The San Mateo County Hall of Justice and Records at 400 County Center in Redwood City, California is the courthouse where San Mateo County family law cases are heard. Its Family Law Division handles divorce, child custody and parenting time, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, parentage, legal separation, and modifications of existing orders.
No father wants his family’s future decided in a courtroom. When it happens anyway, the details start to matter: where to file, when the clerk windows open, how long security takes. Getting those details right keeps your energy on your children and your case.
Family law cases in San Mateo County are heard at the Hall of Justice and Records in Redwood City, officially the Southern Branch. It serves fathers across the county, from Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Pacifica down through Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, and out to Half Moon Bay. Reel Fathers Rights APC stands with men and fathers in California family courts, and this page tells you what to expect here.
Where Is the Hall of Justice and Records Located?
The San Mateo County Hall of Justice and Records is located at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063, at Marshall and Hamilton Streets in the County Government Center. The phone number is 650-261-5100, with family law phone hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Family Law Division operates from the first floor. Family law clerk windows are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Appointments are available and encouraged, so book one rather than waiting in line. Those morning-only windows make planning ahead essential.
From US-101 north, exit Whipple Avenue to Veterans Boulevard, turn right on Middlefield Road, then right on Marshall Street. From US-101 south, take the Woodside Road (Highway 84) exit to Veterans Boulevard, turn left on Jefferson Avenue, then right on Marshall. From I-280, take Woodside Road to Veterans Boulevard, then turn left on Middlefield. For parking, use the county parking garage off Middlefield Road or public parking in downtown Redwood City. Arrive 30 minutes early, because between parking, the security checkpoint, and finding the right floor in a large building, the cushion disappears fast.
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What Types of Cases Are Heard at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records hears San Mateo County family law cases, including divorce, child custody and parenting time, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, parentage, legal separation, and modifications of existing orders. The eight-story building also houses civil, criminal, probate, small claims, and records operations, along with the court’s mediation program, but for fathers the cases that matter run through the Family Law Division.
How Are Divorce Cases Handled at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records handles every stage of a San Mateo County divorce, from the initial petition through judgment. Support, property, and your parenting schedule are all decided here, and early mistakes follow you through the whole case. A divorce lawyer for men can keep those early filings clean and complete.
Spousal support is one of the issues decided along the way, and fathers should understand it before the first hearing. Our overview of what you need to know about California spousal support explains what is at stake.
How Are Child Custody and Parenting Time Cases Handled at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records issues the custody and parenting time orders that define your daily life as a father. The court expects specifics: your work schedule, your home, your history of caring for your children. Vague promises lose to documented involvement, in a divorce and in a standalone custody matter alike. Our guide to California child custody laws for fathers explains the framework the court applies to your request.
How Is Child Support Handled at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records sets guideline child support based on income and parenting time, and the court can also modify existing orders when circumstances change. If your income has dropped or your timeshare has grown, you may be paying more than the law requires. Act on it, because orders do not fix themselves. Learn how fathers can reduce or eliminate child support in California before you assume your current order is permanent.
How Are Domestic Violence Restraining Orders Handled at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records hears restraining order requests and temporary restraining orders. These cases move quickly, and the outcome can reshape your custody rights. Come prepared, with a domestic violence lawyer for men in your corner if at all possible.
How Are Parentage Cases Handled at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records requires unmarried fathers to establish parentage before the court can grant them custody or parenting time. It is the first step, and delaying it delays every right that depends on it. Read the rights of unmarried fathers in California so you know what a parentage judgment protects.
What Services Are Available at the Hall of Justice and Records?
The Hall of Justice and Records houses a combined Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator office, which gives free help to self-represented litigants with divorce, custody and parenting time, child support, and domestic violence restraining orders. In-person hours are Monday and Tuesday mornings, and live chat is available. A restraining order clinic also runs through this office.
Use these services with clear eyes. The facilitator is a neutral resource who assists both parties and cannot advocate for you. Free form help is valuable, but it does not replace your own attorney.
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What Should You Expect When You Arrive at the Hall of Justice and Records?
All visitors to the Hall of Justice and Records pass through a security checkpoint, and all bags are x-rayed. The court has zero tolerance for weapons of any kind, including pocket knives. Check your pockets and your bag before you leave home, and budget an extra 15 to 30 minutes for screening.
Once inside, conduct yourself as if the court is already watching. Dress neatly and keep your voice down in the hallways, where the opposing party or her attorney may be nearby. In the courtroom, speak only when addressed, answer honestly, and let your preparation do the talking.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Hall of Justice and Records
Where do you park at the Hall of Justice and Records?
Use the county parking garage off Middlefield Road or public parking in downtown Redwood City. The courthouse sits at Marshall and Hamilton Streets in the County Government Center, so downtown lots are within reach. Arrive 30 minutes before your hearing, because parking and the security checkpoint together take more time than most fathers expect.
Do you need an appointment to file family law papers?
Appointments are available and encouraged at the family law clerk windows, so book one if you can. The windows are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the first floor. The court encourages booking an appointment rather than waiting in line.
Can the Family Law Facilitator act as your attorney?
No. The combined Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator office helps self-represented litigants with divorce, custody and parenting time, child support, and restraining order forms, but the facilitator is neutral and assists both parties. The office cannot build your strategy or argue your position. Only your own attorney can do that.
What should you bring to a hearing at the Hall of Justice and Records?
Bring your filed paperwork and any documents that support your position, and leave weapons of every kind at home, including pocket knives. All bags are x-rayed at the checkpoint. Budget an extra 15 to 30 minutes for screening so you have time to find your courtroom before your hearing.
Talk to a Lawyer Who Represents Fathers at the Hall of Justice and Records
Reel Fathers Rights APC represents men in divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence matters at the Hall of Justice and Records and across California. The firm was built for fathers, and we understand what a father stands to lose when a case goes wrong. We prepare thoroughly and hold the other side to its proof. If you need a Redwood City divorce lawyer or a San Mateo County family law attorney who represents men, put an advocate in your corner before you appear. When your parenting time is at issue, a dedicated child custody lawyer for fathers makes the difference. Call 951-339-3826 or schedule a free case evaluation today.
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