Prompted by a survey taken last year that showed low user satisfaction with the statewide family law courts, the Ventura County Superior Court conducted two forums last week to get public input on how to improve.

Family law courts hear matters involving divorce, child custody and support, adoption and the like.

Those who took the survey cited a lengthy court process, the high cost of attorneys and excessive paperwork, according to Keri Griffith, branch manager for the East County Courthouse.

Public forums were held at Simi Valley City Hall and in Ventura and included state and county court officials.

Although the survey results weren't broken down by county level, at least some of the concerns appeared to be echoed by Ventura County residents.

Denise Houghton, a family law attorney who practices in Thousand Oaks, said her clients are unhappy with the time it takes for their cases to be resolved through the court system. She was one of two family law attorneys who attended the Simi Valley forum.

Ventura County has only three judges and two commissioners who decide family cases, and only one-Judge Charles Campbell-who presides over the East County. Houghton is sympathetic to the lack of jurists.

"There's only so much one person can do," she said.

Debra Chase is an attorney with the policymaking arm of the state court system, the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Court, where she helps develop programs that assist self-represented litigants. She attended both forums.

Chase said that in 70 percent of California family law cases, at

least one party represents themselves in court. Consequently, more judges and commissioners are needed to handle the "enormous" case load, she said.

Another reason a family law case could be protracted is the length of time it takes to get a mediation date. Mediation is mandatory in disputes over child custody and visitation and it must precede a hearing before a judge.

It can take as long as six weeks before a mediator can hear a case. Griffith said another mediator recently was added to the East County, bringing the total to three.

"We do hope that that will take care of the issue," she said.

In the coming weeks, Chase will compile a report on the concerns brought up at the forums and give it to the county's court executive officer. The county eventually will publish a brochure based on the findings and what it plans to do to improve the court system, Griffith said.