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Family Court Services

IMPORTANT NOTICES

TELEPHONE NUMBERS-Please be advised that as of July 1, 2009, the numbers at Coalinga, Fowler, and Reedley divisions will change and the new numbers will be posted on this website at the close of business June 30th.

	Family Court Services Location
	2220 Tulare Eleventh Floor, Suite 1111 Fresno, CA 93724 Telephone: (559) 488-3241 Telephone Hours: M-F 8 AM – 12 PM & 1 PM – 4 PM Office Hours: M-Th 8 AM – 12 PM & 1 PM – 4 PM

For a map to the Family Court Services location, click here.

Our Mission

The Family Court Services Department shall serve the Families of our Community and enhance public trust and confidence in the family court process. We shall, by the impartial and timely resolution of issues, comply with court directives and ensure that the "Best Interests of the Children" are served.

Family Court Services is part of Fresno Superior Court and provides the following services:

Child Custody and Visitation Orientation
Child Custody and Visitation Mediation
Dependency Orientation
Dependency Mediation
Family Assessments for Child custody and visitation
Pre-Marital Counseling.
Stepparent Adoptions
Termination of Parental Rights

At the time you submit your documents for filing, the court will provide you with the following dates:

Orientation
Mediation Appointment
Court hearing

Orientation

Mediation Orientation is an informational meeting of parents with child custody or child visitation issues pending before the court and who will be meeting in Mediation prior to the court hearing. The Orientation is led by a Family Court Services’ staff member and is intended to help parents understand and be better prepared for their Mediation session.

Orientation provides parents with an opportunity to have their questions about Mediation answered by a Family Court Mediator. It is not necessary to bring any legal papers to Orientation. All attendees will receive important information and forms that will assist them in considering and preparing a parenting plan that focuses on their child(ren)’s best interests.

Attendance at the Orientation is Mandatory: [Local Rule 5.5.4(A)]... "All parties shall personally attend the Mediation Orientation…" If you fail to attend Orientation, you may be ordered to pay a fine. In most cases, both parents will be present at Orientation.

There is no fee for Orientation.

Who Should Attend Orientation

Only parents, parties who are joined to the proceeding by court order, persons assisting handicapped clients, interpreters or legal guardians for minor parents should attend Orientation. Third parties, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé(e), present spouse and children should not attend Orientation.
Any party who must travel more than 250 miles. Please contact the Family Court Services at (559) 488-3241 before your scheduled Orientation.

Parents are strongly encouraged to make childcare arrangements when coming to Orientation. Childcare is available free of charge. Click on Childcare for more information.

	Orientation Time and Place
	Excluding holidays, every Friday at 1:30 PM Fresno Superior Court, "M" Street Civil Courthouse, 2317 Tuolumne Street - Jury Assembly Room Orientation lasts approximately 1-1/2 hours

Mediation

If there is a child custody dispute, you must go to Mediation. Family Code §3170 requires that if there is a contested issue regarding children, the parties must attempt to resolve their disputes through Mediation before the court makes orders in a litigated hearing. If you fail to attend your scheduled Mediation appointment, you may be ordered to pay a fine.

Parties are asked to complete an information form prior to their scheduled appointment. The mediator reviews this form to obtain basic information on the family. The mediator may meet with the parties together and/or individually. Individual sessions are available in domestic violence cases. The mediator will ask questions to develop an understanding of the family history and determine the issues that need to be resolved. When appropriate, the mediator will assist the parties to temporarily set aside their disagreements and focus on developing a plan that is in the best interests of their children.

The trained, professional Mediators of Family Court Services strive to resolve disagreements between divorcing and/or separating parents regarding the care of their children. Mediation provides parents an opportunity to resolve all differences with the help of a court employee who is an expert in resolving these disagreements. If the parents are able to work out an agreement, the mediator helps them prepare a custody and visitation plan.

There is no fee for Mediation.

Mediation Time and Place

Individual appointments are scheduled by the Court and take place at:

2220 Tulare Street
Eleventh Floor, Suite 1111

Mediation lasts approximately 1 - 2 hours

Restraining Order Exception

Attendance at the Orientation and Mediation is required by law and is an exception to the restraining order. If you are genuinely fearful of being in the same room with the other parent and/or there is a domestic violence restraining order in effect, you should call the Family Court Services’ Office for further information and instructions on how to proceed.

Note to Parents

Orientation:

DO NOT bring children to Orientation.

Mediation:

BRING CHILDREN 5 YEARS OLD AND OLDER who are subjects of the custody proceeding to the Mediation appointment.
If you wish to provide the mediator with copies of documents during Mediation, please bring two sets of copies, one for the other parent and one for the mediator (Family Courts Services cannot make copies).

If you do not speak English, bring an interpreter with you to Orientation and Mediation.

Court Public Service Announcement

Click below to view a Public Service Announcement about Family Court Services that is part of a series developed through a grant provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The series entitled, "Meet the Court," is intended to provide you with quick information and education about Family Court Services, and has been developed in both English and Spanish.

Click to language version you wish to play. All files less than 2.5MB in size.

Family Court Services: English / Español