Bakersfield family court guide

Before the hearing

Arrive early

Plan to be inside the building 30 to 45 minutes before the calendar starts. Parking, the security line, and finding the department all take longer than you expect, and a judge who calls your case while you're in the parking structure may continue it or rule without you.

What to bring

Government photo ID, a copy of every document you or your spouse filed for this hearing, your most recent income and expense declaration, any exhibits your attorney told you to bring (with copies for the court and the other party), and a pen. Bring your phone but expect to keep it silent and put away. Do not bring children unless the court specifically ordered them to appear.

How to dress and act

Dress as you would for a job interview. In the courtroom, stand when the judge enters, speak only when asked, and address the judge as "Your Honor." Never interrupt your spouse or their attorney, however untrue what they're saying is. Your attorney will respond. Judges decide credibility in minutes, and composure is most of it.

Mediation and settlement conferences

If custody or visitation is contested, you'll be referred to Family Court Services for mediation before the judge hears the issue. In Kern County this is scheduled through the court; your paperwork will tell you where and when, and whether it's in person or by video. Property and support disputes are often sent to a mandatory settlement conference before trial, where a judge or settlement officer pushes both sides toward a deal. Bring your disclosures, a written proposal, and the patience to sit in a hallway; most divorces settle on days like that.

Self-help and forms

Kern County Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator / Self-Help Center that assists self-represented parties with forms and procedure. They cannot give legal advice or represent you. If you're represented by our office, we handle all filings, service, disclosures, and courtroom appearances; you attend only what the court requires you to attend.

What a typical hearing day looks like

The clerk calls the calendar; attorneys check in and tell the court whether the matter is resolved, needs a short hearing, or needs a longer time slot. Agreed matters are usually handled first. Contested Requests for Order are heard in the order the judge sets, often after a meet-and-confer in the hallway where many issues get resolved. Most hearings last 15 to 30 minutes. The judge may rule from the bench or take the matter under submission and mail a written ruling.

Restraining orders in the same courthouse

Domestic violence restraining orders are family law matters and are heard in the same division. A temporary order can be issued the same day on one spouse's paperwork; the hearing on a longer order follows in about three weeks. Because a DV finding affects custody (Family Code § 3044) and spousal support, we handle the restraining order and the divorce together.

Serving Bakersfield and all of Kern County

Our main office is in Arcadia, and we appear in Kern County family court for clients throughout the county, including Delano, Ridgecrest, Wasco, Tehachapi, Shafter, Arvin, Taft, and the surrounding communities.