In brief
Family law documents from Murrieta, Temecula, Hemet and the rest of the mid-county region have been filed at the Menifee Justice Center, 27401 Menifee Center Drive, Menifee, CA 92584, since July 8, 2024. The Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta has no family law department on the court’s 2026 assignment sheet, and Hemet and Temecula do not appear on that sheet at all.
- The administrative order effective July 8, 2024 assigns Hemet (92543 to 92546), Murrieta (92562 to 92564) and Temecula (92589 to 92593) to the Menifee Justice Center1.
- The Menifee Justice Center opened for business on July 8, 20244.
- Its family law departments are M201, M202, M203 and M303; M204 hears domestic violence, adoptions and parental terminations3.
- Hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the phone is 951-777-3147; the drop box is open until 4:00 p.m.2.
- Domestic violence restraining orders can be filed at any court location8.
This page explains the court’s process. It is not legal advice, and this site is not a law firm.
The detail
Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center and the Hemet courthouse are no longer where family law documents are filed. This page sets out what the court’s own documents say about that change, what the Menifee building offers, and what no cited document says. The wider picture, including the other three family law courthouses, is in the Riverside County family court, explained.
The short answer
| If you live in… | File family law documents at |
|---|---|
| Murrieta (92562, 92563, 92564) | Menifee Justice Center, 27401 Menifee Center Drive, Menifee, CA 925841 |
| Temecula (92589 to 92593) | Menifee Justice Center1 |
| Hemet (92543 to 92546) | Menifee Justice Center1 |
| San Jacinto, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Winchester, Menifee, Sun City, Canyon Lake, Homeland, Lakeview/Nuevo, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Anza or Aguanga | Menifee Justice Center1 |
“Family law documents” means the petition and later papers in a divorce, legal separation, nullity, parentage, custody or support case. The full order, zip code by zip code, is on which Riverside County courthouse takes your family law case.
What happened to Murrieta, Hemet and Temecula
The court’s documents give these dates and no more.
| Date | What the document says |
|---|---|
| Notice issued December 6, 2021 | Effective January 3, 2022, mid-county domestic violence and petitions to terminate parental custody and control return to the Hemet courthouse, 880 N. State Street, Hemet; matters previously at the Southwest Justice Center are reassigned there, with hearings in Department H1; the domestic violence case prefix changes from DVSW to DVHE6 |
| December 2021 | Construction of the Menifee Justice Center begins4 |
| July 2, 2024 | The presiding judge signs the administrative order assigning family law filings by zip code1 |
| July 8, 2024 | The Menifee Justice Center opens for business, and the order takes effect14 |
| September 15, 2026 | The court’s judicial assignment sheet lists family law departments at Menifee and none at the Southwest Justice Center; Hemet and Temecula do not appear on it3 |
The order says “effective July 8, 2024, family law documents be filed as outlined below,” and the outline lists the Hemet, Murrieta and Temecula zip codes under the Menifee Justice Center1. The Judicial Council’s August 2024 news release describes the new building as offering services “not possible at the previous courthouse due to space restrictions,” but does not name which courthouse it means5.
Good to know No court document cited here states that the Hemet family law department closed, or says what happened to cases already pending at Hemet or the Southwest Justice Center when Menifee opened. The 2021 notice is history: the 2026 sheet and the 2024 order show no family law department or filing window at either building31. For a case that was filed before July 8, 2024, the clerk’s office at 951-777-3147 is the source for where it is now.
What the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta does hear
The 2026 sheet lists criminal, probate, limited civil, traffic, mental health and juvenile dependency calendars at 30755-D Auld Road, and no family law3. The Self-Help Information page lists public access computers there, in Room #1227, for case access, calendars and forms; the court says there is no fee to use the computers or any assistance provided by its staff9. A computer is not a filing window: the building does not take family law filings under the order1.
Temecula
The court’s reference guide, revised July 7, 2024, lists probate and guardianship case prefixes at a Temecula courthouse (department T1) and no family law prefixes there7. The guide lists guardianship prefixes there alongside the probate ones7.
The Menifee Justice Center
| Address | 27401 Menifee Center Drive, Menifee, CA 925842 |
| Phone | 951-777-31472 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.2 |
| Clerk’s office phone hours | 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.2 |
| Drop box | Yes; until 4:00 p.m., and documents left after 4:00 p.m. are processed the next court day2 |
| Matters served | Civil, evictions, family law, small claims2 |
| Building | “A three-level building that houses 9 courtrooms”2 |
| Parking | In front of the building; 8 handicapped spaces2 |
The Judicial Council’s fact sheet describes an 85,010 square foot building, which began construction in December 2021, built “to support family and civil case calendars,” with a self-help center, a children’s waiting room and attorney interview and witness rooms4. The clerk’s office is on the main floor, and the adjacent Self-Help Center has a lowered counter and tables for filling out forms2. The Self-Help Information page names the room as M103 and lists public computers in the lobby9.
