Justice Center. That means there is less guesswork than in counties with several courthouses. It also means the clerk's office handles a high volume of cases. File complete paperwork the first time. Follow Local Rule 705's face sheet requirements closely to help avoid a rejected filing.
Orange County's self-help center can help you complete your Request for Order. Staff cannot advise you on strategy or predict how a judge will rule. If your case involves custody or visitation, expect a Family Court Services mediation appointment before your hearing date. The court will not decide a contested custody issue until that mediation step is complete.
Before your hearing, confirm your department's remote appearance link and any standing orders on the court's Family Law Video Appearances and Remote Appearance Information pages. Remote hearing rules can vary by department.
Official hearing resources in Orange County
Lamoreaux Justice Center, Family Law Clerk's Office handles hearings filings, located at 341 The City Drive South, 7th Floor, Orange 92868. Phone: 657-622-5077.
The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://www.occourts.org/divisions/family-law/family-law-records. Family law documents can be e-filed or dropped in a 24/7 drop box outside the Lamoreaux Justice Center main entrance.
OC Self-Help Family Law (https://www.occourts.org/self-help/self-help-family-law) 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 705 (Request for Order and Order to Show Cause (Family Law)) applies; see https://www.occourts.org/system/files?file=18div7.pdf.
- OC Superior Court Family Law Records and Filing
- OC Superior Court Local Rules, Division 7 (Family Law)
- OC Superior Court Family Law Video Appearances
- OC Superior Court Family Court Services
- OC Superior Court Self-Help Family Law
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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Orange County RFO Hearing FAQs
Where do I file for a hearing on a Request for Order in Orange County?
File with the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, at the Family Law Clerk's Office inside the Lamoreaux Justice Center. The address is 341 The City Drive South, 7th Floor, in the city of Orange. You can e-file or use the courthouse's 24 hour drop box outside the main entrance. There is no separate family law courthouse elsewhere in the county.
What has to be on my Request for Order paperwork in Orange County?
Local Rule 705 says the face sheet of your Request for Order must state the hearing date, time, and department. It must also identify the specific issues you want the judge to decide. Missing or incomplete face sheet information can slow down or delay your filing at the Lamoreaux Justice Center clerk's office.
Is Family Court Services mediation required before my custody hearing in Orange County?
Yes, if your Request for Order involves a contested custody or visitation issue. Orange County requires mediation under Family Code section 3170 before the judge hears the matter. The county uses confidential mediation. This means what you tell the mediator is not shared with the judge, except when child abuse must be reported. Mediation is free.
Can I appear at my Orange County hearing remotely?
Many Orange County family law hearings can be attended by Zoom or WebEx. You need the department-specific link from the court's Family Law Video Appearances page. The court asks participants to log in about fifteen minutes before the scheduled hearing time. Confirm your specific department's rules before you assume remote appearance is available.
How much does it cost to file a Request for Order in Orange County?
The base statewide motion filing fee is $60 under Government Code section 70677(a). Orange County follows that fee for a Request for Order. Requests that add custody or visitation orders can involve an additional charge. Confirm the exact current total with the clerk's office when you file. If you cannot afford it, ask about a fee waiver.
Do I have to go in person to file a Request for Order in Orange County?
No. Orange County accepts family law filings, including Requests for Order, by e-filing. It also has a drop box outside the Lamoreaux Justice Center's main entrance. The drop box is available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, for people who want to submit paper documents without waiting at the clerk's window.
This page is general information about California family court hearing procedure in Orange 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 Orange 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
Preparing for a hearing in Orange County
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