California · Family Code

FAM §1834: (a) The clerk of the court shall provide, at the expense of the court, blank forms for petitions for filing pursuant to this part.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Court clerks must provide petition forms at no cost to filers. Probation officers and court staff shall assist petitioners upon request. Public officers must refer domestic disputes to family conciliation court. Family court jurisdiction over domestic violence cases is concurrent with other civil and criminal remedies.

Read the full statutory text

(a) The clerk of the court shall provide, at the expense of the court, blank forms for petitions for filing pursuant to this part. (b) The probation officers of the county and the attachés and employees of the family conciliation court shall assist a person in the preparation and presentation of a petition under this part if the person requests assistance. (c) All public officers in each county shall refer to the family conciliation court all petitions and complaints made to them in respect to controversies within the jurisdiction of the family conciliation court. (d) The jurisdiction of the family conciliation court in respect to controversies arising out of an instance of domestic violence is not exclusive but is coextensive with any other remedies either civil or criminal in nature that may be available.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.