Family Law (Divorce & Custody) in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino County, your case is heard in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, with family law proceedings centered in San Bernardino. 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. San Bernardino is the largest county in the state by area, with several courthouses, 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 property division. To get matched with a local San Bernardino County family-law attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Local family court
Court: Divorce, custody, and support cases for San Bernardino County are heard in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, which decides family-law matters in its family law departments, with principal proceedings in San Bernardino.
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 San Bernardino, with family law proceedings centered in San Bernardino. 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 San Bernardino County?
- In the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, with family law proceedings centered in San Bernardino. California has no separate family courts — divorce is decided in the Superior Court's family law departments. As the largest county by area, San Bernardino has several courthouses, so confirm the correct one on the court's official website before filing.
- How long must I live in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino County to file your divorce here.
- Does the county decide how property is divided in my divorce?
- No. California is a community-property state, and that statewide rule governs division; the San Bernardino County Superior Court applies it. See our statewide property division guide for how community property is split.