Spousal Support in Santa Barbara County, California

You ask for spousal support in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. You can ask during a divorce or legal separation case, or later with a Request for Order (FL-300). Your filing location depends on where you live. South county cases go to the Anacapa Division at 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara. North county cases go to the Cook Division in Santa Maria. The Lompoc and Solvang divisions do not process family law filings.

Temporary spousal support is support paid while a divorce or legal separation case is still pending. Santa Barbara County uses the formula in Local Rule 1415. The rule adopts the Santa Clara County guideline formula: about 40 percent of the higher earner's net monthly income minus 50 percent of the lower earner's net monthly income. The calculation is adjusted for taxes and any child support already being paid. Local Rule 1418 requires the court to use DissoMaster software. Any request for temporary support must include a printed calculation using that formula.

After a divorce is final, long-term spousal support is not based on that guideline formula. The judge looks at the factors in California Family Code section 4320. These include each spouse's earning capacity, the length of the marriage, each spouse's age and health, and the standard of living during the marriage. This statewide rule applies in Santa Barbara County and throughout California.

Santa Barbara County's Family Law Facilitator has offices at both family law courthouses. The facilitator gives free help with the Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) and support calculations. Staff can help with the forms and the math. They cannot tell you what your spousal support order should be or represent either spouse.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Santa Barbara County

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

Family law cases in Santa Barbara County, including spousal support requests, are subject to mandatory e-filing under Local Rule 1012. The court uses the Odyssey eFileCA system. Self-represented parties do not have to e-file, though the court encourages it. They may still file paper documents at the Anacapa or Cook Division counter.

Local Rule 1419 also requires both spouses to exchange certain financial documents, such as tax returns and pay stubs, when spousal or child support is at issue. This is in addition to the standard preliminary and final declarations of disclosure required in every California divorce. A person asking for spousal support in Santa Barbara County should expect extra financial paperwork.

The Family Law Facilitator's office in Santa Barbara at the Anacapa Division and the office in Santa Maria at the Cook Division both offer free walk-in help on weekday mornings and early afternoons. They also provide phone help. Hours and appointment availability can change, so confirm the current schedule with the facilitator's office before you go.

Official spousal support resources in Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Anacapa Division handles spousal-support filings, located at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara 93101. Phone: (805) 882-4520. Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Cook Division at 312-C East Cook Street handles Family law filings and hearings, including spousal support, for north Santa Barbara County. The Lompoc and Solvang divisions do not process family law filings..

The filing fee is $435-$450. E-filing is available through http://www.odysseyefileca.com/service-providers.htm. Family law filings, including spousal support requests, are covered by mandatory e-filing under Local Rule 1012, using the Odyssey eFileCA system. Self-represented parties are encouraged but not required to e-file.

Santa Barbara Superior Court Family Law Facilitator (https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law/family-law-facilitator) can help with procedure and paperwork. Two free offices: Anacapa Division in Santa Barbara (805-882-4660, SBFLF@sbcourts.org) and Cook Division in Santa Maria (805-614-6442). Helps with the Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) and support calculations. Walk-in hours weekdays 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:30pm to 3:00pm; cannot represent either spouse. Local Rule 1415 (Computation of Temporary Spousal Support) applies; see https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/courtrules0125.pdf. Local Rule 1418 (Filing and Service of Support Calculations) applies; see https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/courtrules0125.pdf. Local Rule 1419 (Financial Document Exchange) applies; see https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/courtrules0125.pdf. Local Rule 1012 (E-Filing and E-Service) applies; see https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/courtrules0125.pdf.

• Santa Barbara Superior Court: Spousal Support Self-Help
• Santa Barbara Superior Court: Family Law Facilitator
• Santa Barbara Superior Court: Local Rules
• Santa Barbara Superior Court: E-Filing
• Odyssey eFileCA Service Providers

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

Santa Barbara County Spousal Support FAQs