The RegistryCounty Record · California
Family Law Attorneys in Madera County, California
Counsel for divorce, custody, support, and the agreements that hold families steady. In Madera County, that work runs through the Superior Court of California, County of Madera. This directory presents family law records from official State Bar of California data in neutral order.
A central San Joaquin Valley county running from valley vineyards and orchards up to Yosemite's southern gateway at Oakhurst; the courthouse sits in the city of Madera. Venue for most family law matters arising in the county lies with the Superior Court of California, County of Madera, seated at Madera.
Deadlines shape these cases before merits do — a divorce cannot be final sooner than six months after the respondent is served (Cal. Fam. Code § 2339). Residency first: six months in California and three months in the filing county (Cal. Fam. Code § 2320). Custody, support, and property orders can issue while the six-month clock runs.
The clock & the court
A divorce cannot be final sooner than six months after the respondent is served.
Cal. Fam. Code § 2339
Residency first: six months in California and three months in the filing county (Cal. Fam. Code § 2320). Custody, support, and property orders can issue while the six-month clock runs.
Superior Court of California, County of Madera.
County seat: Madera
Official court information, locations, and filing rules: www.madera.courts.ca.gov
Family Law · Madera County roster
Registry indexing underway
195,000+ California attorneys are being verified against official State Bar of California records. Verified listings for Family Law · Madera County will appear here as indexing completes.
Official State Bar data · Identity verification · Updated regularly
Family Law questions, cited
How is property divided in a California divorce?
California is a community property state. Assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally community property (Cal. Fam. Code § 760) and are divided equally at divorce (Cal. Fam. Code § 2550). Separate property — what each spouse owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance (Cal. Fam. Code § 770) — stays with that spouse, though tracing commingled assets often becomes the real dispute.
How long does a divorce take in California?
At minimum six months and one day from service of the petition — Cal. Fam. Code § 2339 bars an earlier termination of marital status. Uncontested cases can be ready for judgment when the waiting period ends; contested custody or property cases routinely take longer, driven by the county superior court's family division calendar.
How is child custody decided in California?
By the best interest of the child, per Cal. Fam. Code §§ 3011 and 3020, weighing the child's health, safety, and welfare, any history of abuse, and each parent's contact with the child. California public policy favors frequent and continuing contact with both parents where safe. Most counties require mediation through Family Court Services before a contested custody hearing (Cal. Fam. Code § 3170).
How is child support calculated in California?
Under the statewide uniform guideline formula in Cal. Fam. Code § 4055, which turns primarily on both parents' net disposable incomes and the percentage of time each parent has physical responsibility for the children. The guideline amount is presumptively correct (Cal. Fam. Code § 4057); courts depart from it only in limited circumstances.
Do I need to live in California to file for divorce here?
Yes — one spouse must have lived in California for six months and in the county of filing for three months before the petition (Cal. Fam. Code § 2320). If neither spouse yet qualifies, a legal separation can be filed first and amended to a dissolution once residency is met.
Legal information, not legal advice.
From the answer files
Related counsel in Madera County
Family Law in nearby counties
Read the record. Then decide.
Describe your matter once, weigh the published scores, and place the call — the choice is always yours.
Find Your Counsel195,000+ attorneys · 58 counties · Official State Bar records