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California Rules of Court — Family and Juvenile Rules – 2026

Title 5 of the California Rules of Court governs family law and juvenile proceedings in California courts, including dissolution, custody, support, domestic violence, dependency, and delinquency.

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Family Rules General Provisions Parties and Joinder of Parties Filing Fees and Fee Waivers Starting and Responding to a Family Law Case; Service of Papers Family Centered Case Resolution Plans Request for Court Orders Special Procedures Request for Emergency Orders (Ex parte Orders) Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Proceedings Child, Spousal, and Domestic Partner Support Government Child Support Cases (Title IV-D Support Cases) Domestic Violence Cases Separate Trials (Bifurcation) and Interlocutory Appeals Specific Proceedings Trials and Long-Cause Hearings Default Proceedings and Judgments Settlement Services Limited Scope Representation; Attorney's Fees and Costs Family Law Facilitator Court Coordination Rules Minor Marriage or Domestic Partnership Contact and Coordination Indian Child Welfare Act Intercountry Adoptions Preliminary Provisions-Title and Definitions Commencement of Juvenile Court Proceedings General Conduct of Juvenile Court Proceedings Subsequent Petitions and Modifications Appellate Review Emancipation Intercounty Transfers; Out-of-County Placements; Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Restraining Orders, Custody Orders, and Guardianships General Court Authority Parentage Medication, Mental Health, and Education Advocates for Parties Cases Petitioned Under Section 300 Cases Petitioned Under Sections 601 and 602 Nonminor Dependent

Family Rules

Rule 5.1 Title

General Provisions

Rule 5.2 Division title; definitions; application of rules and laws Rule 5.4 Preemption; local rules and forms Rule 5.7 Use of forms Rule 5.9 Appearance by telephone Rule 5.12 Request for order regarding discovery Rule 5.14 Sanctions for violations of rules of court in family law cases

Parties and Joinder of Parties

Rule 5.16 Designation of parties Rule 5.17 Other causes of action Rule 5.18 Injunctive relief and reservation of jurisdiction Rule 5.24 Joinder of persons claiming interest Rule 5.29 Joinder of employee pension benefit plan

Filing Fees and Fee Waivers

Rule 5.40 Filing fees Rule 5.41 Waiver of fees and costs Rule 5.43 Fee waiver denials; voided actions; dismissal Rule 5.45 Repayment of waived court fees and costs in family law support actions Rule 5.46 Waiver of fees and costs-Supreme Court or Court of Appeal

Starting and Responding to a Family Law Case; Service of Papers

Rule 5.50 Papers issued by the court Rule 5.51 Confidential cover sheet for parentage actions or proceedings involving assisted reproduction; other requirements Rule 5.52 Declaration under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Rule 5.60 Petition or complaint; alternative relief Rule 5.62 Appearance by respondent Rule 5.63 Request for order to quash proceeding or responsive relief Rule 5.66 Proof of service Rule 5.68 Manner of service of summons and petition; response; jurisdiction Rule 5.72 Court order for service by publication or posting when respondent's address is unknown Rule 5.74 Pleadings and amended pleadings Rule 5.76 Domestic partnerships Rule 5.77 Summary dissolution

Family Centered Case Resolution Plans

Rule 5.83 Family centered case resolution

Request for Court Orders

Rule 5.90 Format of papers Rule 5.91 Individual restraining order Rule 5.92 Request for court order; responsive declaration Rule 5.94 Order shortening time; other filing requirements; failure to serve request for order Rule 5.95 Request to reschedule hearing Rule 5.96 Place and manner of filing Rule 5.97 Time frames for transferring jurisdiction Rule 5.98 Meet-and-confer requirements; document exchange Rule 5.111 Declarations supporting and responding to a request for court order Rule 5.113 Live testimony Rule 5.115 Judicial notice Rule 5.123 Reporting of hearing proceedings Rule 5.125 Preparation, service, and submission of order after hearing Rule 5.130 Request for Special Immigrant Juvenile findings

Special Procedures

Rule 8.26 of the appellate rules specifies the procedure and forms for applying for an initial waiver of court fees and costs in the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal

