Like most essential services, the court will be re-opening with new procedures in order to maintain social distancing. If possible, we encourage all customers and litigants to avoid in-person travel to the courthouse whenever possible. For example, the Family Law Facilitators are now available by phone and email. Also, we encourage you to take advantage of the new drop boxes located in front of court buildings to avoid waiting in long lines to file your completed documents.

You will be required to wear a mask or face covering in order to enter any court facility. The court is limiting the number of people allowed into each building at a time. Therefore, if you must come to any court location, know that there could be a long wait to access the building and services. Also, please understand that these social distancing rules will be strictly enforced.

To start, you will need to fill out the application packet(s).

• You can pick up pre-printed packets from the Restraining Order Window at the Family Law Building, located at 751 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553. The Restraining Order Window is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except for court holidays.
• Forms can be downloaded from the court’s website at www.cc-courts.org. Go to "General Information" and click on "Forms." Click on "Forms Packets" and go to "Domestic Violence Restraining Order Packets & Forms."
  • Packet A is mandatory and must be completed. You do not need to complete Packet B unless you have minor children with the other party.
• Pre-printed Domestic Violence Restraining Order packets are also still available at Contra Costa County Family Justice Centers, www.cocofamilyjustice.org. For hours of operation, please call the respective center: Richmond (510) 974-7200; Concord (925) 521-6366; Antioch (925) 281-0970.
• Or, you can try using a free, online forms preparation program like Odyssey Guide & File, located here: https://california.tylerhost.net/SRL.
• Please understand that the Family Law Facilitator’s Office does not provide assistance with completing the forms for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. If you need help with filling out the forms, please contact STAND! at 1-888-215-5555 to make an appointment for Bay Area Legal Aid’s remote restraining order clinic.

Yes, the clerk’s office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except for court holidays. However, because of the limited number of people allowed into each building, be prepared to experience long waits. You can avoid these long lines by using the drop box that we have placed outside the building or by mailing your documents to the court.

Drop Box

The drop box is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located in front of the Spinetta Family Law building at 751 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

• Be sure to include the original of your document(s), at least two copies, any applicable filing fee or fee waiver application, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with appropriate postage for the court to return your filed documents to you.
• If you need envelopes or postage, there is a post office located nearby, at: 815 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

Mailing

Mail the original of your document(s), at least two copies, any applicable filing fee or fee waiver application, and a self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate postage for the court to return your filed documents to you. You can mail your documents to:

Contra Costa County Superior Court
751 Pine Street
P.O. Box 911
Martinez, CA 94553
Attn: Clerk’s Office

Restraining Order Packets

• Pre-printed Domestic Violence Restraining Order packets are available at the Restraining Order window of the Peter L. Spinetta Family Law Building located at 751 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553. The Restraining Order window is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except for court holidays.
• Pre-printed Domestic Violence Restraining Order packets are also available at Contra Costa County Family Justice Centers, www.cocofamilyjustice.org." For hours of operation, please call the respective center: Richmond (510) 974-7200; Concord (925) 521-6366; Antioch (925) 281-0970
• Forms can also be downloaded from the court’s website at www.cc-courts.org. Go to “General Information” and click on “Forms.” Click on “Forms Packets” and go to “Domestic Violence Restraining Order Packets & Forms.”
  • Packet A is mandatory and must be completed. You do not need to complete Packet B unless you have minor children with the other party.
• Or, you can try using a free, online forms preparation program like Odyssey Guide & File, located here: https://california.tylerhost.net/SRL.

For all other forms, please see the information below:
Download:

• You can download forms and forms packets from the court’s website at www.cc-courts.org. Go to “General Information” and click on “Forms.”
• If you do not see the form that you need, you can also download forms at the Judicial Council website at www.courts.ca.gov. Click on “Forms & Rules.” From the pull-down menu, choose “Find Your Court Forms.”

Purchasing Pre-Printed Forms:
The Contra Costa County Law Library is able to sell pre-printed forms and packets. Please call the Law Library at (925) 646-2783 or email reference.questionsCCCPLLIB@gmail.com for more information. Please note that the Law Library accepts only cash payments at this time and bills must not be larger than a $20 bill.

Court Records is not open to the public. However, you can still request records and copies of orders. Complete this form and follow the instructions for how to submit your request: http://www.cc-courts.org/civil/docs/CourtRecords-MailRequest.pdf..

The Law Library facilities are not open to the public at this time. However, the Law Librarians are still selling forms and helping with research by phone and email. For more information, call the Law Library at (925) 646-2783 or visit their website for updates on their services: http://www.cccpllib.org/.

Yes, you will still be required to do a mediation appointment. However, mediations are now happening remotely, either by Zoom or by phone. If you have updated contact information or questions about your mediation appointment, please call Family Court Services at (925) 608-2065.

The current custody/visitation orders you have are still in effect and should be followed, although you may have to make adjustments.

If you have an agreement, you and the other parent can complete a stipulation and submit it for a judge’s signature. If you and the other parent do not have an agreement, you will need to file papers to set a court date. For help, please contact the Family Law Facilitator’s Office by leaving us a message at (925) 608-2067 or emailing selfhelpfamilylaw@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.

If you and the other parent have an agreement, you and the other parent can complete a stipulation and submit it for a judge’s signature. If the Department of Child Support Services is involved, they will need to sign also. If there is no agreement, you will need to file papers to set a court date. For help, please contact the Family Law Facilitator’s Office by leaving us a message at (925) 608-2067 or emailing selfhelpfamilylaw@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.

The answer will depend on what you are doing. Not everyone needs to have a court date to resolve their issues. If you have just opened your case, you will not be assigned a court date unless you file paperwork to set a hearing. If you serve the other party with your Petition and Summons and there is no objection from the other party, it is possible that you will be able to finish your case without having to see a judge. In this case, you will complete your case by submitting additional forms.

However, if the other party files a response or if the two of you are unable to reach an agreement, you may need to request a court date. To do so, you must complete the appropriate forms, file them with the court, and then arrange for those documents to be served on the other party so that they know when the court date will be. Court dates are assigned by what the next available date is for your judge. If there is an emergency and you need to be seen sooner than the next available date, you may need to submit a request for temporary emergency orders.