Request for Order (RFO) Hearings in San Bernardino County, California

In San Bernardino County, the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino hears a Request for Order (Form FL-300). The county's Family Law Division is based at the Historic Courthouse in downtown San Bernardino. San Bernardino is the largest county in the contiguous United States by land area. It stretches from the Inland Empire to the Nevada and Arizona borders, so confirm the right filing location before you travel to a hearing.

The base filing fee for a Request for Order is $60. This is the standard statewide motion fee under Government Code section 70677(a). San Bernardino's fee schedule also confirms an additional $25 charge under Government Code section 70678 when the request asks the court to modify or enforce custody or visitation orders. The court also has a self-help center for people handling a Request for Order without an attorney.

If your Request for Order includes a contested custody or visitation issue, San Bernardino requires Child Custody Recommending Counseling before the hearing. This is recommending mediation. If you and the other parent do not reach an agreement, the counselor prepares a recommendation for the judge. The discussion is not fully confidential. Family Court Services has four district offices across the county, in San Bernardino, Barstow, Joshua Tree, and Victorville. The office you use depends on where you live.

Many San Bernardino County family law hearings allow remote appearances. The court offers several options, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and CourtCall. CourtCall is a telephonic and video service reached by dialing 888-882-6878. Availability depends on the specific courtroom and calendar.

Where hearings are held in San Bernardino County

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

San Bernardino County covers a large area, from dense Inland Empire cities to remote desert communities. Do not assume the Historic Courthouse in San Bernardino is the right filing location for your Request for Order. Confirm your assigned courthouse and department before you file or plan a trip to a hearing.

The Family Law Division also has an online appointment system for some filing and clerk needs. Check if you need an appointment before going in person, especially if you want to avoid a wasted trip in such a spread-out county.

Family Court Services uses recommending mediation, not a fully confidential model. If you and the other parent cannot agree during your Child Custody Recommending Counseling appointment, the counselor's recommendation can become part of what the judge considers at your hearing.

Official hearing resources in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino Historic Courthouse, Family Law Division handles hearings filings, located at 351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino 92415-0245. Phone: 909-521-3136.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-rules-court. The court lists Family Law eFiling as an available online service; confirm the specific approved e-filing service provider with the clerk.

San Bernardino Superior Court Self-Help Services (https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Self-help services cover family law, child support, civil harassment, landlord-tenant, and small claims; staff explain procedure but cannot give legal advice. Local Rules of Court (Family Law provisions) (San Bernardino Superior Court Local Rules of Court) applies; see https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-rules-court.

• San Bernardino Superior Court Family Court Services
• San Bernardino Superior Court Self-Help Services
• San Bernardino Superior Court Remote Appearances and Courtroom Technology
• San Bernardino Superior Court Fee Schedule
• San Bernardino Superior Court Family Law Division

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

San Bernardino County RFO Hearing FAQs