Request for Emergency Orders (Ex parte Orders)

Rule 5.151 Request for temporary emergency (ex parte) orders; application; required documents Rule 5.165 Requirements for notice Rule 5.167 Service of application; temporary restraining orders Rule 5.169 Personal appearance at hearing for temporary emergency orders Rule 5.170 Matters not requiring notice to other parties

Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Proceedings

Rule 5.210 Court-connected child custody mediation Rule 5.215 Domestic violence protocol for Family Court Services Rule 5.220 Court-ordered child custody evaluations Rule 5.225 Appointment requirements for child custody evaluators Rule 5.230 Domestic violence training standards for court-appointed child custody investigators and evaluators Rule 5.235 Ex parte communication in child custody proceedings Rule 5.240 Appointment of counsel to represent a child in family law proceedings Rule 5.241 Compensation of counsel appointed to represent a child in a family law proceeding Rule 5.242 Qualifications, rights, and responsibilities of counsel appointed to represent a child in family law proceedings Rule 5.250 Children's participation and testimony in family court proceedings Rule 5.252 Guidelines for developing parenting plans and issuing court orders involving virtual visitation

Child, Spousal, and Domestic Partner Support

Rule 5.260 General provisions regarding support cases Rule 5.275 Standards for computer software to assist in determining support

Government Child Support Cases (Title IV-D Support Cases)

Rule 5.300 Purpose, authority, and definitions Rule 5.305 Hearing of matters by a judge under Family Code sections 4251(a) and 4252(b)(7) Rule 5.310 Use of existing family law forms Rule 5.311 Implementation of new and revised governmental forms by local child support agencies Rule 5.315 Memorandum of points and authorities Rule 5.320 Attorney of record in support actions under title IV-D of the Social Security Act Rule 5.324 Telephone appearance in title IV-D hearings and conferences Rule 5.325 Procedures for clerk's handling of combined summons and complaint Rule 5.330 Procedures for child support case registry form Rule 5.335 Procedures for hearings on interstate income withholding orders Rule 5.340 Judicial education for child support commissioners Rule 5.350 Procedures for hearings to cancel (set aside) voluntary declarations of parentage or paternity when no previous action has been filed Rule 5.355 Minimum standards of training for court clerk staff whose assignment includes title IV-D child support cases Rule 5.360 Appearance by local child support agency Rule 5.365 Procedure for consolidation of child support orders Rule 5.370 Party designation in interstate and intrastate cases Rule 5.372 Transfer of title IV-D cases between tribal court and state court Rule 5.375 Procedure for a support obligor to file a motion regarding mistaken identity

Domestic Violence Cases

Rule 5.380 Agreement and judgment of parentage in Domestic Violence Prevention Act cases Rule 5.381 Modification of child custody, visitation, and support orders in Domestic Violence Prevention Act cases Rule 5.382 Request to make minor's information confidential in domestic violence protective order proceedings Rule 5.386 Procedures for filing a tribal court protective order

Separate Trials (Bifurcation) and Interlocutory Appeals

Rule 5.390 Bifurcation of issues Rule 5.392 Interlocutory appeals

Specific Proceedings

Rule 5.78 Actions or proceedings to determine a parental (or nonparental) relationship involving an assisted reproduction agreement

Trials and Long-Cause Hearings

Rule 5.393 Setting trials and long-cause hearings Rule 5.394 Trial or hearing brief

Default Proceedings and Judgments

Rule 5.401 Default Rule 5.402 Request for default; forms Rule 5.405 Judgment checklists Rule 5.407 Review of default and uncontested judgments submitted on the basis of declaration under Family Code section 2336 Rule 5.409 Default and uncontested judgment hearings on judgments submitted on the basis of declarations under Family Code section 2336 Rule 5.411 Stipulated judgments Rule 5.413 Notice of entry of judgment Rule 5.415 Completion of notice of entry of judgment

Settlement Services

Rule 5.420 Domestic violence procedures for court-connected settlement service providers

Limited Scope Representation; Attorney's Fees and Costs

Rule 5.425 Limited scope representation; application of rules Rule 5.427 Attorney's fees and costs

