Back to Home Accessibility | Use / Privacy

Search  our site OR

Compromise Claims of Minors and Incompetent Persons

All petitions and orders for the compromise of claims of minors or incompetent persons shall be filed in compliance with Probate Code section 3500 and Code of Civil Procedure section 372, whether by way of compromise, covenant not to sue, or stipulated judgment.  Petitions and orders shall, in addition to the applicable requirements of California Rules of Court, rule 2.100, comply with Local Rule 10.01.

If a complaint has already been filed with the court, all petitions will be assigned to the appropriate department by the clerk of the court in Room 102, with no filing fee due.   If a complaint has not already been filed, parties must submit appropriate filing fees along with (1) for limited civil cases, a complaint and a petition to compromise the claim of a minor or incompetent person, (2) for unlimited civil cases, a petition to compromise the claim of a minor or incompetent person only.  Complaints and petitions are filed with the Civil Unit at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102, at the Civil Filing Window, prior to assignment to the appropriate department. 

The following table shows the judicial assignments for petitions to compromise the claim of a minor or incompetent person as designated by the Presiding Judge:

Department Judge Phone #
25 Gary 916-874-8727
31 Kenny 916-874-6353
34 Shepard 916-874-8243
38 Hight 916-874-5226

Requests for withdrawal of minor's funds are heard in the Probate Division and will be allowed only upon filing a verified petition, unless the order compromising the claim specifically provides that the funds may be withdrawn once a minor reaches 18 years of age.  The petition shall be on the adopted Judicial Council form, and may be purchased in a local packet of forms and instructions available for $2.10 at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn  Road in room 214, or at the Downtown Courthouse at 720 Ninth Street, in room 102 at the Civil Cashier.