Request for Order (RFO) Hearings in Ventura County, California

In Ventura County, you set a Request for Order hearing through the Family Law division at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Under Local Rule 9.10, you choose a hearing date from available family law calendar days on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. You do not need the clerk to reserve the date first. The date must still have room on the calendar. Self-represented parties are usually set for Mondays. Attorney-represented matters are usually set for Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

After you have a hearing date, the same statewide timing rules apply in Ventura as in the rest of California. California Rules of Court, rule 5.92 requires you to serve the other party with your Request for Order at least 16 court days before the hearing. The other party has until 9 court days before the hearing to file a response on Form FL-320. If your case involves a temporary restraining order, Ventura's local rules require the hearing to be set within 25 days of when the restraining order was issued.

If your Request for Order involves a disputed child custody or visitation issue, Ventura requires both parents to attend Child Custody Recommending Counseling before the judge decides those issues. This is not the same as fully confidential mediation. If the parents reach an agreement, the discussion stays confidential. If they do not agree, the counselor prepares a parenting plan recommendation for the judge and may testify about it. First-time participants must complete a free online orientation before their scheduled appointment.

Self-represented parties can get help with forms and court process through the Family Law Self-Help Center at the Hall of Justice. Staff cannot tell you what to write in your papers or predict how the judge will decide your case.

Where hearings are held in Ventura County

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

Ventura's local rules used to require a formal meet and confer conference before some family law hearings. That requirement was removed years ago. The general rule was deleted in 1996, and a related family law rule was deleted in 2012. Local Rule 9.12 now calls for a good faith effort to resolve issues and narrow what the judge needs to decide before the hearing. This is less formal than a required scheduled conference. If custody/visitation mediation is required before your hearing, the court will set the custody hearing after your mediation appointment. A related financial issue in the same Request for Order can still be set within the normal calendaring window.

Remote appearance for a Ventura family law hearing is through Zoom as of July 1, 2026, after the county stopped using CourtCall. You must register for your specific courtroom's Zoom link by 3:00 p.m. the court day before your hearing. Late registration will be denied. Plan ahead if you want to appear remotely instead of in person. In-person appearance is still required for trials and evidentiary hearings unless the court says otherwise.

The fee to file a standard Request for Order in Ventura County is $60, the statewide fee under Government Code section 70617(a). If a hearing later needs to be continued by stipulation, there is a separate continuance fee under Government Code section 70617(c)(1). The Request for Continuance (Local Form VN-230) must be filed at least two court days before the hearing. If you cannot afford the initial filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it using Form FW-001.

Official hearing resources in Ventura County

Ventura County Superior Court, Hall of Justice, Family Law, Room 210 handles hearings filings, located at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura 93009. Phone: (805) 289-8610.

The filing fee is $435. E-filing is available through https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law. Check the Family Law division page for current e-filing vendor and requirements.

Family Law Self-Help Center (https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law-self-help-center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Assists self-represented parties with family law form completion and court procedures at the Hall of Justice in Ventura. Local Rule 9.10 (Calendaring (Family Law Requests for Orders and Motions)) applies; see https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/ventura_county_rules_of_court.pdf. Local Rule 9.10.1 (Request for Orders) applies; see https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/ventura_county_rules_of_court.pdf. Local Rule 9.12 (Hearings) applies; see https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/ventura_county_rules_of_court.pdf.

• Ventura County Family Law Division
• Ventura County Family Court Services (CCRC)
• Ventura County Remote Appearances
• Ventura County Family Law Self-Help Center
• Ventura County Superior Court Rules
• 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.

Ventura County RFO Hearing FAQs