Visalia Family Court Documents
Family court records for Visalia are maintained at Tulare County Superior Court. The main courthouse is in Visalia at 221 S. Mooney Boulevard. Visalia is the county seat, so all family law matters for the county are filed here. This includes divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, paternity actions, and domestic violence restraining orders. The court keeps case files for public access. California privacy rules restrict remote access to most family law documents. You can get basic case information by phone or visit the courthouse to view full files and obtain copies.
Visalia Quick Facts
Tulare County Superior Court
The Tulare County Superior Court at 221 S. Mooney Boulevard handles all family law cases for Visalia and the rest of Tulare County. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone (559) 737-5500 for general questions. Self-help services are available to assist people who are representing themselves. The courthouse is in downtown Visalia with street parking and nearby lots.
Family law hearings take place in several courtrooms at the Visalia courthouse. Check the daily calendar posted at the courthouse entrance or online at www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law to find your assigned courtroom. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing time. Security screening at the entrance can take several minutes during busy morning hours. Bring valid photo ID. Large bags are subject to search. Phones are allowed but must be turned off in courtrooms.
The self-help center provides free assistance with forms and procedures. Staff can answer questions about court rules, filing requirements, and form completion. They cannot give legal advice about what action to take in your case. Services are available in English and Spanish. The center has computers, printers, and form packets at no charge. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours.
Searching for Cases
Tulare County does not offer full online case access for family law matters. California Rules of Court restrict remote access to most family law documents. You must visit the courthouse or call the clerk's office for case information. Staff can provide basic details like case status and upcoming hearing dates over the phone at (559) 737-5500. For document copies, you must visit in person.
To search for a case, call the clerk's office with the case number or the full names of both parties. Staff will search the system and tell you if a case exists. They can provide basic information like filing dates and next court dates. They cannot read documents to you or give legal advice. For detailed information, plan a visit to the courthouse at 221 S. Mooney Boulevard.
When you visit the courthouse, go to the clerk's office on the first floor. Tell staff you need to view a case file. Bring the case number if you know it. Staff will retrieve the file if it is on-site. Some older files are stored off-site and require advance notice for retrieval. Ask about retrieval times if your case is more than five years old. You can review the file at a table in the public area. You may take notes but cannot remove documents.
The clerk's office makes copies of documents while you wait. Copy fees are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $25 for the document plus 50 cents per page. Bring payment in cash, check, or credit card. Some self-service copiers take only cash or card.
Note: Tulare County has lower certification fees than many other California counties.
How to Start a Case
Filing a family law case in Visalia requires submitting papers at Tulare County Superior Court. Get the correct forms before you go. For divorce, use form FL-100 (Petition for Dissolution). For custody matters, use form FL-300. For domestic violence restraining orders, use form DV-100. All forms are free and available online at the California Courts website or at the clerk's office.
The filing fee is $435 for most new petitions. This includes divorce, legal separation, and custody cases. Restraining order petitions have no filing fee. If you cannot afford the fee, file form FW-001 to request a waiver. Attach proof of income like pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit statements. The court reviews waiver requests based on household income and size. Approved waivers cover filing fees but not service costs or attorney fees.
After filing, you must serve the other party with copies of all documents. California law requires personal service for most family law cases. You cannot serve papers yourself. Use a private process server or the sheriff's office. Service fees range from $50 to $100 in Tulare County. The server fills out a proof of service form after delivering the papers. You file this proof with the court. Your case cannot proceed until proof of service is on file.
Residency rules apply to divorce and legal separation cases. One spouse must have lived in California for six months and in Tulare County for three months before filing. Custody cases have different requirements. If the child has lived in California for six months, you can file here. Restraining order cases have no residency requirement. You can file in any county where you or the other party lives or works.
Legal Help in Visalia
Central California Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents in Visalia. They handle family law cases including divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence matters. Not all cases qualify. Income limits apply. Call 1-800-675-8001 to check if you meet the requirements. Their Visalia office is at 1401 Fulton Street, Suite 102. More information is at centralcallegal.org.
The self-help center at the Tulare County courthouse offers free help with forms and procedures. Staff can answer questions about filing requirements, service of process, and court rules. They cannot tell you what to do in your case or represent you. Services are available in English and Spanish. The center has computers, printers, and form packets at no charge. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours.
The Tulare County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call for information about connecting with a local family law attorney. The first consultation is typically $35 for 30 minutes. After that, you and the attorney decide on fees for continued work. This service helps if you need advice but cannot afford full legal help.
The Tulare County Family Violence Prevention Center provides services to victims of domestic violence including safety planning, counseling, and shelter. They work with legal aid organizations to help with restraining orders and family law cases. Call their 24-hour hotline at (559) 732-5941 for crisis support or information about services.
Court Fees and Costs
Filing fees in Visalia follow California statewide rules. A new petition costs $435. Responses also cost $435. Motions filed after the case starts cost $60 each. Some documents have no filing fee, including income and expense declarations and certain emergency requests. Check with the clerk's office if you are unsure about fees for a specific filing.
Copy fees are 50 cents per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost $25 for the document plus 50 cents per page. This is lower than the $40 certification fee in many California counties. If you need multiple certified copies of the same document, each copy requires its own certification fee. The clerk's office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards.
Fee waivers cover only court filing fees. You must still pay for service of process unless you qualify for free service through a legal aid organization. If your income changes during your case, you may need to reapply for a waiver or begin paying fees. The court can revoke a waiver if you provided false information on your application.
Tulare County Family Court
Visalia is the county seat of Tulare County. All family law cases for the county are filed at the Superior Court in Visalia. For more information on county court procedures, fees, and legal resources, visit the Tulare County page.