Is Your County a Recommending County or a Confidential County?
Is your county a recommending county or a confidential county? It is the single most important thing to know before your Family Court Services (FCS) custody mediation. In a recommending county, if you and the other parent do not reach agreement, the mediator writes a recommendation the judge reads before your hearing. In a confidential county, what you say in mediation stays in mediation. Find your county below — then verify against your county’s official FCS page, because county practices change.
Last reviewed August 2026. This page is legal education, not legal advice; always confirm current procedures with your county superior court.
Alameda County
Recommending (CCRC). Alameda is a CCRC/recommending county. Official FCS page is titled “Child Custody and Guardianship Recommending Counseling”; parties must read scheduling instructions and complete/submit an intake form to schedule. County materials include requesting a copy of the CCRC report and DV-specific preparation guidance. No public attorney-letter protocol located. Official FCS page.
Alpine County
Recommending (CCRC). Statewide map notes Alpine refers clients to El Dorado. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Amador County
Confidential (mediation only). County appears as non-recommending on statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Butte County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Calaveras County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Colusa County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Contra Costa County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Del Norte County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
El Dorado County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map; also receives Alpine referrals.Public protocol not fully published; verify forms/local rules before hearing. Official FCS page.
Fresno County
Mixed / hybrid. Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Glenn County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Humboldt County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Imperial County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Inyo County
Mixed / hybrid. Both-model county per statewide map. Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Kern County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Kings County
Mixed / hybrid. Both-model county per statewide map. County page indicates CCRC; Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Lake County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check local FCS intake/orientation. Official FCS page.
Lassen County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Los Angeles County
Confidential (mediation only). Confidential mediation/non-recommending per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Madera County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Marin County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Mariposa County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Local FCS protocol and forms. Official FCS page.
Mendocino County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check current FCS protocol/forms. Official FCS page.
Merced County
Recommending (CCRC). Publishes CCRC; remote telephone/video sessions; orientation required; Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Modoc County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Local FCS protocol/forms. Official FCS page.
Mono County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check local FCS protocol/forms. Official FCS page.
Monterey County
Mixed / hybrid. Both-model county per statewide map. Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Napa County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Nevada County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. FCS protocol/forms. Official FCS page.
Orange County
Mixed / hybrid. Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Placer County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map; Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Plumas County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check current FCS protocol/forms. Official FCS page.
Riverside County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map.Public protocol not fully published; verify forms/local rules before hearing. Official FCS page.
Sacramento County
Recommending (CCRC). FCS performs confidential mediation and CCRC. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
San Benito County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check local FCS forms and protocol. Official FCS page.
San Bernardino County
Recommending (CCRC). Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
San Diego County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
San Francisco County
Confidential (mediation only). Official FCS page describes free confidential mediations for custody/visitation disputes, a confidential screening form, orientation programs, and possible Court-ordered Tier 2 report/fact-gathering. Treat as non-recommending mediation unless the Court orders a Tier 2/fact-gathering report; no public attorney-letter protocol located. Official FCS page.
San Joaquin County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
San Luis Obispo County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check local FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
San Mateo County
Mixed / hybrid. Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Santa Barbara County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check local FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
Santa Clara County
Confidential (mediation only). Official page states confidential child custody mediation; Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Santa Cruz County
Mixed / hybrid. County page lists child custody recommending counseling; Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Shasta County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Local FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
Sierra County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check FCS protocol; Verify current procedures and any orientation requirements on the county FCS page. Official FCS page.
Siskiyou County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map; fact-gathering marker appears on map.Public protocol not fully published; verify forms/local rules before hearing. Official FCS page.
Solano County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map; fact-gathering marker appears on map.Public protocol not fully published; verify forms/local rules before hearing. Official FCS page.
Sonoma County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map; fact-gathering marker appears on map.Public protocol not fully published; verify forms/local rules before hearing. Official FCS page.
Stanislaus County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Local FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
Sutter County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check local FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
Tehama County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Local FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
Trinity County
Recommending (CCRC). Official page states CCRC/mediation; Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Tulare County
Mixed / hybrid. County page states CCRC with written report/recommendations if no agreement; Confirm which track applies to your case with the FCS office before your session. Official FCS page.
Tuolumne County
Confidential (mediation only). Non-recommending model per statewide map. Check current FCS protocol/forms. Official FCS page.
Ventura County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Yolo County
Recommending (CCRC). Verify current intake and orientation requirements on the county FCS page before your session. Official FCS page.
Yuba County
Recommending (CCRC). CCRC model per statewide map. FCS forms/protocol. Official FCS page.
Prepare for your session
New to FCS? Start with the plain-English guide: FCS Custody Mediation in California — How It Works and How to Prepare.
Knowing your county’s model is step one. Preparing your three points, your proposed schedule, and your one-page session sheet is the rest. The Mediation Ready™ workbook walks you through all of it — or start with the free FCS Dos & Don’ts guide.
Want the full preparation guide? Read: FCS Custody Mediation in California: How to Prepare
📄 Free guide for after your mediation: Your FCS Report: What to Do Next — a free guide with worksheets from Jennifer J. Moore, California family law attorney. How to read the report, your three choices at the hearing, and how to plan your response.
Common questions about FCS custody mediation in California
What is Family Court Services (FCS) mediation?
Family Court Services is the court-connected program that meets with parents in California custody and visitation disputes. Before a judge decides a contested custody issue, parents generally must first attend FCS mediation (in many counties called child custody recommending counseling). The mediator helps parents try to reach their own parenting plan — and in most counties, reports to the court if they cannot.
What is a recommending (CCRC) county?
In a recommending county, if parents do not reach a full agreement, the mediator (called a child custody recommending counselor) writes a recommendation about custody and parenting time — and the judge reads it before your hearing. Judges very often adopt much of the recommendation, which is why preparation for the mediation session itself matters so much.
What is a confidential mediation county?
In a confidential county, what you say in FCS mediation is not reported to the judge. If you reach an agreement, it goes to the court; if you do not, the court is typically told only that no agreement was reached. Your preparation strategy changes significantly depending on which model your county uses.
How do I find out which model my county uses?
Use the free lookup on this page — it covers all 58 California counties and links each county’s official Family Court Services page. Always verify current local practice with your county’s court, since procedures can change.
How should I prepare for FCS mediation?
Know your county’s model, bring a specific proposed parenting plan, and plan the three points that matter most for your children. The free FCS Dos & Don’ts guide and the Mediation Ready™ workbook (with worksheets and a county-by-county reference) walk you through the full preparation. Legal education, not legal advice — for advice about your own case, consult a licensed California attorney or your court’s free self-help center.
Family Court Ready — California 