Long Beach Family Law Case Access

Long Beach family court records are maintained by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse on Magnolia Avenue serves Long Beach and surrounding areas for family law matters. Cases include divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, and domestic violence restraining orders. Los Angeles County keeps electronic records dating back to 1983. The county court system is one of the largest in the nation with over 50 locations. Public access to family law documents is limited under state law. You can search case indexes online but must visit the courthouse to view most filed papers.

Long Beach Courthouse Location

Long Beach family law cases are filed at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse. The courthouse is at 275 Magnolia Avenue in downtown Long Beach. The Self-Help Legal Access Center is in Room 3101 on the third floor. The center offers free assistance with family law forms and procedures. No appointment is needed for basic help. The center is open Monday through Friday during court hours.

Court hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. Parking is available in nearby lots and on street meters. Public transit serves the area with Metro Blue Line and local bus routes. All visitors go through security at the entrance. Bring photo ID. Cell phones are allowed but must be on silent. Recording devices and large bags are not permitted inside the courthouse.

How to Search Long Beach Family Court Records

Los Angeles County provides online access to civil and family law case indexes at lacourt.org. The portal covers cases filed from 1983 to the present. Search by name or case number. Results show the register of actions with filing dates and event descriptions. You cannot view document images online for family law cases. That restriction comes from California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.

To search by name, enter the last name and first name in the search fields. The system returns all matching cases. Click on a case number to see details. The register shows each document filed and each hearing held. You see what type of filing it was and when it happened. For full documents, visit the Long Beach courthouse. Staff can retrieve files during business hours.

LA Court Connect at lacc.lacourt.org is another option. This system requires a free account. Once registered, you can view your own cases, file documents electronically, and pay fees online. The portal does not show confidential family law filings to the public. Only parties and their attorneys see the full file through their accounts.

Note: Some online searches in Los Angeles County have fees ranging from $1.00 to $4.75 per search.

Self-Help Resources for Long Beach Residents

The Long Beach courthouse Self-Help Legal Access Center is in Room 3101. Staff help with family law, small claims, unlawful detainer, and restraining orders. Services include form selection, basic instructions, and procedural info. Staff cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. They can tell you what forms you need and where to file them. They can explain deadlines and court rules. For legal advice, contact a lawyer or legal aid group.

Free computers and printers are available at the self-help center. You can fill out forms on site. Staff can review your forms for completeness before you file. They check that you signed in the right places and filled in all required fields. This helps avoid rejections by the clerk. Bring any documents related to your case like pay stubs, tax returns, or prior court orders.

California Judicial Council forms are at courts.ca.gov/forms.htm. All family law forms start with FL. Common forms include FL-100 for divorce petitions, FL-300 for requests for orders, and FL-150 for income declarations. Download and print forms at home or use the computers at the self-help center. Forms are free.

Legal Aid in Long Beach

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves Long Beach and surrounding areas. They offer free legal help to low-income residents in family law cases. Services include advice, brief help, and full representation in some cases. To qualify, you must meet income limits. Call (800) 399-4529 for intake. You can also apply online at lafla.org. LAFLA has an office in Long Beach and runs domestic violence clinics at the courthouse.

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County also serves Long Beach residents. They handle family law cases with a focus on domestic violence and child custody. Call (800) 433-6251 to check eligibility. NLSLA can help with restraining orders, custody modifications, and support enforcement. They do not handle all types of family law cases. Their focus is on urgent matters and cases with safety concerns.

Other resources in Long Beach:

• Long Beach Bar Association Lawyer Referral: (562) 435-1181
• California State Bar Referral Service: 1-800-392-5660
• LA County Bar Modest Means Program: (213) 243-1525
• Long Beach Family Justice Center: (562) 570-4500

The Long Beach Family Justice Center provides services for survivors of domestic violence and abuse. The center has advocates, legal help, counseling, and connections to shelters. Services are free and confidential. Walk-ins are welcome. The center is at 1301 West 12th Street in Long Beach. Call ahead to confirm hours and services.

