Spousal Support in Visalia and Tulare County, California

If you are seeking spousal support in Tulare County, you ask for it through the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare. You file a Request for Order (Form FL-300) with the Family Law Clerk's Office at the Visalia courthouse or the South County Justice Center in Porterville. Tulare County has adopted a local formula for temporary spousal support. Knowing how that number is calculated can help you know what to expect while a divorce or legal separation case is still open.

For temporary spousal support, meaning support paid while a case is pending, Local Rule 916 of the Tulare County Rules of Court requires the amount to be calculated using what is commonly called the Kings County formula. The formula is run through support software certified by the Judicial Council, except where a party shows good cause for a different result. The local rule does not name a specific program by title. For that reason, the calculation is sometimes described informally as a DissoMaster or XSpouse printout, since those are programs commonly certified statewide for this purpose.

Long-term spousal support ordered as part of a final judgment works differently. It is not set by the Kings County formula. Instead, Local Rule 922 requires a party asking for spousal support at the mandatory settlement conference to support the request with a completed Form FL-157 or a written statement addressing the factors listed in Family Code section 4320. These are the same statewide factors California judges weigh everywhere, including the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, age and health, and the standard of living established during the marriage.

Requests for spousal support are filed on Form FL-300 with the Family Law Clerk's Office, either in Visalia or at the South County Justice Center in Porterville depending on where a case is assigned. The request is heard by the family law judicial officer handling the file. The Self-Help Resource Center and Family Law Facilitator's Office, with locations in both cities, can help self-represented parties understand the Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) every support request requires and can prepare a support schedule using the statutory guidelines. Staff cannot represent either party or say what a judge will decide.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Tulare County

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

The Self-Help Resource Center's Visalia office is at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Room 203, inside the County Civic Center. There is also a second office at the South County Justice Center in Porterville. The center's lobby and phone line are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. A virtual public counter is available Monday through Thursday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Staff there can review what a spousal support request needs and can run a support schedule using the guideline formula. They are neutral court employees who cannot represent either side or predict an outcome.

Tulare Superior Court accepts electronic filing in family law cases through approved Electronic Filing Service Providers. Journal Technologies serves as the court's primary case management vendor, and several other approved providers are listed on the court's EFSP page. The court's website does not state whether e-filing is mandatory or optional for a spousal support request. Confirm that detail with the clerk before choosing between e-filing and filing in person at the Visalia courthouse or the South County Justice Center.

Local Rule 916 sets a specific formula rather than leaving temporary support to case-by-case judgment. Local Rule 917 lets either party request additional financial documents such as tax returns, bank records, and loan applications beyond the standard Income and Expense Declaration. Because of these rules, spousal support requests in Tulare County can involve more paperwork than in counties without a local formula. Confirm current filing fees, hearing procedures, and any recent local rule updates directly with the Family Law Clerk's Office or the Self-Help Resource Center, since court rules and hours can change.

Official spousal support resources in Tulare County

Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, Family Law Clerk's Office handles spousal-support filings, located at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Room 201, Visalia 93291. Phone: (559) 730-5000. South County Justice Center, Civil Legal Filings at 300 East Olive Avenue handles Family law filings, including Requests for Order, for cases assigned to the south county area. Zip 93257. Phone (559) 782-3700..

The filing fee is $435-$450. E-filing is available through https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling. Tulare Superior Court accepts e-filing in family law cases through approved Electronic Filing Service Providers. Journal Technologies is the court's primary case management vendor for e-filing, and other approved providers are listed on the court's EFSP page.

Self-Help Resource Center / Family Law Facilitator's Office (https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Visalia office at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Room 203, County Civic Center. A second office serves the South County Justice Center in Porterville, 300 East Olive Avenue. Phone (559) 737-5500, email selfhelp@tulare.courts.ca.gov. Lobby and phone hours Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon; a virtual public counter is available Monday through Thursday 1:30 to 4 p.m. Staff can help with support calculations and forms such as the Income and Expense Declaration but do not represent either party. Local Rule 916 (Adoption of Schedule for Temporary Spousal Support Awards (Kings County formula)) applies; see https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules_effective-1-1-2026_final.pdf. Local Rule 922 (Settlement Conference Statement (requires Form FL-157 or a Family Code section 4320 statement to support a spousal support request)) applies; see https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules_effective-1-1-2026_final.pdf.

• Tulare Superior Court: Family Law
• Self-Help Resource Center / Family Law Facilitator's Office
• Tulare County Rules of Court (Local Rule 916)
• Tulare Superior Court eFiling
• Request for Order (FL-300) Packet
• California Courts Self Help: Temporary Spousal Support

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

Tulare County Spousal Support FAQs