Family COURT Services

Family Court Services provides mediation for separated or divorced parents involved in disputes over custody and visitation of children in cases where the Santa Barbara County Superior Court has jurisdiction.

• Mediation is required in California whenever a dispute regarding custody or visitation is presented to the court.
• Mediation is confidential, and the mediator will not make recommendations to the court.
• MEDIATION IS FREE.
• To schedule Family Custody Mediation, or to obtain more information regarding the specifics of how these services are offered in North and South County contact:

• SOUTH COUNTY: the Family Services Assistant at
  (805) 882-4667
• NORTH COUNTY: (805) 614-6429
• More information can be found here

The Office of the Family Law Facilitator

The Office of the Family Law Facilitator helps you to better represent yourself in family law matters. The office is staffed by attorneys who can help you with child support, spousal support, health insurance, custody/visitation and related matters in divorce, separation, nullity, parentage and domestic violence cases. You can also receive help in filing for divorce, legal separation, nullity or a parentage judgment. The Office of the Family Law Facilitator can help you in responding to an application for a domestic violence restraining order, but will refer you to the Legal Resource Center or the Legal Aid Foundation, Inc. if you want to apply for a domestic violence restraining order. 

• SOUTH COUNTY: Contact the Family Services Assistant at (805) 882-4660
• NORTH COUNTY: (805) 614-6442
• More information can be found here.

HOW TO FIND FAMILY SERVICES:

Family Services has offices in North and South County.

SANTA BARBARA (SOUTH COUNTY):

The Santa Barbara office, which serves the Anacapa Division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, is located on the first floor of the historic courthouse:

1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, California 93101
(805) 882-4667

From Highway 101, take the Carrillo Street exit. If you are traveling south on 101, turn left on Carrillo. If you are traveling north on 101, turn right on Carrillo. Proceed 4 blocks until you reach Chapala Street, then turn left. At the next signal, Figueroa Street, turn right. Travel 2 blocks until you see a parking structure on your left side. Park your car there. The first 75 minutes are free; each hour or fraction of an hour thereafter costs $1.50. The courthouse is across the street at the corner of Anacapa and Figueroa.

SANTA MARIA (NORTH COUNTY)

The Santa Maria office, which serves the Cook and Lompoc Divisions of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, is located at:

312 E. Cook St.
Building E., 2nd Fl.
Santa Maria, CA 93454 
(805) 614-6442

Campus Map here

Family Court Services is located at the courthouse complex in Santa Maria at 312 E. Cook Street, Building E, 2nd floor.  The parking lot is accessed from Miller Street. Traveling north or south from Highway 101, take the Main Street/Guadalupe exit. If you are traveling north on 101, turn left onto Main Street. If you are traveling south on 101, turn right onto Main Street. Go 3 signals until you reach Miller Street. Turn left on Miller Street and go through the next signal which is Cook Street. Turn right into the court parking lot.  Building E is towards the back of the parking lot.

SERVICE HOURS:

SANTA BARBARA (SOUTH COUNTY):

A receptionist is available at Family Court Services Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

FAMILY COURT SERVICES: Custody and visitation mediation is conducted by appointment only. Call (805) 882-4667 to schedule your mediation appointment and for further information.

FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR: Help is available on a walk-in basis. Customers who live out-of-county may call to get a phone appointment. Couples who want to schedule a child support and/or spousal support mediation appointment may call to make an office appointment. No other appointments are available. Please call (805) 882-4660 for further information or click here. (En español)

SANTA MARIA (NORTH COUNTY):

A receptionist is available at Family Court Services Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

FAMILY COURT SERVICES: Custody and visitation mediation with Family Mediation is conducted by appointment only. Call (805) 614-6429 to schedule your mediation appointment and for further information.

FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR: Help is available on  Monday and Tuesday in Santa Maria by appointment only at:

312 E. Cook St., Ste. 240
Santa Maria, CA 93454 

• MONDAYS: the Facilitator sees Spanish-speaking customers with the assistance of an interpreter. 
  
  
• TUESDAYS: the Facilitator sees English-speaking customers.  Call the Family Law Facilitator’s Office in North County at 805-614-6442 to schedule your appointment.  These are NOT same-day appointments.
  
  
• WEDNESDAYS: The Facilitator holds classes on Wednesday afternoons on how to prepare the papers to complete a divorce or paternity matter or to get a hearing regarding custody, visitation or support matters.

LOMPOC:

On Fridays, the Facilitator is available by appointment only at the Lompoc Courthouse, located at:

115 Civic Center Plaza
Lompoc, CA 93436

Call the Family Law Facilitator’s Office in North County at 805-614-6442 to schedule your appointment..  One-hour consultations are available from  9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. that day.

Please click here for information on the Facilitator's schedule and classes.