Judicial Council forms

(a) Explanation of Judicial Council legal forms

Rules 1.30-1.37 and 2.131-2.134 apply to Judicial Council legal forms, including forms applicable to the juvenile court.

(b) Electronically produced forms

The forms applicable to juvenile court may be produced entirely by computer, word-processor printer, or similar process, or may be produced by the California State Department of Social Services Child Welfare Systems Case Management System.

(c) Implementation of new and revised mandatory forms

To help implement mandatory Judicial Council juvenile forms:

(1) New and revised mandatory forms produced by computer, word-processor printer, or similar process must be implemented within one year of the effective date of the form. During that one-year period the court may authorize the use of a legally accurate alternative form, including any existing local form or the immediate prior version of the Judicial Council form.

(2) A court may produce court orders in any form or format as long as:

(A) The document is substantively identical to the mandatory Judicial Council form it is modifying;

(B) Any electronically generated form is identical in both language and legally mandated elements, including all notices and advisements, to the mandatory Judicial Council form it is modifying;

(C) The order is an otherwise legally sufficient court order, as provided in rule 1.31(g), concerning orders not on Judicial Council mandatory forms; and

(D) The court sends written notice of its election to change the form or format of the mandatory form to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee and submits additional informational reports as requested by the committee.