Language services for family law matters.
Family law cases are uniquely sensitive: high-emotion testimony, vulnerable witnesses (often including children), and procedural complexity that requires interpreters trained to maintain neutrality and accuracy. AMS supplies certified interpreters and qualified translators for divorce, custody, child support, adoption, restraining orders, dependency hearings, and the full spectrum of family court work throughout California and Nevada.
What we handle
Divorce and dissolution proceedings
Mediations, settlement conferences, depositions, evidentiary hearings, and trials. Certified court interpreters with family-law deposition experience.
Child custody and visitation
Custody hearings, parenting plan negotiations, mediations. Interpreters trained for the cadence of custody-related testimony.
Child support and spousal support
Support hearings, DCSS proceedings (Department of Child Support Services), and modification matters.
Restraining orders (CLETS, DVRO, EPO)
TRO and permanent restraining order hearings, often on tight timelines. Same-day and emergency scheduling available.
Adoption (domestic and international)
Adoption finalization hearings, ICPC compliance, foreign-document translation for international adoptions.
Dependency court (juvenile)
Detention hearings, jurisdiction/disposition, reunification services, and termination of parental rights. Interpreters with dependency-court experience.
Family law document translation
Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, custody orders, child welfare records, prenuptial agreements, and supporting documents.
Mediation and collaborative law
Interpreters trained for the collaborative mediation format, where the interpreter is part of the joint conversation rather than a courtroom intermediary.
How it works
- 01
Send the matter details
Date, time, language, proceeding type (mediation, hearing, trial), and the venue.
- 02
We match a family-law-experienced interpreter
Family law has its own register and procedural culture; we match interpreters with documented family-law experience.
- 03
Written confirmation
Confirmation includes the interpreter's name and credential. One point of contact from quote through invoice.
Why family law firms choose AMS
Sensitive-matter training
Family law cases involve emotional testimony, vulnerable witnesses, and sometimes child participants. Our interpreters are trained to maintain neutrality and accurate rendering through difficult moments.
Continuity across matters
A family law case can run for years across multiple hearings. AMS schedules the same interpreter across the case lifecycle whenever possible.
Same-day for restraining orders
TRO and emergency restraining order matters cannot wait. AMS handles same-day requests across California and Nevada.
Family law interpreting questions, answered
Can a child be the interpreter for a parent in family court?
No. California family courts and dependency courts will not accept a child as the interpreter for their own parent, and federal language-access guidance similarly prohibits it. Even outside the courtroom, using a child as interpreter creates psychological harm and produces unreliable testimony. AMS supplies qualified adult interpreters.
Does AMS handle dependency court proceedings (DCFS, CFS, juvenile court)?
Yes. Dependency court is one of AMS's most-frequent family-law practice areas. Detention hearings, jurisdiction hearings, dispositions, six-month reviews, twelve-month reviews, and termination of parental rights are all routine.
Can AMS schedule a same-day Spanish interpreter for a TRO hearing?
Yes. Same-day Spanish interpreters for restraining order hearings (TRO, DVRO, CLETS, EPO) are routine. Call (800) 919-2029 for same-day requests.
Does AMS translate foreign marriage certificates and divorce decrees for U.S. family court?
Yes. Certified translations of Mexican, Salvadoran, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Armenian, Russian, and other foreign civil registration documents for use in California and Nevada family court matters.
Can AMS supply interpreters for collaborative-law and mediation sessions?
Yes. Collaborative-law and mediation interpreting differs from courtroom interpreting; the interpreter is part of the joint conversation. AMS interpreters are trained for both modes.
Does AMS handle high-conflict custody evaluations with interpreters?
Yes. Custody evaluations (also called 730 evaluations in California) often involve interpretation for one or both parents. AMS supplies medically-qualified and family-law-experienced interpreters for these multi-hour evaluations.
Further reading
California Court Interpreter Program: what counts as certified
How California certifies court interpreters and what languages are covered.
Read the articleCourt interpreter ethics: the four canons
Particularly relevant in emotionally-charged family court matters.
Read the articleSworn, certified, notarized, apostilled: which translation authentication do you need?
Relevant for foreign marriage and divorce documents in family law.
Read the articleIndigenous Mesoamerican languages in U.S. courts
For family-law clients whose first language is an indigenous language.
Read the articleBilingual staff vs. certified interpreters: where the line is
Critical for family law: family members are not qualified interpreters.
Read the articleSchedule with AMS
Request a quote or reach our scheduling team. AMS will assign the right linguist for your matter.