I am in a dispute with the mother of my minor children concerning parental authority. We are not married. Does the family court judge nevertheless have jurisdiction?

Yes. The jurisdiction of the family court judge is not limited solely to disputes between spouses. In particular, the judge has jurisdiction over any application relating to the exercise of parental authority, regardless of the parents’ “matrimonial” relationship (Art. L213-3, 3°(b) of the French Code of Judicial Organisation).