Family Court Services
All mediations appointments are scheduled to be held in person.
Requests to appear remotely will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Spinetta Family Law Center
751 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553To schedule an appointment, please contact us at (925) 608-1000, Option 3, Option 5
PLEASE NOTE: All parents must complete the Online Orientation before your mediation appointment.
About Family Court Services
Family Court Services - Mediation for Custody and Visitation
Family Court Services provides mediation appointments free of charge to the parties in all pending Contra Costa cases. Parties will be directed to schedule an appointment when either party files for a court hearing on custody/visitation. Appointments are also sometimes ordered by a judge during hearings.
If a Domestic Violence Restraining Order is in place, or if a party declares under penalty of perjury that there is a history of domestic violence by the other party, that party is entitled to a separate appointment. Parties must inform the Family Court Services staff of the restraining orders or history of domestic violence when making appointments in order to get a separate appointment.
When does a Family Court Services appointment occur?
Whenever possible, appointments are scheduled at least two weeks before the scheduled court hearing on disputed custody and visitation issues. If staffing shortages result in an appointment being scheduled after a court hearing date, parties can consult their attorney(s) about postponing or “continuing” the hearing until two to three weeks after their Family Court Services appointment. Self-represented litigants with no domestic violence order are eligible to use a Stipulation and Order Re: Continuance of Court Hearing to a Date After the CCRC Appointment (FamLaw-230) form at no charge to request a continuance.
Who conducts the Family Court Services appointment?
The court employs experienced mental health professionals who have specialized training in areas pertaining to children and families. These areas include, but are not limited to, effective co-parenting, conflict resolution, parenting techniques, children's developmental stages, domestic violence, substance abuse, and child abuse and neglect.
Setting appointments
Parties can contact Family Court Services by phone at (925) 608-2065 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. They may also come to Family Court Services in person, Monday through Friday, excluding court holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Family Court Services will schedule an appointment after hearing from both parents and then send the parents written notification of the appointment day and time.
Parent Orientation
Parents who cannot agree on child custody or visitation issues must go to a Family Court Services mediation appointment before the judge can make any permanent orders on that part of their case. Before parents go to their Family Court Services, however, they are to first complete an online orientation.
Parents must complete the online orientation program along with the intake form at the end of the orientation program at least five days prior to their appointment.
During their Mediation appointment, parents get help planning for their children’s care. This includes talking about when the children will be in the care of the parents. Parents will participate in a confidential mediation appointment focused on helping them reach an agreement about how best to raise their children. If, set for Tier 1 mediation, the mediator will not make any recommendations to the court if the parents do not reach an agreement. Only those things the parents agree on will be shared with the judge. If the parents cannot agree on most or all of their parenting plan during their appointment, most of the time the judge will make a decision at the next court hearing about any remaining unresolved parenting plan issues. Parents may also be referred back to mediation for Tier 2 or Tier 3, which may include information gathering and/or recommendations from the mediator.
Family Court Services appointments are for parents only. Children or other parties (such as attorneys, relatives, new spouses) do not participate in appointments except when directed to do so by a judge or Family Court Services staff. Parents protected by a current restraining order or criminal protective order have the right to have a support person attend any Family Court Services appointment, including separate appointments. Parents need to tell Family Court Services staff when making appointments that they plan to bring a Support Person.
Childcare is available at the Peter L. Spinetta Family Law Building through the Children's Waiting Room. This service is available to children ages 2-14 years old while their parents or guardians conduct business within the family law courts and the Contra Costa County Public Law Library. Space and availability are limited. More information about their hours and services can be found here. If your appointment is during a time when childcare is not available, parents must make arrangements for someone else to care for their children while they attend CCRC appointments.