Family Law (Divorce & Custody) in Alameda County
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
If you’re facing a divorce or custody matter in Alameda County, your case is heard in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, which handles family law matters in courthouses including Oakland and Hayward. California unified its trial courts, so there are no separate family courts — divorce, custody, and support are all decided in the family law departments of the county Superior Court.
What’s local is where your case is heard. Alameda County uses more than one courthouse for family law, and which one handles your matter depends on where the parties live and the court’s local rules. To file for divorce here you’ll generally need to meet California’s residency rule — 6 months in the state and 3 months in the county (Fam. Code § 2320). California is also a community-property state.
The substantive law lives in our statewide guides. Start with the California family law hub, then explore divorce, child custody, or child support. To get matched with a local Alameda County family-law attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Local family court
Court: Divorce, custody, and support cases for Alameda County are heard in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, which decides family-law matters in its family law departments, with proceedings in courthouses including Oakland and Hayward.
All California family-law cases — divorce, custody, and support — are heard in the county's Superior Court, here the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, with family law proceedings handled in courthouses including Oakland and Hayward. Which courthouse or department hears your case depends on where the parties live and the court's local rules. Verify the current courthouse location, hours, and filing procedures on the court's official website before filing.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Where do I file for divorce in Alameda County?
- In the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, which hears family law matters in courthouses including Oakland and Hayward. California has no separate family courts — divorce is decided in the Superior Court's family law departments. Confirm the correct courthouse on the court's official website before filing.
- How long must I live in Alameda County before filing for divorce?
- California's residency rule requires 6 months in the state and 3 months in the county before filing (Fam. Code § 2320). You'll generally need 3 months of residence in Alameda County to file your divorce here.
- Can I file for custody without a divorce in Alameda County?
- Yes. Custody and parentage actions can be brought in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, independently of a divorce. See our statewide custody guide for how the law applies.