Where To File

Where you go for court services may depend on one or more of the following considerations:

• Where you live (for example, in which court area or jurisdiction you live)
• Where the legal issue occurred (for example, in which court area or jurisdiction it happened)
• Where the court provides the services you need

Please refer to the Zip Code List (SDSC Form # ADM-254) for most family law cases, including Non-Governmental Child Support, Custody and Visitation, Divorce (Dissolution), Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, and Paternity cases. Some exceptions to the Zip Code List are noted below.

Adoption cases are filed at the Juvenile Courthouse and North County Division Courthouse.

There are two types of child support orders - governmental and non-governmental.

• A non-governmental child support order is an order made in a family law case by a judge or family law commissioner where the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) is not involved. This case type can be filed according to the Zip Code List.
• A governmental child support order is an order made by a child support commissioner in a case filed or enforced by the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), a governmental agency. The DCSS is not part of the Superior Court. To apply for DCSS assistance to establish paternity, child support, or medical support, please visit their website at www.sandiegochildsupport.org or call 1-866-901-3212 toll free. If you want to file documents in response to an action filed against you by the DCSS, or in a case being enforced against you by the DCSS, and are not sure where to file, please contact the DCSS at the numbers noted above.

Guardianship cases must be filed at the Central Courthouse.

Central Courthouse

Probate Business Office

1100 Union Street, 3rd Floor

San Diego, CA 92101