California family law draws on multiple codes — the Family Code, Penal Code, Welfare and Institutions Code, and Evidence Code — to govern divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence proceedings. Understanding which statutes apply to your situation helps you communicate effectively with your attorney.
California Penal Code 494.5
California Penal Code section 494.5 addresses the offense of failing to return a leased or rented vehicle — it is not a family law statute. Searches for 494.5 in the family law context sometimes arise from confusion with other section numbers. The Penal Code sections most directly relevant to family law are: Penal Code 273.5 (corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant); Penal Code 278 (parental kidnapping); Penal Code 278.5 (custodial deprivation); and Penal Code 273a (child endangerment).
Key California Family Code Sections
The California Family Code governs dissolution, custody, and support. Critical sections include: Family Code 2310 (grounds for dissolution); Family Code 3011 (best interests factors for custody); Family Code 3020 (policy favoring contact with both parents); Family Code 3044 (domestic violence presumption against custody); Family Code 4053 (child support guideline); Family Code 4320 (spousal support factors); and Family Code 4336 (long-duration marriage retained jurisdiction).
700 Civic Center Drive West / 770 California
The 700 Civic Center Drive West address in Santa Ana is the Orange County Central Justice Center — not the family law courthouse. California Evidence Code section 770 governs prior inconsistent statements of witnesses and applies in family court trials. The 770 California reference in legal searches often relates to this evidence section.
Furubotten Law, APC handles family law proceedings throughout Orange County and Riverside County. Call (714) 795-3862 for a complimentary case evaluation.