Civil Court Operations - SLO Superior Court

Civil Court Operations – SLO Superior Court is located in San Luis Obispo County at 1035 Palm Street Room, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. The court’s jurisdiction covers the following: Civil and probate cases, limited family law matters, juvenile proceedings, mental health proceedings, and small claims actions.

The superior court has five divisions: civil, probate, family law, juvenile, and mental health. The civil division is the largest with the most staff. It handles all types of civil proceedings, including cases with large dollar amounts at stake. The probate division processes all estate and trust matters. Family law handles dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, and child custody and visitation proceedings. Juvenile handles delinquency, dependency, wardship, and emancipation proceedings. Mental health handles commitment proceedings and guardianship for adults with developmental disabilities.

The superior court also has a mediation program which helps resolve disputes without going to trial. The mediators are impartial and help the parties come to an agreement. If an agreement is reached, the mediator will put it in writing and the parties will sign it. This is called a consent decree. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the mediator will make a recommendation to the court.