Choose the state connected to the case
The relevant state may depend on residence, the court that issued an order, where a child lives, and other jurisdiction rules. If more than one state is involved, ask a qualified lawyer which court has authority.
AlabamaAlabama Judicial SystemAlaskaAlaska Court SystemArizonaArizona Judicial BranchArkansasArkansas JudiciaryCaliforniaCalifornia Courts Self-Help GuideColoradoColorado Judicial BranchConnecticutConnecticut Judicial BranchDelawareDelaware CourtsDistrict of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia CourtsFloridaFlorida CourtsGeorgiaJudicial Council of GeorgiaHawaiiHawaii State JudiciaryIdahoIdaho Court Assistance OfficeIllinoisIllinois CourtsIndianaIndiana Judicial BranchIowaIowa Judicial BranchKansasKansas Judicial BranchKentuckyKentucky Court of JusticeLouisianaLouisiana Supreme CourtMaineMaine Judicial BranchMarylandMaryland CourtsMassachusettsMassachusetts Court SystemMichiganMichigan CourtsMinnesotaMinnesota Judicial BranchMississippiMississippi JudiciaryMissouriMissouri CourtsMontanaMontana Judicial BranchNebraskaNebraska Judicial BranchNevadaNevada JudiciaryNew HampshireNew Hampshire Judicial BranchNew JerseyNew Jersey CourtsNew MexicoNew Mexico CourtsNew YorkNew York CourtHelpNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina Judicial BranchNorth DakotaNorth Dakota CourtsOhioSupreme Court of OhioOklahomaOklahoma State Courts NetworkOregonOregon Judicial DepartmentPennsylvaniaUnified Judicial System of PennsylvaniaRhode IslandRhode Island JudiciarySouth CarolinaSouth Carolina Judicial BranchSouth DakotaSouth Dakota Unified Judicial SystemTennesseeTennessee Administrative Office of the CourtsTexasTexas Judicial BranchUtahUtah State CourtsVermontVermont JudiciaryVirginiaVirginia's Judicial SystemWashingtonWashington CourtsWest VirginiaWest Virginia JudiciaryWisconsinWisconsin Court SystemWyomingWyoming Judicial Branch
Why the official court source comes first
Forms, fees, filing systems, court names, terminology, and local procedure differ. Each state guide links to the state judiciary or court self-help source and identifies details to confirm at the county or district level.
Verify before acting
Official and authoritative starting points
For home state guides, begin with the sources below and confirm the court, current form version, filing method, fee, and deadline shown on the case papers. This source list was reviewed during the August 27, 2026 update.