It took a pandemic, but the future is now. Unless otherwise ordered, Napa County Superior Court allows counsel and parties to appear at hearings using Zoom. All you need to do is go to the Court's Remote Appearance Page, and click on the appropriate Court Department (aka courtroom) hyperlink. But even though you're not physically there, you must still comport yourself as if you're in the courtroom.

Before the Hearing: Visit www.zoom.us to learn about Zoom and download the app.

Day of the Hearing: Find the Zoom meeting information for the courtroom where you are scheduled to appear, and click the appropriate hyperlink.

• Confirm that your video and audio are working as expected
• Join the meeting at least 5 minutes before your scheduled time. You may be placed in a waiting room to be checked in

During the Hearing: Confirm that your device has adequate power and that you will have a reliable connection for the entire remote appearance. Make sure your microphone is muted when not talking.

Remote Appearance Protocols: Maintain court decorum.

• Make sure that your name is input correctly
• Wear appropriate clothing (at least from the waist up)
• Respect all participants as if you were appearing in court in person
• Be conscious of what is in your background, as it can be distracting (or possibly offensive) to others
• If you have an unstable connection, turning the camera off can help stabilize it
• Remote appearances are prohibited from being recorded or broadcast except in compliance with California Rule of Court 1.150.

It's not just statutes that govern court proceedings, the California Rules of Court ("CRC") also apply. In fact, this is one of the the first places I go to when there's a procedural issue.
Want to know what kind of cases are appropriate for appointing Minor's Counsel? Check out CRC rule 5.240.
Curious about how a Findings and Order After Hearing ("FOAH") is prepared and entered after a judge rules on your family law case? Take a look at CRC rule 5.125.
Bonus tip: when pressed for time, sometimes a simple search for a key word (e.g., "support") on the Title Five Table of Contents webpage can help you get the info that you're looking for.

California Courts Website: A comprehensive website that has many self-help tools, including a Find Your Court Forms section (which is particularly useful for Family Law cases because many forms are mandatory).

California Legislative Information: A quick way to review up-to-date legislation. Just click on the "California Law" tab and click on the appropriate title (e.g., "Family Code"), or use the search feature.