Where to file

Los Angeles County divides family law cases by district based on where the parties live. The major family law courthouses are:

  • Stanley Mosk Courthouse — Central 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles 90012. The county's flagship courthouse, handling Central District family law. Central
  • Lancaster Courthouse — North 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster 93534. Antelope Valley district. North
  • Van Nuys East Courthouse — Northwest 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys 91401. San Fernando Valley district. Northwest
  • Pasadena Courthouse — Northeast 300 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena 91101. San Gabriel Valley district. Northeast
  • Santa Monica Courthouse — West 1725 Main Street, Santa Monica 90401. West Los Angeles district. West
  • Pomona East Courthouse — East 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona 91766. East
  • Long Beach — Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse — Southeast 275 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach 90802. Southeast
  • Compton Courthouse — South 200 W. Compton Boulevard, Compton 90220. South
  • Norwalk Courthouse — Southeast 12720 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk 90650. Southeast
  • Chatsworth Courthouse — Northwest 9425 Penfield Avenue, Chatsworth 91311. Northwest

To find out which courthouse handles your case, check the court's online Where Do I File My Case? tool on the LA Superior Court website. Filing in the wrong district can mean your case is transferred and delayed.

Filing fees

Petition (FL-100): approximately $435 to $450, the same statewide rate. Response (FL-120): the same. Other motions and requests have their own fees, generally $20 to $60. Fee waivers (FW-001) are processed at the same window where you file.

Self-Help

Every Los Angeles family courthouse hosts a Self-Help Center where staff can help self-represented parties with procedure and forms. The largest is at Stanley Mosk. Most centers operate on a first-come, first-served basis with limited hours; the LA court's website publishes current hours and any required appointments.

Los Angeles also runs an extensive online self-help portal, including video walkthroughs of common forms and procedures specific to LA practice.

Local rules and quirks

  • Direct calendar courtrooms. Most LA family law cases are assigned to a single judge for the life of the case (a "direct calendar" assignment), rather than being heard by whichever judge happens to be sitting. This means consistency — the same judge sees you at every hearing — but it also means the assignment matters. Some judges have reputations local attorneys know well.
  • Mandatory mediation for custody. Contested custody hearings in LA require Family Court Services mediation first. Mediation is conducted by court-employed mediators and is generally non-confidential — the mediator may make a recommendation to the judge.
  • FCCRC (Family Centered Case Resolution Conferences). Most LA family law cases will be set for a status conference within the first few months. Bring your disclosures and be prepared to discuss settlement and case planning.
  • Electronic filing. LA County requires e-filing for represented parties in many family law cases. Self-represented parties can still file in person but may benefit from learning the e-filing system.

Cost of representation in Los Angeles

Family law attorney rates in Los Angeles vary by neighborhood and reputation. As of writing, hourly rates commonly range from $300 to $700+. Westside firms (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Century City) often run higher. Retainers in contested cases typically start at $5,000 and go up substantially in high-asset cases.

Several Los Angeles legal aid organizations offer reduced-fee or free help for low-income parties: Bay Area Legal Aid, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and Public Counsel are the most established.

Resources specific to Los Angeles

  • LA Superior Court — Family Law Self-Help Online portal with LA-specific guidance, forms, and the courthouse locator. Free
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association — Lawyer Referral & Information Service State Bar–certified referral service. Initial consultations are typically capped at a low fee. Referral

Filing in another county? See Orange County or San Diego County.