California Filing and E-Filing: Spend Less Time on Paperwork
FamilyCourtHelp is an independent educational platform. It is not a court, law firm, government agency, or government partner. We organize and link to publicly available resources published by courts and government agencies. Official requirements may change. Always confirm current requirements with the applicable court or clerk.
California still has no single statewide e-filing site. Each county superior court decides whether it accepts online filing and through which approved companies, so check your own county court's website first.
Many counties accept e-filing in family law cases but it is almost always optional for people without lawyers, and some counties still require paper filing for family cases.
In California, online filing is only partly open to a parent without a lawyer, so check what applies to your court before you count on it.
Official California filing resources
Official links below open in a new tab. You are leaving FamilyCourtHelp and opening an external government or court website.
California official filing information (California judicial branch): The court's own page explaining how documents are filed in California and what a parent without a lawyer is allowed to do. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-basics/file
Find your California superior court (California judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your area, with locations and contact details. https://courts.ca.gov/find-my-court
California family law forms (official index) (California judicial branch): The official statewide collection of California family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=FL
California court self-help resources (California courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own California family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm
California rules of procedure (California judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in California. https://www.courts.ca.gov/rules.htm
Official link data for California was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file my own family papers online in California?
In California, online filing is only partly open to a parent without a lawyer, so check what applies to your court before you count on it. Many counties accept e-filing in family law cases but it is almost always optional for people without lawyers, and some counties still require paper filing for family cases.
How much does it cost to file a family case in California?
Dissolution filing fee: ~$435-$450. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.
Which court hears family cases in California?
Family cases in California are heard in the Superior Court, usually in the Family Law Division. Each county's Superior Court has a Family Law Division for divorce, custody, and support. There is one Superior Court per county - 58 in all.
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