Spousal Support in Del Norte County, California

Spousal support cases in Del Norte County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte. The courthouse is at 450 H Street in Crescent City, the county's only incorporated city and county seat. This is the only courthouse for the county's rural population, and it handles all family law matters, including spousal support.

To ask for spousal support while a case is pending, a party usually files Form FL-300, Request for Order, and a completed FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration. California Rule of Court 5.92 requires at least 16 court days notice of the hearing. The other party's response is due at least 9 court days before the hearing.

For temporary support, Del Norte County uses the same statewide guideline calculation method as every California court. DissoMaster was discontinued as of April 1, 2025. The court now calculates temporary spousal support through XSpouse or a comparable Judicial Council-certified program, using each spouse's income and other required figures.

For long-term or permanent support, Del Norte County judges use the factors in Family Code section 4320 instead of a fixed formula. They consider facts such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, age, health, and the standard of living during the marriage.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Del Norte County

Spousal support matters in Del Norte County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte, with the county seat in Crescent City. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local procedures change over time, use the official California Courts court finder to confirm current details for your case:

Find the Del Norte County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)

How spousal support works in California

California distinguishes between temporary spousal support, ordered while a case is pending, and long-term spousal support, ordered at judgment. For temporary support, many counties, including some large ones, have adopted a local guideline formula (commonly run through software like DissoMaster or XSpouse) that produces a presumptive number; other counties leave temporary support to the judge's discretion without a local formula.

Long-term spousal support, by contrast, has no formula anywhere in California. A judge weighs the factors in Family Code section 4320, including each spouse's earning capacity, the marital standard of living, the length of the marriage, and the supported spouse's ability to become self-supporting. Spousal support is requested with a Request for Order (Form FL-300) and an Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150), inside a divorce or legal separation case.

Local notes for Del Norte County

Del Norte County's Family Law Facilitator, Martha McQuarrie, is a neutral family law attorney. She helps people who do not have lawyers with support matters, including spousal support, free of charge. Her office is in the Traffic Court building at the corner of Fifth and G Street in Crescent City. This is separate from the main courthouse. Walk-in hours are Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed during the lunch hour.

You can contact the facilitator's office at (707) 465-8634 or (707) 465-1896. You can also email familylawfacilitator@delnorte.courts.ca.gov. The facilitator uses walk-in hours instead of appointments, so arriving earlier in the day may shorten your wait.

No dedicated e-filing portal for family law was confirmed on the court's public pages. Plan to file spousal support papers in person at the Crescent City courthouse unless the clerk's office confirms another option. Because this is a rural county with limited staffing, there may be fewer hearing dates than in a larger court.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it using Form FW-001. This statewide option applies in Del Norte County the same way it applies elsewhere. Family Code section 4325 may also affect support. A spouse convicted of a domestic violence offense against the other spouse within five years before filing faces a rebuttable presumption against receiving spousal support.

Official spousal support resources in Del Norte County

Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte handles spousal-support filings, located at 450 H Street, Crescent City 95531.

The filing fee is $435. No dedicated e-filing portal confirmed on the court's public pages; unverified.

Family Law Facilitator (Martha McQuarrie) (https://www.delnorte.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family) can help with procedure and paperwork. Office located in the Traffic Court building at the corner of Fifth and G Street, Crescent City. Walk-in hours Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed for lunch). Phone (707) 465-8634 or (707) 465-1896; email familylawfacilitator@delnorte.courts.ca.gov.

• Del Norte Superior Court: Family Division
• Del Norte Superior Court: Location and Contact
• California Courts: Spousal or Partner Support (self-help)
• Family Code section 4320 (long-term support factors)

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

Del Norte County Spousal Support FAQs