Family Law - Jurisdiction
Phone: (415) 444-7040
Email: familylaw@marincourt.org
Location: Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room 113
Office Hours: 8:30am - 3:30pm




Starting a Dissolution Action in Marin County

A dissolution action may be started in Marin County if one or both spouses have resided in this county for at least the last three months and in the state of California for at least six months.

Starting a Legal Separation or Nullity Action in Marin County

For legal separation or nullity cases, one or both spouses need only be a resident of this county at the time the case is filed.

Additional Rules for Spouses Outside of California

In addition to the residency requirements for starting any termination of marriage action, there are some additional rules to consider if your spouse resides outside California. Specifically, a spouse who lives in another state or country can object to jurisdiction by the court in California. In that event, this Court may be prevented from making important orders in your case. You should seek legal advice about how to proceed if your spouse lives outside California and is likely to object to having the case handled here.