Request for Order Hearings in Visalia and Tulare County, California

In Tulare County, you file a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the Family Law Division. If your papers are complete, the clerk gives you a hearing date when you file. Family law cases are heard at the Visalia Division at 221 South Mooney Boulevard and the South County Justice Center at 300 East Olive Avenue in Porterville. Before you file, check with the clerk to confirm which courthouse is assigned to your case.

If you file a Request for Order with your initial Petition, Local Rule 906 sets the first Case Management Conference for the same time as the Request for Order hearing. It does not use the usual 120-day default timeline. After the hearing date is set, the statewide service rules apply. California Rules of Court, rule 5.92 requires service on the other party at least 16 court days before the hearing. Any response on Form FL-320 is due 9 court days before the hearing.

Tulare allows remote appearance for most non-evidentiary family law hearings under Local Rule 937. The court uses its designated platform, usually Zoom, with CourtCall as another option. You do not need to file a separate Notice of Remote Appearance. Contested hearings and trials are evidentiary hearings under Local Rule 938 and usually require in-person appearance.

If your case involves custody or visitation, Tulare requires mediation through Family Court Services before a judge hears those issues. The program is called Mediation and Child Custody Recommending Counseling. If you do not have a lawyer, the Self-Help Resource Center in the Visalia courthouse can help with forms and procedure. Staff cannot write your declarations or predict what a judge will decide.

Where hearings are held in Tulare County

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

Tulare's Family Court Services process requires a mandatory orientation for parents, guardians, stepparents, and grandparents referred by the court or FCS staff. If the case includes current or past domestic violence allegations between the parties, a third orientation module is also required. Tulare's mediation program includes child custody recommending counseling, so the counselor can give input to the judge if the parents do not reach an agreement.

Submit remote appearance requests in Tulare no more than a week before the hearing. The court usually responds within about 24 hours. Parties or witnesses in a domestic violence restraining order hearing may appear remotely under Family Code section 6308, regardless of the general remote appearance rule. Members of the public who need help with a scheduled remote appearance can call (559) 738-2330. That line is staffed starting 30 minutes before the relevant court session.

The Request for Order filing fee in Tulare is generally $60. That matches the statewide fee under Government Code section 70617(a). Tulare's family law pages do not state the amount directly, so confirm it with the clerk. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it using Form FW-001. Tulare also has an optional local form, FAM-003, the Child Custody and Visitation Declaration Attachment. Some parties use it to add detail to a custody-related Request for Order.

Official hearing resources in Tulare County

Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Family Law handles hearings filings, located at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Room 201, Visalia 93291. Phone: (559) 730-5000. South County Justice Center at 300 East Olive Avenue handles Family law matters for the Porterville/south county area; confirm case-specific assignment with the clerk..

The filing fee is $435. E-filing is available through https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling. Check the eFiling Services page for current vendor and requirements.

Self-Help Resource Center (https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Room 203, Visalia. Provides free assistance with certain family, civil, and probate matters. Local Rule 906 (Family Centered Case Resolution) applies; see https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/remediated-local-rules-effective-70126.pdf. Local Rule 937 (Remote Appearances at Family Law Hearings, Including Petitions for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders) applies; see https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/remediated-local-rules-effective-70126.pdf. Local Rule 938 (Evidentiary Hearings) applies; see https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/remediated-local-rules-effective-70126.pdf.

• Tulare County Family Law Division
• Tulare County Family Court Services Mediation and CCRC
• Tulare County Request Remote Hearings
• Tulare County Self-Help Resource Center
• Tulare County Local Rules of Court
• 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.

Tulare County RFO Hearing FAQs