Family Law Facilitator

Rule 5.430 Minimum standards for the Office of the Family Law Facilitator

Court Coordination Rules

Rule 5.440 Related cases Rule 5.445 Court communication protocol for domestic violence and child custody orders

Minor Marriage or Domestic Partnership

Rule 5.448 Minor's request to marry or establish a domestic partnership

Contact and Coordination

Rule 5.451 Contact after adoption agreement Rule 5.460 Request for sibling contact information Rule 5.475 Custody and visitation orders following termination of a juvenile court proceeding or probate court guardianship proceeding

Indian Child Welfare Act

Rule 5.480 Application Rule 5.481 Inquiry and notice Rule 5.482 Proceedings after notice Rule 5.483 Dismissal and transfer of case Rule 5.484 Emergency proceedings involving an Indian child Rule 5.485 Placement of an Indian child Rule 5.486 Termination of parental rights Rule Former rule 5.487. Renumbered effective January 1, 2020 Rule 5.487 Petition to invalidate orders Rule 5.488 Adoption record keeping

Intercountry Adoptions

Rule 5.490 Adoption of a child resident in the United States by a resident of a foreign country party to the Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention or Hague Adoption Convention) Rule 5.491 Adoption of a child resident in the United States by a resident of a foreign country not party to the Hague Adoption Convention Rule 5.492 Adoption by a United States resident of a child resident in a foreign country that is party to the Hague Adoption Convention Rule 5.493 Requirement to request adoption under California law of a child born in a foreign country when the adoption is finalized in the foreign country (Fam. Code, §§ 8912, 8919) Rule 5.495 Firearm relinquishment procedures [Repealed] Rule 5.496 Service requirement for proposed restrained persons who appear remotely

Preliminary Provisions-Title and Definitions

Rule 5.500 Division title Rule 5.501 Preliminary provisions Rule 5.502 Definitions and use of terms Rule 5.504 Judicial Council forms Rule 5.505 Juvenile dependency court performance measures

Commencement of Juvenile Court Proceedings

Rule 5.510 Proper court; determination of child’s residence; exclusive jurisdiction; retention of jurisdiction after death of child or nonminor dependent Rule 5.512 Joint assessment procedure Rule 5.514 Intake; guidelines Rule 5.516 Factors to consider Rule 5.518 Court-connected child protection/dependency mediation Rule 5.520 Filing the petition; application for petition Rule 5.522 Remote filing Rule 5.523 Electronic service (§ 212.5) Rule 5.524 Form of petition; notice of hearing Rule 5.526 Citation to appear; warrants of arrest; subpoenas

General Conduct of Juvenile Court Proceedings

Rule 5.530 Persons present Rule 5.531 Appearance by telephone (§ 388; Pen. Code § 2625) Rule 5.532 Court reporter; transcripts Rule 5.534 General provisions-all proceedings Rule 5.536 General provisions-proceedings held before referees Rule 5.538 Conduct of proceedings held before a referee not acting as a temporary judge Rule 5.540 Orders of referees not acting as temporary judges Rule 5.542 Rehearing of proceedings before referees Rule 5.544 Prehearing motions (§ 700.1) Rule 5.546 Prehearing discovery Rule 5.548 Granting immunity to witnesses Rule 5.550 Continuances Rule 5.551 Confidentiality of a juvenile case file (§ 827) Rule 5.552 Procedure for requesting any juvenile delinquency case file and a living child’s juvenile dependency case file (§§ 827(a)(1), 827.12, 828) Rule 5.553 Procedure for requesting a deceased child’s juvenile dependency case file (§ 827(a)(2)) Rule 5.555 Hearing to consider termination of juvenile court jurisdiction over a nonminor-dependents or wards of the juvenile court in a foster care placement and nonminor dependents (§§ 224.1(b), 303, 366.31, 391, 451, 452, 607.2, 607.3, 16501.1 (g)(16))