Note: Legal aid groups prioritize cases with domestic violence, children, or immediate safety needs.

Filing a Family Law Case in Long Beach

To start a family law case, prepare the required forms. Each case type needs different forms. Divorce cases need a petition, summons, and financial disclosures. Custody cases may need a Request for Order and income declaration. Check the court website or ask the self-help center what forms apply to your situation. Fill out all forms completely. Sign and date where required. Make at least two copies of each form.

You must meet California residency rules before filing. For divorce, you or your spouse must live in California for six months and in Los Angeles County for three months. If you just moved to Long Beach, wait until you meet the time requirement. The court will reject your filing if you do not meet residency. For custody or support cases without divorce, different rules apply. Ask at the self-help center if you are not sure about residency.

File your forms at the clerk window on the first floor of the Long Beach courthouse. Bring the originals and copies. The clerk files the original and stamps your copies. You pay the filing fee when you file. The fee is $435 for a new family law petition. If you cannot afford the fee, file a fee waiver request on form FW-001. The court reviews your income and expenses to decide if you qualify for a waiver.

After filing, you must serve the other party. You cannot serve the papers yourself. Use a friend over 18, a process server, or the sheriff. The server delivers copies of your filed papers to the other party. The server then completes a Proof of Service form. File the proof with the court. The court cannot proceed with hearings or orders until proof of service is on file.

Fees for Family Court in Long Beach

Family law filing fees in Long Beach follow statewide rates set by California law. The first filing fee is $435 for a petition. This applies to divorce, legal separation, and parentage cases. Additional motions cost $60. Certified copies cost $40 for certification plus $0.50 per page. Plain copies are $0.50 per page with no certification fee. Fees can change. Call the court at (562) 491-6200 to confirm current rates before filing.

Common fees in Long Beach family court:

• Initial family law petition: $435
• Request for Order: $60
• Copy per page: $0.50
• Certification: $40
• Search fee (over 10 minutes): $15

Fee waivers are available for people with low income. Complete form FW-001 and file it with your petition. The court looks at your household size, income, expenses, and public benefits. If you receive CalWorks, SSI, Medi-Cal, or food stamps, you likely qualify. If not, the court applies a formula based on your income. The judge decides. You usually get an answer in a few days. If approved, the waiver covers most fees in your case.

Payment at the Long Beach courthouse is by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Credit card payments may have a convenience fee. Ask the clerk which methods have extra costs. You can also pay online through LA Court Connect if you have an account.

Privacy Rules for Long Beach Family Court Records

California restricts public access to family law filings. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, the court cannot provide remote access to most family law documents. This includes dissolution, custody, support, and domestic violence cases. The goal is to protect privacy in sensitive matters. You can still see these records at the courthouse, but not online.

What you can find online for Long Beach family court cases:

• Case numbers and party names
• Filing dates and case types
• Hearing dates and times
• Register of actions

What requires a visit to the courthouse:

• Petitions and responses
• Declarations and supporting documents
• Financial disclosures
• Settlement agreements
• Custody evaluations
• Final judgments and orders

To view documents, go to the clerk window with the case number. Bring photo ID. The clerk retrieves the file and gives it to you in a viewing area. You can take notes. You can order copies at $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 plus the per-page fee. Some files are sealed by court order. Only parties and attorneys can see sealed files.

Adoption records are always confidential under California Family Code. Juvenile dependency records also have strict limits. Ask the clerk if you have questions about access to a specific file in Long Beach.

Los Angeles County Family Court Records

Long Beach is in Los Angeles County. All family law cases go through the Los Angeles County Superior Court system. The county has over 50 courthouse locations and serves more than 10 million residents. For county-wide information, fee schedules, and other courthouse locations, visit the Los Angeles County family court records page.

View Los Angeles County Family Court Records

Nearby Cities in Los Angeles County

Other major cities in Los Angeles County include Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Torrance, and Compton. All use the Los Angeles County Superior Court for family law filings. Visit their pages for local courthouse info and legal resources.

• Los Angeles Family Court Records
• Torrance Family Court Records
• Compton Family Court Records