If the court has referred you to a Child Custody Recommending Counselor you may have completed a form in court, or you may need to contact the Alameda County Child Custody, Guardianship, and Domestic Violence Recommending Counseling (CCRC) division. You may notice that information is difficult to find on the site, and that the site is in disarray, which is an accurate portrayal of the department itself.


While sometimes you are able to schedule an appointment online, this seems to be sporadically available. Going to the Alameda County Child Custody, Guardianship, and Domestic Violence Recommending Counseling site allows you to download some informational pdfs, but not a form to request an appointment. 


DwD recommends emailing familycourtservices@alameda.courts.ca.gov to make an appointment if the court has ordered you to do so. Using email is easier, and will provide documentation to present in court that you have attempted to make an appointment if they fail to respond. 


Do not put off making an appointment if ordered to do so by the court. The CCRC is often booked far in advance, requiring 1 month's notice to schedule your appointment. Once you have your appointment date, call the Family Court Services Department appointment line at (510) 690-2500 one week before your scheduled appointment to confirm.


Alameda County Child Custody, Guardianship, and Domestic Violence Recommending Counseling

Family Court Services 224 W. Winton Ave, Suite 208 Hayward, CA 94544

Phone: (510) 690-2500

Fax: (510) 783-4297

Email: familycourtservices@alameda.courts.ca.gov


Be Advised:

DwD has witnessed many parties to a case get slammed in court by not attending a Child Custody Recommending Counselor appointment they didn't know they had or that had been rescheduled without their knowledge. Be proactive about your appointment by following the guidelines above. The court will view your failure to appear as your fault, negligence, and as if your child's custody is not important to you. Request an appointment far in advance in writing, confirm the appointment before hand, and go to your appointment as scheduled. 


Click here for information on What to expect during your Child Custody Recommending Counseling appointment.