Division 1: Family Rules
California Rules of Court — Family and Juvenile Rules – 2026
Chapter 1: General Provisions
Article 1: General Provisions
Rules 5.2–5.7
Article 3: Appearance by Telephone
Rules 5.9–5.9
Article 4: Discovery
Rules 5.12–5.14
Chapter 2: Parties and Joinder of Parties
Article 1: Parties to Proceedings
Rules 5.16–5.18
Article 2: Joinder of Parties
Rules 5.24–5.24
Article 3: Employee Pension Benefit Plan
Rules 5.29–5.29
Chapter 3: Filing Fees and Fee Waivers
Article 1: Filing Fees and Fee Waivers
Rules 5.40–5.41
Article 2: Special Procedures
Rules 5.43–5.46
Chapter 4: Starting and Responding to a Family Law Case; Service of Papers
Article 1: Summonses, Notices, and Declarations
Rules 5.50–5.52
Article 2: Initial Pleadings
Rules 5.60–5.63
Article 3: Service of Papers
Rules 5.66–5.66
Article 4: Manner of Service
Rules 5.68–5.72
Article 5: Pleadings and Amended Pleadings
Rules 5.74–5.74
Article 6: Specific Proceedings
Rules 5.76–5.77
Chapter 5: Family Centered Case Resolution Plans
Chapter 6: Request for Court Orders
Article 1: General Provisions
Rules 5.90–5.91
Article 2: Filing and Service
Rules 5.92–5.97
Article 3: Meet-and-Confer Conferences
Rules 5.98–5.98
Article 4: Evidence at Hearings
Rules 5.111–5.115
Article 5: Reporting and Preparation of Order After Hearing
Rules 5.123–5.125
Article 6: Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings
Rules 5.130–5.130
Chapter 7: Request for Emergency Orders (Ex parte Orders)
Article 1: Request for Emergency Orders (Ex parte Orders)
Rules 5.151–5.151
Article 2: Notice, Service, Appearance
Rules 5.165–5.169
Article 3: Procedural Matters Not Requiring Notice (Non-Emergency Orders)
Rules 5.170–5.170
Chapter 8: Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Proceedings
Article 1: Child Custody Mediation
Rules 5.210–5.215
Article 2: Child Custody Investigations and Evaluations
Rules 5.220–5.230
Article 3: Ex parte Communication
Rules 5.235–5.235
Article 4: Counsel Appointed to Represent a Child
Rules 5.240–5.242
Article 5: Children's Participation in Family Court
Rules 5.250–5.250
Article 6: Virtual Visitation
Rules 5.252–5.252
Chapter 9: Child, Spousal, and Domestic Partner Support
Article 1: General Provisions
Rules 5.260–5.260
Article 2: Certification of Statewide Uniform Guideline Support Calculators
Rules 5.275–5.275
Chapter 10: Government Child Support Cases (Title IV-D Support Cases)
Chapter 11: Domestic Violence Cases
Article 1: Domestic Violence Prevention Act Cases
Rules 5.380–5.382
Article 2: Tribal Court Protective Orders
Rules 5.386–5.386
Chapter 12: Separate Trials (Bifurcation) and Interlocutory Appeals
Chapter 13: Trials and Long-Cause Hearings
Chapter 14: Default Proceedings and Judgments
Chapter 15: Settlement Services
Chapter 16: Limited Scope Representation; Attorney's Fees and Costs
Article 1: Limited Scope Representation
Rules 5.425–5.425
Article 2: Attorney's Fees and Costs
Rules 5.427–5.427