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

In San Luis Obispo County, the clerk sets a family law hearing on a Request for Order (Form FL-300) when your moving papers are accepted for filing. The hearing is in the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, either at the main courthouse at 1050 Monterey Street or at the Paso Robles branch, based on where you or the other party live. Local Rule 19.04 controls venue. Cases from San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, and the county's south end go to the San Luis Obispo courthouse. Cases from Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Templeton go to the Paso Robles branch.

California uses the same notice timeline statewide, and San Luis Obispo follows it. Under California Rules of Court, rule 5.92, a Request for Order generally must be filed and served at least 16 court days before the hearing. A responsive declaration on Form FL-320 is due at least 9 court days before the hearing. San Luis Obispo also adds a local step. Local Rule 19.16 requires the parties and their attorneys to meet and confer in good faith at least 48 hours before the hearing to try to narrow or settle the issues, unless the case involves domestic violence.

Most Request for Order hearings in San Luis Obispo County can be attended remotely without asking for permission first. Local Rule 3.04 treats a self-represented party or attorney as having requested a remote appearance for non-evidentiary hearings unless the court has specifically ordered an in-person appearance. Local Rule 2.09 explains the Zoom or WebEx setup the court expects, including a working camera and microphone.

If your Request for Order involves contested custody or parenting time, and the parties have not mediated in the last 120 days, Family Court Services mediation happens before the hearing. San Luis Obispo mediations take place by phone and are confidential. That means the mediator does not tell the judge what was said or make a recommendation either way.

Where hearings are held in San Luis Obispo County

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

San Luis Obispo County splits family law filings between two courthouses, so check Local Rule 19.04's venue rules before you file. This matters more here than in a single courthouse county. Filing at the wrong branch does not stop your case, but the clerk will need to transfer it. That can slow down your hearing date.

Electronic filing is mandatory for all family law case types in San Luis Obispo County under Local Rule 31.06, through an approved Odyssey eFileCA provider. If you represent yourself, you are exempt from that mandatory e-filing rule under California Rules of Court, rule 2.253(b)(2). You may still file your Request for Order on paper at either courthouse's clerk's counter.

The Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Center can help you prepare your Request for Order, responsive declaration, and financial disclosures. It offers phone and in-person appointments, plus webinars. The Facilitator's office cannot tell you what to say in your paperwork or advise you on strategy. If paying the $60 Request for Order fee would be a hardship, ask the Facilitator's office about a fee waiver on Form FW-001 while you prepare your filing.

Official hearing resources in San Luis Obispo County

Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, Family Law Department handles hearings filings, located at 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220, San Luis Obispo 93408. Phone: (805) 706-3600. Paso Robles Branch Courthouse at 901 Park Street handles Family law cases where the petitioner (or the respondent, if the petitioner lives outside the county) resides north of the Cuesta Grade, including Paso Robles, Atascadero, Cambria, Santa Margarita, and Templeton.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available through http://www.odysseyefileca.com/service-providers.htm. Electronic filing is mandatory in all family law case types under Local Rule 31.06. Self-represented parties are exempt under California Rules of Court, rule 2.253(b)(2), but may still e-file voluntarily through an approved Odyssey eFileCA provider.

Family Law Facilitator / Self-Help Center (https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law/request-order) can help with procedure and paperwork. Offers webinars and telephone or in-person appointments for self-represented parties on Requests for Order, custody, support, and dissolution paperwork. Staff cannot give legal advice, and statements made to the Facilitator are not confidential (Local Rule 19.05). Local Rule 19.04 (Venue of Family Law Proceedings) applies; see https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules-be-effective-july-1-2026.pdf. Local Rule 19.14 (Calendaring Requests for Order, Orders to Show Cause and Motions) applies; see https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules-be-effective-july-1-2026.pdf. Local Rule 19.16 (Meet and Confers) applies; see https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules-be-effective-july-1-2026.pdf. Local Rule 19.18 (Mediation) applies; see https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules-be-effective-july-1-2026.pdf. Local Rule 3.04 (Appearing Remotely at Non-Evidentiary Hearings) applies; see https://www.slo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules-be-effective-july-1-2026.pdf.

• San Luis Obispo Superior Court, Family Division
• Request for Order Self-Help Guide
• San Luis Obispo Superior Court Local Rules (PDF)
• San Luis Obispo Superior Court Tentative Rulings
• California Rules of Court, rule 5.92

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

San Luis Obispo County RFO Hearing FAQs