Request for Order Hearings in Fairfield and Solano County, California

In Solano County, a family law Request for Order hearing is set through the Family Law Division at the Hall of Justice, 600 Union Avenue in Fairfield. This is the only courthouse in the county that handles family law matters. The Old Solano Courthouse, the Law and Justice Center in Fairfield, and the Solano Justice Building in Vallejo do not hear family law cases.

When a Request for Order is filed on Judicial Council form FL-300, Local Rule 5.5(a) directs the clerk to place the matter on the assigned judicial officer's law and motion calendar and provide the hearing date and time directly. Scheduling is not left entirely to the filing party. Initial RFO hearings are generally allotted 20 minutes of court time. Under statewide California Rules of Court 5.92, the moving party must give at least 16 court days' notice of the hearing, and a responding party filing form FL-320 must do so at least 9 court days before the hearing date.

The standard filing fee for a Request for Order in an existing Solano family law case is $60, consistent with the statewide fee under Government Code section 70677(a). Local Rule 5.3(c) also requires that a copy of the court's local Meet and Confer Orders form be included with any RFO or other moving papers served on the other party.

When an RFO raises a contested custody or visitation issue, Solano requires the parties to attend Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) through Family Court Services before or on the day of the hearing. Unlike counties that use confidential mediation, Solano's CCRC counselor prepares a written summary for the court and, if the parties do not reach an agreement, may submit a recommendation that the judicial officer can consider.

Where hearings are held in Solano County

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

Solano's family law local rules, found in Local Rule 5 of the court's numbered local rules, cover ex parte requests separately from regularly noticed RFOs. Local Rule 5.4 sets out the procedure for emergency orders: the original Request for Order plus two copies must be submitted to the Family Law Division's clerk's office, and the emergency hearing is generally set two court days after submission, or three court days if the papers are submitted after 3:00 p.m. Filing fees are due at submission unless a fee waiver is on file. Local Rule 5.5(c) allows a Request for Order to be reissued with a new hearing date if the moving party did not complete service before the original hearing date, as long as the reissuance is requested from the calendar clerk at least two court days before the scheduled hearing.

Electronic filing has been mandatory for attorneys handling civil, family, and probate cases in Solano since January 1, 2025 under Local Rule 20.2, through an approved electronic filing service provider. Self-represented parties, non-parties, and government entities remain exempt but can e-file if they choose. Solano's general court rules also authorize remote video appearance by Zoom and telephonic appearance by CourtCall. This framework is described for the civil calendar, so confirm its exact use in a specific family law department before a hearing.

Self-represented parties can get help preparing RFO paperwork through the Solano Legal Access Center and Family Law Facilitator's Office, located on the second floor of the Hall of Justice. Facilitator staff can explain court procedures and help complete forms, but they cannot give legal advice or represent either party at the hearing.

Official hearing resources in Solano County

Solano County Superior Court, Family Law Division - Hall of Justice handles hearings filings, located at 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield 94533. Phone: (707) 207-7340. Fairfield - Old Solano Courthouse at 580 Texas Street handles Not the family law filing location; family law matters are handled at the Hall of Justice. Fairfield - Law and Justice Center at 530 Union Avenue handles Not the family law filing location; family law matters are handled at the Hall of Justice. Vallejo - Solano Justice Building at 321 Tuolumne Street handles Not the family law filing location; family law matters are handled at the Hall of Justice in Fairfield.

The filing fee is $60. E-filing is available. Mandatory for attorneys in civil, family, and probate cases as of January 1, 2025 under Local Rule 20.2, using an approved electronic filing service provider (EFSP); self-represented parties, non-parties, and government entities are exempt but may e-file voluntarily. A specific EFSP portal link was not confirmed on the court's public pages.

Solano Legal Access Center (SLAC) / Family Law Facilitator's Office (https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law/family-law-facilitators-office) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located on the second floor of the Hall of Justice; helps self-represented parties with family law forms and general procedural information, though facilitator staff cannot give legal advice. Local Rule 5.3 (Forms and documents to be included with RFO moving papers, including local Meet and Confer Orders form) applies; see https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/rule_05_july_2026.pdf. Local Rule 5.4 (Applications for emergency (ex parte) orders) applies; see https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/rule_05_july_2026.pdf. Local Rule 5.5 (Law and motion hearings - setting an initial RFO hearing) applies; see https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/rule_05_july_2026.pdf. Local Rule 5.20 (Child Custody Recommending Counseling) applies; see https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/rule_05_july_2026.pdf. Local Rule 19.1 (Remote appearances (civil matters, referenced for family law departments)) applies; see https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/system/files/form/rule_19_july_2026.pdf. Local Rule 20.2 (Mandatory electronic filing and service in civil, family, and probate cases) applies; see https://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/rule_20_july_2026.pdf.

• Solano Superior Court - Family Law Division
• Family Law Facilitator's Office / Solano Legal Access Center
• Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC)
• Family Law Forms, Fees & Filing Instructions
• Local Rules of Court
• Court Locations

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

Solano County RFO Hearing FAQs