Subsequent Petitions and Modifications

Rule 5.560 General provisions Rule 5.565 Hearing on subsequent and supplemental petitions (§§ 342, 364, 386, 387) Rule 5.570 Request to change court order (petition for modification) Rule 5.575 Joinder of agencies Rule 5.580 Hearing on violation of probation (§ 777)

Appellate Review

Rule 5.585 Rules governing appellate review Rule 5.590 Advisement of right to review in section 300, 601, or 602 cases Rule 5.595 Stay pending appeal

Emancipation

Rule 5.605 Emancipation of minors

Intercounty Transfers; Out-of-County Placements; Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

Rule 5.610 Transfer-out hearing Rule 5.612 Transfer-in hearing Rule 5.613 Transfer of nonminor dependents Rule 5.614 Out-of-county placements Rule 5.616 Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Rule 5.618 Placement in short-term residential therapeutic program (§§ 361.22, 727.12) Rule 5.619 Voluntary placement in psychiatric residential treatment facility (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 361.23, 727.13)

Restraining Orders, Custody Orders, and Guardianships General Court Authority

Rule 5.620 Orders after filing under section 300 Rule 5.625 Orders after filing of petition under section 601 or 602 Rule 5.630 Restraining orders Rule 5.632 Civil harassment, workplace violence prevention, and domestic violence prevention orders

Parentage

Rule 5.635 Parentage Rule 5.637 Family Finding (§§ 309(e), 628(d))

Medication, Mental Health, and Education

Rule 5.640 Psychotropic medications Rule 5.642 Authorization to release psychotropic medication prescription information to Medical Board of California Rule 5.643 Mental health or condition of child; court procedures Rule 5.645 Mental health or condition of child; competency evaluations Rule 5.647 Medi-Cal: Presumptive Transfer of Specialty Mental Health Services Rule 5.649 Right to make educational or developmental-services decisions Rule 5.650 Appointed educational rights holder Rule 5.651 Educational and developmental-services decisionmaking rights Rule 5.652 Access to pupil records for truancy purposes

Advocates for Parties

Rule 5.655 Program requirements for Court Appointed Special Advocate programs Rule 5.660 Attorneys for parties (§§ 317, 317.5, 317.6, 353, 366.26, 16010.6) Rule 5.661 Representation of the child on appeal Rule 5.662 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) guardian ad litem for a child subject to a juvenile dependency petition Rule 5.663 Responsibilities of children's counsel in delinquency proceedings (§§ 202, 265, 633, 634, 634.3 634.6, 679, 700) Rule 5.664 Training requirements for children's counsel in delinquency proceedings (§ 634.3)

Cases Petitioned Under Section 300

Rule 5.667 Service and notice Rule 5.668 Commencement of hearing-explanation of proceedings (§§ 316, 316.2) Rule 5.670 Initial hearing; detention hearings; time limit on custody; setting jurisdiction hearing; visitation (§§ 309, 311, 313, 315, 362.1) Rule 5.672 Continuances Rule 5.674 Conduct of hearing; admission, no contest, submission Rule 5.676 Requirements for detention Rule 5.678 Findings in support of detention; factors to consider; reasonable efforts; active efforts; detention alternatives Rule 5.680 Detention rehearings; prima facie hearings [Repealed] Rule 5.682 Commencement of jurisdiction hearing-advisement of trial rights; admission, no contest, submission Rule 5.684 Contested hearing on petition Rule 5.686 Continuance pending disposition hearing [Repealed] Rule 5.688 Failure to cooperate with services (§ 360(b)) [Repealed] Rule 5.690 General conduct of disposition hearing Rule 5.695 Findings and orders of the court-disposition Rule 5.697 Disposition Hearing for a Nonminor (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 224.1, 295, 303, 358, 358.1, 361, 366.31, 390, 391) Rule 5.700 Termination of jurisdiction-custody and visitation orders (§§ 302, 304, 361.2, 362.4, 726.5) Rule 5.705 Setting a hearing under section 366.26 Rule 5.706 Family maintenance review hearings (§ 364) Rule 5.707 Review or dispositional hearing requirements for child approaching majority (§§ 224.1, 366(a)(1)(F), 366.3, 366.31, 16501.1(f)(16)) Rule 5.708 General review hearing requirements Rule 5.710 Six-month review hearing Rule 5.715 Twelve-month permanency hearing Rule 5.720 Eighteen-month permanency review hearing Rule 5.722 Twenty-four-month subsequent permanency review hearing Rule 5.725 Selection of permanent plan (§§ 366.24, 366.26, 727.31) Rule 5.726 Prospective adoptive parent designation (§§ 366.26(n), 16010.6) Rule 5.727 Proposed removal (§ 366.26(n)) Rule 5.728 Emergency removal (§ 366.26(n)) Rule 5.730 Adoption Rule 5.735 Legal guardianship Rule 5.740 Hearings after selection of a permanent plan (§§ 366.26, 366.3, 16501.1)

