Spousal Support in San Bernardino County, California

To ask for spousal support in San Bernardino County, file a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. The correct courthouse depends on where you live because the county is the largest in the contiguous United States by land area. Valley communities such as San Bernardino, Colton, Redlands, and Yucaipa generally file with the San Bernardino District's Family Law Division at 351 North Arrowhead Avenue. High Desert communities such as Victorville, Hesperia, and Apple Valley are directed toward the Barstow District. Residents of the far eastern desert communities may file through the Joshua Tree or Needles Districts.

San Bernardino County's local rules do not list a named local formula for temporary spousal support. A review of the court's Family Law Rules (Chapter 15 of the Local Rules of Court) found rules on custody mediation, evaluations, and case management. It did not find a separate rule with a county-specific percentage formula for temporary support. Requests filed here still use the general statewide approach. A computer generated guideline calculation based on both spouses' incomes usually helps support the request. The judge still has discretion over the final temporary amount.

Long-term spousal support is decided at judgment, not as a temporary order. San Bernardino County handles it the same way as every other California county. A judge looks at the factors in Family Code section 4320. These include the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, age and health, and the standard of living established during the marriage, along with other statutory factors. The judge then sets the amount and duration.

San Bernardino County divides family law filings among several courthouse locations instead of using one central courthouse. Confirm which courthouse has jurisdiction over your case before you file or go to a hearing. The court's self-help center can help with procedures and forms like the Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150). Services and hours vary by location.

Where spousal support cases are heard in San Bernardino County

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

San Bernardino County's Family Law Division for valley communities is at 351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0245. The Barstow District at 235 East Mountain View Street handles filings for High Desert communities such as Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and Big Bear. The Joshua Tree District (6527 White Feather Road) and Needles District (1111 Bailey Avenue) serve the county's far eastern desert communities. Confirm the branch assigned to your case before filing a spousal support request. Going to the wrong location in a county this large can mean a long drive.

The court's self-help center helps self-represented parties with Family Law, Child Support, and Guardianship matters. Staff can review completed forms and explain court procedures. They can give legal information only. They cannot give legal advice about your specific request. Locations and hours vary by branch, so check the court's self-help locations list before visiting in person.

San Bernardino Superior Court has allowed e-filing for all family law court users since February 26, 2024 through Odyssey eFileCA and its approved electronic filing service providers. E-filing is still voluntary. Mandatory e-filing has not yet been scheduled. Paper filing at the appropriate courthouse remains available for anyone who prefers it.

Official spousal support resources in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino District, Family Law Division handles spousal-support filings, located at 351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino 92415-0245. Barstow District at 235 East Mountain View Street handles Family Law filings for High Desert communities such as Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, and Big Bear.. Joshua Tree District at 6527 White Feather Road handles Family Law filings for the county's Morongo Basin / high desert east communities.. Needles District at 1111 Bailey Avenue handles Family Law filings for the far eastern desert communities near the Arizona border..

E-filing is available through https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling/family-law-efiling. Family law e-filing has been open to all court users, including self-represented litigants, since February 26, 2024, through Odyssey eFileCA and its network of approved Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs). The court lists mandatory e-filing as not yet scheduled (TBD), so paper filing at the correct courthouse remains available.

San Bernardino Superior Court Self-Help Center (https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Assists self-represented parties with Family Law, Child Support, and Guardianship matters: explains court procedures, reviews completed forms, and provides educational materials and referrals. Staff give legal information only, not legal advice. Services and office hours vary by location; the court publishes a locations and services list rather than a single set of hours. Local Rules of Court, Chapter 15 (Family Law Rules), Rules 1500 to 1521 (Family Law Rules) applies; see https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/rulesofcourt.pdf.

• San Bernardino Superior Court: Family Law Division
• San Bernardino Superior Court: Where Can I File
• San Bernardino Superior Court: Self-Help
• San Bernardino Superior Court: Family Law eFiling
• San Bernardino County Department of Child Support Services

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

San Bernardino County Spousal Support FAQs