Departments
| Department | Floor | Calendar on the September 2026 assignment sheet |
|---|---|---|
| M201, M202, M203 | 2 | Family law23 |
| M204 | 2 | Domestic violence; adoptions and parental terminations23 |
| M205 | 2 | Small claims, name changes, civil harassments, unlawful detainers23 |
| M301, M302 | 3 | Civil (unlimited) calendar and trials23 |
| M303 | 3 | Family law23 |
| M304 | 3 | Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) child support23 |
The sheet also lists, at the Hall of Justice in Riverside, a “DCSS Menifee Calendar (Thursdays)” in Department 553. This page does not list judges; the sheet names the judicial officer for each department.
A court notice dated January 9, 2026 lists M201, M202, M203, M303 and M304 as family law calendars and M204 for domestic violence restraining orders and for adoptions and freedom from parental custody and control, and states “No Reporter Available” for each of them10.
Sources disagree The January 2026 reporter notice prints the address as “27401 Menifee Drive”10. The administrative order, the court’s location page and the Judicial Council all use 27401 Menifee Center Drive124. Use “Menifee Center Drive.”
Case numbers
The reference guide, revised July 7, 2024, lists no Menifee case prefixes and no family law prefixes for Hemet or Murrieta7. It was revised the day before the Menifee Justice Center opened, so it is useful for reading older case numbers but not for a new Menifee case; the clerk’s office can answer7.
Domestic violence restraining orders
Domestic violence restraining orders, elder abuse restraining orders and appeals can be filed at any court location, not only the one assigned to the filer’s zip code8. Department M204 at Menifee is the mid-county domestic violence calendar on the 2026 sheet3. Domestic violence filings carry no filing fee, including through eSubmit12. The process is in getting a domestic violence restraining order in Riverside County.
Filing without driving to Menifee
Family law documents can be filed through eSubmit, the court’s online portal, for a $2 transaction fee per case, as PDFs, up to 15 documents per submission12. The steps and cut-off times are in eSubmit and remote hearings in Riverside family law.
When to get help
Self Help Legal Services is the free route: the court says its staff can explain procedures, make referrals to free or low-cost legal resources, and cannot give legal advice or tell anyone what choice to make11. The Self-Help Center in Room M103 is next to the clerk’s office29. A reason to ask before filing: the court says the courthouse for a case depends on the zip code of the parties and the law for the case type, and tells filers to consult the clerk or get legal assistance when it is unclear8. That matters for a mid-county case if the other parent lives in a different region. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 91113. More on free help is in free and low-cost family law help, and the self-help center is covered in Riverside County family law self-help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I file for divorce if I live in Murrieta?
At the Menifee Justice Center, 27401 Menifee Center Drive. The order assigns Murrieta zip codes 92562, 92563 and 92564 to the mid-county region1.
Does the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta hear family law?
Is the Hemet courthouse still a family law location?
The court’s Family Law page lists four family law locations: Riverside, Blythe, Indio and the Menifee Justice Center. Hemet is not among them14.
When did the Menifee Justice Center open?
What are the Menifee Justice Center's hours?
Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Clerk’s office phone hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.2.
Is there a self-help center at the Menifee Justice Center?
Can a domestic violence restraining order be filed at Menifee if I live elsewhere?
Yes. The court says these orders can be filed at any court location8.
Related Articles
Sources (14)
- Administrative Order – Where to File Family Law Documents — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, effective July 8, 2024 (revised June 5, 2024). Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Menifee Justice Center — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- 2026 Judicial Officer Assignments — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, updated 9/15/26. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Fact Sheet: New Menifee Justice Center, Riverside County — Judicial Council of California, August 2024. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- California Chief Justice to dedicate new Riverside County courthouse in Menifee on August 23 — Judicial Council of California, August 7, 2024. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Notice: Mid-County Domestic Violence and Petition to Terminate Parental Custody Cases Return to the Hemet Courthouse — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, issued December 6, 2021. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Reference Guide – Where Cases are Pending — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, revised July 7, 2024. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Where to File Documents — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Self-Help Information — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Notice of Availability of Court Reporter, Mid-County — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, January 9, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Self-Help — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Document Submission Portal: eSubmit — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Domestic Violence Self-Help — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Family Law — Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Accessed 2026-10-09.