Cases Petitioned Under Sections 601 and 602

Rule 5.752 Initial hearing; detention hearings; time limit on custody; setting jurisdiction hearing Rule 5.754 Commencement of initial hearing-explanation, advisement, admission Rule 5.756 Conduct of detention hearing Rule 5.758 Requirements for detention; prima facie case Rule 5.760 Detention hearing; report; grounds; determinations; findings; orders; factors to consider for detention; restraining orders Rule 5.762 Detention rehearings Rule 5.764 Prima facie hearings Rule 5.766 General provisions Rule 5.768 Report of probation officer Rule 5.770 Conduct of transfer of jurisdiction hearing under section 707 Rule 5.772 Conduct of fitness hearings under sections 707(a)(2) and 707(c) [Repealed] Rule 5.774 Setting petition for hearing-detained and nondetained cases; waiver of hearing Rule 5.776 Grounds for continuance of jurisdiction hearing Rule 5.778 Commencement of hearing on section 601 or section 602 petition; right to counsel; advisement of trial rights; admission, no contest Rule 5.780 Contested hearing on section 601 or section 602 petition Rule 5.782 Continuance pending disposition hearing Rule 5.785 General conduct of hearing Rule 5.790 Orders of the court Rule 5.795 Required determinations Rule 5.800 Deferred entry of judgment Rule 5.804 Commitment to secure youth treatment facility Rule 5.805 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice, commitments [Repealed] Rule 5.806 Secure youth treatment facility baseline term Rule 5.807 Secure youth treatment facility progress review process Rule 5.808 Discharge from secure youth treatment facility (§ 875(e)(3) & (4)) Rule 5.810 Reviews, hearings, and permanency planning Rule 5.811 Modification to transition jurisdiction for a ward older than 17 years and 5 months with a petition subject to dismissal (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 450, 451, 727.2(i)-(j), 778; Pen. Code, § 236.14) Rule 5.812 Additional requirements for any hearing to terminate jurisdiction over child in foster care and for status review or dispositional hearing for child approaching majority (§§ 450, 451, 727.2(i)-(j), 778) Rule 5.813 Modification to transition jurisdiction for a ward older than 18 years and younger than 21 years of age (§§ 450, 451) Rule 5.814 Modification to transition jurisdiction for a ward older than 17 years, 5 months of age and younger than 18 years of age (§§ 450, 451) Rule 5.815 Appointment of legal guardians for wards of the juvenile court; modification or termination of guardianship Legal guardianship-wards (§§ 366.26, 727.3, 728) Rule 5.820 Termination of parental rights for child in foster care for 15 of the last 22 months Rule 5.825 Freeing wards for adoption Rule 5.830 Sealing records (§ 781) Rule 5.840 Dismissal of petition and sealing of records (§ 786) Rule 5.850 Sealing of records by probation in diversion cases (§ 786.5) Rule 5.860 Prosecuting attorney request to access sealed juvenile case files

Nonminor Dependent

Rule 5.900 Nonminor dependent-preliminary provisions (§§ 224.1(b), 295, 303, 366, 366.3, 388, 391, 607(a)) Rule 5.903 Nonminor dependent status review hearing (§§ 224.1(b), 295, 366.1, 366.3, 366.31) Rule 5.906 Request by nonminor for the juvenile court to resume jurisdiction (§§ 224.1(b), 303, 388(e), 388.1)