Filing Instructions and Procedures

Filing Court Papers (General Information)

For filing information regarding Small Claims matters, see the Small Claims page.

For filing information regarding Unlawful Detainer matters under $25,000, see the Landlord/Tenant page.

Filings may made in person, sent by regular or priority mail, or placed in the court's drop box.  

When papers are filed with the court, please observe the following guidelines:

New Complaint, Petition, or Appeal of the Labor Commissioner

Complaints, petitions, or appeals of the Labor Commissioner for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases excluding Small Claims and Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer cases are filed with the Civil Unit at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102, at the Civil Filing Window.  Complaints may be submitted on pleading paper and must be in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 2.100 or on Judicial Council forms.  Petitions must be submitted on pleading paper.  New complaints and petitions must be submitted with a Judicial Council Civil Case Cover Sheet form and appropriate filing fees or fee waiver.  In addition, an appeal of the Labor Commissioner must include a copy of the order, decision, or award, a copy of the complaint and any answer filed with the Labor Commissioner, and a declaration of proof of service of the notice of appeal being sent to the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Local Rule 9.19.  If the statute of limitations is approaching, it is recommended that the complaint or petition be filed in person or sent priority mail to ensure it is filed in a timely manner.  

Petition to Change a Name

To petition the court to change a name of an adult or a minor, please review the information contained in our Local Forms page. 

Filing Court Papers on a Case Assigned to a Judge for all Purposes

When a case has been assigned to a judge for all purposes, all papers should be filed directly in the department according to the order of the court between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  

Answers and Responses

Answers and responses for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases excluding Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer cases are filed with the Civil Unit at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102, at the Civil Filing Window.  Answers can be submitted on pleading paper and must be in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 2.100, or may be submitted on a Judicial Council form.  Defendants and respondents in Unlimited or Limited Civil cases have 30 days from the date of service of the summons and complaint to file an answer or response, along with appropriate filing fee or fee waiver, and proof of service pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.110(b), or a default judgment may be entered.  If the defendant or respondent is approaching the last day to file their answer or response, it is recommended that the complaint or petition be filed in person or sent priority mail to ensure it is filed in a timely manner.  

Request for Entry of Default/Default Judgment by Court or Clerk

Requests for entry of default or judgment by clerk are filed with the Civil Unit at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102, at the Civil Filing Window.  Requests for entry of default must be submitted on the Judicial Council form, and clerk's judgments must be submitted on the court's local form. If a default or clerk's judgment is mailed to the court, it takes approximately two weeks to process.  

Requests for entry of default judgment by court are submitted to the appropriate Law & Motion courtroom clerk located at 800 Ninth Street, on the third floor.   They may be submitted on the court's local form or on pleading paper.  If a default judgment by court is submitted, it takes approximately four weeks to process.   

Motions

Motions for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases excluding Small Claims and Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer, ex-parte motions, and motions for cases assigned to a judge for all purposes are filed with the Civil Unit at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102, at the Civil Filing Window.  Motions are submitted on pleading paper and must be in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 2.100, and must include appropriate filing fees  or written correspondence indicating that a fee waiver has been approved in the case.  

Hearing dates for motions for summary judgment, summary adjudication, judgment on the pleadings, and demurrers must be reserved in advance by telephoning the calendaring clerks at 916-874-6827 or 916-874-6828. 

The Motions and Hearing Chart is a helpful resource that provides information on where motions and documents for General Civil/Law and Motion and CMP Cases are filed and heard. The chart also provides information on when to file and when to notice as well as statutory references.
 

Oppositions, Replies, Post Trial Motions, etc.

Oppositions, replies, post trial motions, proofs of service subsequent to the filing of a motion, and ex-parte applications must be filed directly in the appropriate department.  Department hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for the Presiding Judge's department 47, and Law & Motion departments 53 and 54.  

Writ of Execution or Abstract of Judgment

Writs of execution or abstracts of judgment for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases excluding Small Claims and Limited Civil Unlawful Detainer cases are issued by the Civil Unit at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102, at the Civil Filing Window.  Writs and abstracts must be submitted on the Judicial Council form, with a file-endorsed copy of the judgment(s) and cost bill, and must include the appropriate fee or fee waiver.  If a writ or abstract is mailed to the court, it takes approximately 2 weeks to process.