Get Fm-1015(a) - Superior Court

To get or change a court order for custody or visitation, you must file forms at the Clerk's Office. The forms you need depend on your situation. If you: Are married to the other parent: File a divorce or legal separation or a Petition for Custody and Support of Minor Children.

The Family Court Services (FCS) Program in the Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) provides training, technical assistance, consultation and support to court programs that serve families and children involved in child custody and visitation disputes.

Before you can request custody, you must open a family law case with your county's superior court; this can be a divorce, a request for a domestic violence restraining order, a paternity case or a custody case. Then you file a request for a custody order, which can be done by either parent.

Call 1(866) 901-3212 to request an application. An application will be mailed to you. Fax a request to receive an application to 1(408) 503-5570. Include your current address on the fax request.

The Superior Court of California requires a $435.00 fee to file for custody and support of minor children. This may be a financial burden to those attempting to pay for the cost of serving child custody papers, however, the filing individual may be eligible for a fee waiver through their local county clerk.

In some cases, parents can file a petition for custody on their own. In other cases, parents may sign a stipulation outlining their custody plans. In both scenarios, parents are able to get child custody without a lawyer.