Spousal Support in San Rafael and Marin County, California

In Marin County, file a spousal support request with the Superior Court of California, County of Marin. The court's Unified Family Court division hears these cases at the Civic Center, Hall of Justice, in San Rafael. Marin County uses its own local formula for temporary spousal support under Local Rule 7.14(B). It does not borrow a schedule from another county.

Under that rule, where the person receiving spousal support is not also receiving child support from the same payor, the presumed temporary amount is 40% of the payor's net income minus 50% of the payee's net income. Where the same payor also owes child support to the recipient, the presumed amount shifts to 35% of the payor's net income after child support is deducted, minus 45% of the payee's net income without adding child support back in. The court can depart from these presumed levels for good cause.

Marin's family law departments, apart from Department of Child Support Services cases, calculate these figures using Xspouse or Family Law Software, per Local Rule 7.14(A). DCSS cases instead use the California Guideline Child Support Calculator. Long-term spousal support, decided at the end of a case, is not set by this or any percentage formula. The court instead applies the statewide Family Code section 4320 factors, and a marriage of 10 years or longer is presumptively long-term under Marin's own default judgment rules.

A support request usually starts with a Request for Order (Form FL-300) and a current Income and Expense Declaration. Local Rule 7.13(A) requires that declaration for any request involving child support, spousal support, or attorney's fees. The Legal Self-Help Center, including the Family Law Facilitator's Office at the Civic Center, can help a self-represented party prepare that paperwork and the required support calculation.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Marin County

Spousal support matters in Marin County are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Marin, with the county seat in San Rafael. 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 Marin 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 Marin County

Marin's Unified Family Court, Legal Self-Help Center, and Family Law Facilitator's Office are all at the Civic Center, Hall of Justice, in San Rafael. This gives self-represented parties one central place for filing and procedural help. Under Local Rule 7.13(D), a party contesting the guideline or presumed level of support must file a support calculation and explanatory declaration. The responding party's version is due with the response, and the moving party's version is due with the reply.

Marin uses its own named formula rather than Alameda's or Santa Clara's. A party preparing for a temporary support hearing should confirm which of the two presumption tiers applies. This means confirming whether the same payor also owes concurrent child support to the recipient, since the percentages shift between the two. The Family Law Facilitator can help prepare this calculation using the court's required Xspouse or Family Law Software program.

Marin's local rules also set a presumption for long marriages. Under the county's default judgment rule, a marriage of 10 years or longer is presumptively long-term. Absent a written agreement to the contrary, the court will reserve jurisdiction to award spousal support to both parties rather than closing off that option at judgment.

Official spousal support resources in Marin County

Marin County Superior Court, Civic Center, Hall of Justice (Unified Family Court) handles spousal-support filings, located at 3501 Civic Center Dr, San Rafael 94903.

The filing fee is $435-$450. E-filing is available through https://www.marin.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing. Marin County Superior Court accepts e-filing through the court's approved electronic filing service provider system; confirm the specific current EFSP with the court, since a brand name was not confirmed on the pages reviewed.

Marin County Superior Court Legal Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator's Office (https://www.marin.courts.ca.gov/self-help/legal-self-help-center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Civic Center, Hall of Justice, in San Rafael. Assists self-represented parties with divorce, custody, and support paperwork, including the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration, and can help prepare child and spousal support calculations, though staff cannot give legal advice about a specific case. Local Rule 7.13 (Financial Information to be Provided to the Court) applies; see https://www.marin.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/11-family-law-rules-proposed-edits_07-01-26-cycle.pdf. Local Rule 7.14 (Child and Spousal Support Proceedings) applies; see https://www.marin.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/11-family-law-rules-proposed-edits_07-01-26-cycle.pdf.

• Marin County Superior Court: Unified Family Court
• Marin County Superior Court: Legal Self-Help Center
• Marin County Superior Court: Family Court Services
• Marin County Superior Court Family Law Local Rules

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

Marin County Spousal Support FAQs