Spousal Support in Redwood City and San Mateo County, California

In San Mateo County, you file a spousal support request with the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo. The Family Law Division hears these requests at the Southern Branch, Hall of Justice and Records, in Redwood City. San Mateo uses its own local formula for temporary spousal support.

Under Local Rule 5.7(I), temporary spousal support is generally calculated by taking 40% of the payor's net income minus 50% of the payee's net income, with tax consequences included. If the same two people also have a child support order, the court calculates temporary spousal support using the net income not already set aside for child support and child-related expenses. This formula applies to temporary support while the case is pending. It does not decide the final, long-term support order at judgment.

Long-term spousal support is decided at the end of the case. It is not based on this formula or any other percentage formula. The court uses the statewide factors in Family Code section 4320. These include the marital standard of living, each spouse's earning capacity, the length of the marriage, age and health, and other circumstances. These are the same factors used in every California county.

A spousal support request usually starts with a Request for Order, Form FL-300, and a current Income and Expense Declaration, Form FL-150. San Mateo's Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator office, on the 6th floor at 400 County Center in Redwood City, helps self-represented parties complete the forms and calculate support. Attorneys in family law and probate cases must e-file through the Odyssey eFileCA system.

Where spousal support cases are heard in San Mateo County

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

San Mateo County uses direct calendaring in family law cases. When a case is filed, it is randomly assigned to one department at the Southern Branch. That department generally hears the case's Requests for Order, including spousal support, from the first hearing through judgment. Hearing dates for an initial Request for Order or Order to Show Cause are set through the Family Law Clerk's Office on that department's OSC calendar. The courtroom and hearing date depend on the assigned department.

The Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator office has limited in-person hours. As of this writing, in-person help is Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to noon, with sign-ups starting at 8:00 a.m. on the 6th floor. The office asks people to use LiveChat, available on weekday mornings and some afternoons, before coming in person. Space is limited, and appointments fill on a first come, first served basis. If support is at issue, bring a current, fully completed Income and Expense Declaration. San Mateo's local rules require one from both parties any time child support, spousal support, or attorney's fees are requested.

San Mateo's local rules also say that a request for attorney's fees under Family Code sections 2030 and 2032 can, if requested, be set up as non-taxable spousal support paid by wage assignment instead of a lump sum. This is an option the court may use. It is not automatic. It shows how the county's spousal support rule can overlap with fee requests in a contested case.

Official spousal support resources in San Mateo County

Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, Southern Branch: Hall of Justice and Records (Family Law Division) handles spousal-support filings, located at 400 County Center, Redwood City 94063. Phone: (650) 261-5100.

The filing fee is $435-$450. E-filing is available through https://www.odysseyefileca.com/service-providers.htm. San Mateo Superior Court uses the Odyssey eFileCA system, accessed through an approved electronic filing service provider (EFSP). E-filing has been mandatory for attorneys filing into family law and probate cases since January 21, 2020; self-represented filers can also e-file through an approved EFSP or use the court's Self-Prep and File tool.

Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator (https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/self-help/self-help-center-family-law-facilitator) can help with procedure and paperwork. Based on the 6th floor at 400 County Center, Redwood City. Helps self-represented parties with divorce, custody, and child and spousal support paperwork, including the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration and calculating the amount of support, though staff cannot give legal advice about a specific case. In-person sign-ups are Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to noon (hours in effect through November 30, 2026); LiveChat runs weekdays and the office asks people to try LiveChat before an in-person visit. Local Rule 5.7(I) (Temporary Spousal Support Formula) applies; see https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/localrules.pdf.

• San Mateo Superior Court: Family Law Division
• San Mateo Superior Court: Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator
• San Mateo Superior Court: Local Rules (Division V, Family Law)
• San Mateo Superior Court: Family Law Direct Calendaring
• San Mateo Superior Court: E-Filing

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

San Mateo County Spousal Support FAQs