Co-Parenting Classes for Los Angeles County Family Courts
Going through a divorce, custody case, or parenting plan dispute in Los Angeles County? This guide covers what LA's family courts actually require, which of the county's twelve family law courthouses will handle your case, and where a co-parenting class fits — so you complete the right thing, once.
The Two Requirements LA Parents Mix Up
Court orders in LA custody cases can point at two different kinds of parent education. Match your paperwork to the right one before you spend a minute or a dollar.
Our Children First
The court's own online orientation, required by law before child custody mediation in contested custody and visitation cases. Only the court's program satisfies this requirement.
- About 60 minutes, online
- Required before your mediation session
- In-person alternative: PACT (Parents and Children Together) at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse
4-Hour Co-Parenting Class
The longer parent education California Family Code sections 3200–3204 describe — ordered by judges in some cases, built into stipulated parenting plans, or taken proactively before a hearing.
- 4 hours, fully online and self-paced
- Free to start — pay $39.99 only after you pass
- Certificate downloads instantly
Honest note: our class does not replace Our Children First, and LA judges word parent-education orders differently case to case. If your paperwork is ambiguous, ask your judicial officer or a Self-Help Center — or send the wording to our 24/7 chat and we'll tell you plainly whether our course fits.
Los Angeles County Family Law Courthouses
LA Superior Court hears family law at twelve locations, assigned by district. Per the court's Family Law Departments Directory (effective May 4, 2026):
| Courthouse | Address |
|---|---|
| Stanley Mosk Courthouse (Central District) | 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
| Metropolitan Court | 1945 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007 |
| Pasadena Courthouse (Northeast District) | 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 |
| Pomona Courthouse South (East District) | 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 |
| Van Nuys Courthouse East (Northwest District) | 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401 |
| Chatsworth Courthouse (North Valley District) | 9425 Penfield Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311 |
| Antelope Valley Courthouse, Lancaster (North District) | 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534 |
| Compton Courthouse (South Central District) | 200 West Compton Blvd., Compton, CA 90220 |
| Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, Long Beach (South District) | 275 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 |
| Whittier Courthouse (Southeast District) | 7339 S. Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602 |
| Torrance Courthouse (Southwest District) | 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503 |
| Santa Monica Courthouse (West District) | 1725 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
The Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown houses the largest concentration of family law departments, including the master calendar and dedicated trial courts. Department assignments change periodically — confirm yours at lacourt.ca.gov or on your case paperwork.
Filing Your Certificate in LA County
- Finish the class and download your certificate — it includes your name, completion date, course duration, and a unique verification ID.
- Check your order for instructions. Some LA orders name a deadline or tell you exactly where proof goes; that language controls.
- File or bring it. Absent specific instructions, parents typically file the certificate with the clerk at their assigned courthouse under their case number, and bring copies to the next hearing — one for the court, one for the other side.
- Free local help: LA Superior Court's Self-Help Centers and the Family Law Facilitator's office (main location: Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St.) assist with forms and filing procedure at no charge.
Los Angeles County Questions
Does Los Angeles County require a co-parenting class?
It depends on your case. Every parent in a contested LA County custody or visitation case must complete the court's own free Our Children First orientation before mediation. A co-parenting class like ours is separate: judges order one in some cases, attorneys stipulate to one in others, and many parents complete one proactively to show the court their commitment. Check your court order, or ask the judicial officer or Self-Help Center for your case.
Which courthouse will handle my LA County custody case?
Los Angeles Superior Court assigns family law cases by district. Twelve locations currently have family law departments, from the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown to Pasadena, Pomona, Van Nuys, Long Beach, Torrance, Lancaster, and others - the full table on this page comes from the court's Family Law Departments Directory effective May 2026. Your case number and filing paperwork show your assigned courthouse and department.
Is your class the same as Our Children First?
No. Our Children First is the LA court's own free 60-minute online mediation orientation, and only it satisfies that specific requirement. Our 4-hour co-parenting class serves the separate parent-education need - when a judge orders a co-parenting program, when parents agree to one in a parenting plan, or when you want structured co-parenting skills. If you're unsure which your order refers to, ask the court or chat with us and we'll help you read it.
How do I give my certificate to an LA County court?
Your certificate downloads instantly when you pass. Most parents either file it with the clerk at their assigned courthouse under their case number or bring copies to their next hearing - and give one to the other parent's attorney if there is one. If your order names a deadline or a specific procedure, follow that; the Self-Help Center at your courthouse can confirm the local practice for free.
Ready to Start?
Our California court-approved co-parenting class is built around the Family Code's parent-education topics, reviewed by a licensed clinician, and free to start — you pay $39.99 only after you pass.
Start For FreeTakes just 60 seconds • No credit card required
Also helpful: our free custody schedule calculator and California court acceptance guide.