Spousal Support in San Jose and Santa Clara County, California

To ask for spousal support in Santa Clara County, you file or respond to a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. The court hears all family law matters, including spousal support, at one place: the Family Justice Center Courthouse (FJCC) at 201 N. First Street in San Jose. This is true for temporary support during a divorce or legal separation and for long-term spousal support in a final judgment. The same courthouse serves every city in the county, from San Jose and Sunnyvale to Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Santa Clara.

Santa Clara County uses a local formula for temporary spousal support. It is sometimes called the Santa Clara Guideline. Under Local Rule 3(C) of the court's Family Law Rules, temporary spousal or partner support is generally calculated by taking 40 percent of the paying spouse's net income, minus 50 percent of the receiving spouse's net income, adjusted for tax consequences. If the court also orders child support, the calculation uses the net income left after child support and child related expenses are counted. This local formula applies only to temporary support while a case is pending. It does not apply to support decided at trial.

Long-term, post-judgment spousal support in Santa Clara County is not set by a formula. That is the rule in every California county. A judge weighs the factors in Family Code section 4320 before deciding the amount and length of support. These factors include the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, each spouse's age and health, the standard of living established during the marriage, and other statutory considerations.

The court's Family Law Rules also require the moving party and the responding party to attach a computer generated support printout when child support or temporary spousal support is at issue. Each side must also file a current Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150). Self-represented parties can get free local procedural help with this paperwork. The court also allows optional electronic filing.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Santa Clara County

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

All Santa Clara County family law filings, including spousal support Requests for Order, go to the Family Justice Center Courthouse (FJCC) at 201 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. They are not split among branch courthouses. This is different from some large California counties, where family law filings may depend on where the parties live.

The court's Self-Help Center/Family Law Facilitator's Office (SHC/FLFO) helps self-represented parties complete Form FL-150 and understand the steps for a support request. You can reach the office at (408) 882-2926, option 3. Under Local Rule 7 of the Family Law Rules, the Facilitator can meet with self-represented parties to try to resolve support issues. The Facilitator can also prepare support schedules for the court when the parties cannot agree. Staff cannot advise you on what amount to request or predict how a judge will rule.

Self-represented litigants in Santa Clara County may e-file spousal support papers through Odyssey eFileCA. The court's own FAQ says e-filing is optional, not mandatory, for people representing themselves. No matter how you file, Local Rule 3(B) requires a computer generated support printout with the moving or responding papers when temporary spousal support is at issue. You must also include the current Income and Expense Declaration.

Official spousal support resources in Santa Clara County

Family Justice Center Courthouse (FJCC) handles spousal-support filings, located at 201 N. First Street, San Jose 95113.

E-filing is available through https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/forms_and_filing/faqs/efiling.shtml. The court's e-filing FAQ confirms self-represented family law litigants may e-file through Odyssey eFileCA, but it is optional rather than mandatory for people representing themselves.

Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator's Office (SHC/FLFO) (https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/self-help/self-help-centerflf-office) can help with procedure and paperwork. Reachable at (408) 882-2926, option 3. Assists self-represented parties with forms such as the Income and Expense Declaration (Form FL-150) and general procedure for a support request; per Local Rule 7 of the court's Family Law Rules, the Facilitator can also meet with both self-represented sides to mediate support issues and prepare support schedules for the court when parties disagree, but cannot give legal advice on a specific case. Local Rule 3(C) (Child, Spousal and Partner Support: Temporary Spousal or Partner Support Formula) applies; see https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/rules/family.pdf. Local Rule 3(B) (Computer Support Printout) applies; see https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/rules/family.pdf. Local Rule 7 (Duties of the Family Law Facilitator) applies; see https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/rules/family.pdf.

• Family Justice Center Courthouse (FJCC)
• Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator's Office
• Family Law Rules (local rules, PDF)
• Santa Clara County Superior Court E-Filing FAQs

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

Santa Clara County Spousal Support FAQs