Spousal Support in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, California

Spousal support in Sonoma County is decided in the Family Law Division of the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, based at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse at 3055 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa. A request for support while a divorce or legal separation is pending, or for support after judgment, goes through the same courthouse and the same family law calendar handling the rest of the case.

For support while a case is pending, Sonoma County calculates a guideline amount using the Alameda Rule, adopted in Local Rule 9.16. Where there is no child support, the guideline is 40% of the paying spouse's net income minus 50% of the receiving spouse's net income. Where child support is also ordered, the guideline is 35% of the payor's net income after child support minus 40% of the payee's net income. If either calculation produces a negative number, the guideline temporary support amount is zero. This formula only sets a starting point for support while the case is open. It does not apply to long-term spousal support decided at trial or by agreement.

Both spouses generally file an Income and Expense Declaration, Form FL-150, so the court can run the guideline calculation. Local Rule 9.16 requires that any order involving temporary spousal support, including an order for zero support, have a computer generated calculation and its underlying assumptions attached to the order.

Long-term spousal support after judgment is not set by a formula anywhere in California, including Sonoma County. Judges instead weigh the factors listed in Family Code section 4320, such as the marital standard of living, each spouse's earning capacity, age and health, and the length of the marriage.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Sonoma County

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

The court's Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Center, at the same Civil and Family Law Courthouse in Santa Rosa, helps self-represented spouses complete the FL-150 and generate a guideline support calculation. Staff cannot say what amount either spouse should receive or pay. The center offers first-come, first-served walk-in hours on weekday mornings and scheduled appointments. Hours can change, so check the court's self-help page before you go.

Sonoma County accepts e-filing for family law documents, including spousal support requests, through the court's Odyssey-based case portal. Self-represented parties can also use the free Odyssey Guide & File interview tool to prepare and e-file forms such as the FL-300 Request for Order and the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration from home. Paper filing at the Family Law and Probate Clerk's Office at 3055 Cleveland Avenue remains available as well.

Spousal support requests within an open case, temporary or brought by a Request for Order, are heard by the assigned Family Law department at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse. The exact software product judges and the facilitator use to run the guideline calculation is not published on the court's website. Confirm that detail with the clerk or the facilitator if it matters for your filing.

Official spousal support resources in Sonoma County

Civil and Family Law Courthouse, Sonoma County Superior Court Family Law Division handles spousal-support filings, located at 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403. Phone: (707) 521-6630.

The filing fee is $435. E-filing is available through https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-portal. Sonoma County accepts e-filing for family law documents through its Odyssey-based case portal. Self-represented parties can also use the free Odyssey Guide & File tool to prepare and e-file forms such as FL-300 and FL-150.

Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Center (https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law-facilitator-self-help-center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa. Offers walk-in help and scheduled appointments; helps self-represented spouses complete forms such as the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration and run guideline support calculations, but cannot give legal advice. Local Rule 9.16 (Guidelines for Child and Spousal Support (adopts the Alameda Rule for temporary spousal support)) applies; see https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=rule9.pdf. Local Rule 9.4 (Family Law Facilitator: services provided, including support schedule preparation) applies; see https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=rule9.pdf.

• Sonoma County Superior Court, Family Law Division
• Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Center
• Sonoma County Local Rules, Rule 9 (Family Law, PDF)
• Case Portal / E-Filing
• Form FL-300, Request for Order
• Form FW-001, Request to Waive Court Fees

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

Sonoma County Spousal Support FAQs