Spousal Support in Davis and Yolo County, California

In Yolo County, you file a spousal support request with the Superior Court of California, County of Yolo. The case is heard at the New Woodland Courthouse. That courthouse now handles all family law matters in the county after seven former court locations were combined into one facility. Yolo County uses a discretionary temporary spousal support guideline under Local Rule 18.2. The rule has two formulas, depending on whether child support is also part of the case.

If there is no child support between the same parties, Local Rule 18.2(b) sets the guideline at 40% of the payor's net income minus 50% of the payee's net income. The rule calls this the Santa Clara rule. If child support is also part of the case, the rule directs the court to use what it calls the Alameda rule instead. The rule says the guideline is discretionary, so the court decides in each case whether to use it or depart from it.

Long-term spousal support is decided at the end of a case. It is not covered by Local Rule 18.2's temporary guideline. For long-term support, Yolo County courts apply the statewide Family Code section 4320 factors. These include the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, age and health, and the marital standard of living.

A support request usually starts with a Request for Order (Form FL-300) and a current Income and Expense Declaration. The Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator, based at the New Woodland Courthouse, gives free help with these forms and with procedure for court cases and cases involving the Department of Child Support Services.

Where spousal support cases are heard in Yolo County

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

Yolo County moved its court operations, including family law, into the New Woodland Courthouse. This replaced seven separate locations that served communities from Davis and Woodland to West Sacramento and Winters. Support filings, hearings, and the Self-Help Center are now handled at the single Woodland facility instead of several courthouses.

Local Rule 18.2 uses different formulas depending on whether child support is also involved. Before a temporary spousal support hearing, first confirm whether the case also includes a child support order between the same two people. That affects whether the Santa Clara rule (40% minus 50%, no child support) or the Alameda rule (used in child support cases) applies.

Civil, family, and probate documents generally must be filed electronically under Yolo's local rules. Self-represented parties are exempt from that requirement. The court encourages self-represented filers to use its File @ Home and eFile Court Documents online tools, which can also help with completing forms.

The guideline in Local Rule 18.2 is discretionary, not mandatory. If a party believes the calculated amount does not fit their situation, they can raise that with the court. The Self-Help Center cannot argue for a filer. Bringing a completed Income and Expense Declaration to any support-related appointment at the Woodland facility helps the Family Law Facilitator give more specific procedural guidance.

Official spousal support resources in Yolo County

Yolo County Superior Court, New Woodland Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 1000 Main St, Woodland 95695.

The filing fee is $435-$450. E-filing is available through https://www.yolo.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efile-court-documents. Civil, family, and probate documents generally must be filed electronically under the court's local rules, though self-represented parties are exempt from that requirement and are instead encouraged to use the court's File @ Home and eFile tools.

Yolo County Superior Court Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator (https://www.yolo.courts.ca.gov/self-help-center-family-law-facilitator/self-help-topics/child-support) can help with procedure and paperwork. Based in Woodland. Gives free assistance to self-represented parties on forms and procedure for divorce, custody, and support, including cases involving the Department of Child Support Services, though staff cannot give legal advice about a specific case. Local Rule 18.2 (Guidelines for Temporary Child/Spousal Support Orders) applies; see https://www.yolo.courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/yolo/default/2026-04/Yolo%20Superior%20Court%20Local%20Rules%20Effective%2001-01-2023.pdf.

• Yolo County Superior Court: Family Division
• Yolo County Superior Court self-help: child support
• Yolo Superior Court Local Rules

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

Yolo County Spousal Support FAQs