Family Law (Divorce & Custody) in Sacramento 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 Sacramento County, your case is heard in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, with family law proceedings centered in Sacramento. 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. Sacramento County may hear family law matters in more than one location, and which courthouse handles your case 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 Sacramento County family-law attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Local family court
Court: Divorce, custody, and support cases for Sacramento County are heard in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, which decides family-law matters in its family law departments, with principal proceedings in Sacramento.
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 Sacramento, with family law proceedings centered in Sacramento. 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 Sacramento County?
- In the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, with family law proceedings centered in Sacramento. 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento County to file your divorce here.
- How is child support calculated in Sacramento County?
- Child support follows California's statewide guideline formula; the Sacramento County Superior Court applies it. See our statewide child support guide for how income and parenting time factor into the calculation.