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Contra Costa County, CA
Every published instrument scoped to Contra Costa County, newest effective date first. 0 circuit-wide and 13 statewide instruments also apply here — search all three layers together. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Showing 1–50 of 90 · page 1 of 2
Department 10's civil pre-trial order: pre-trial discovery and motions (general conduct, case management conferences, discovery); the issue conference and mandatory settlement conference; the mandatory meet-and-confer before trial (at least 14 days, at least 7 days and at least three days before the Pretrial Conference); the pretrial conference; and the trial (trial date, voir dire, objections and trial procedure).
The First Amended General Order re: Use of Electronic Recording Equipment (October 2, 2025) is rescinded: on August 10, 2026 the California Supreme Court (S288176) directed meaningful access for indigent litigants, upon request, to an official verbatim record, including by electronic recording when no official reporter is available; the court follows that mandate.
The court may move reporters from Family Law to other departments except where a reporter is required by statute or case law; parties may provide their own reporter as set forth in Local Rule 2.52; a judge may order electronic recording for an indigent litigant when a court reporter is unavailable (Family Violence Appellate Project v. Superior Courts, August 10, 2026, S288176).
Department 2's family law best practices and pre-trial orders: remote and in-person appearances; filings (the RFO, RESPONSE and REPLY; page limits; AI disclosure; walk in judgments with an FL-182); e-mails and vacating a hearing; domestic violence trials (Family Code Section 6309 discovery; witness and exhibit lists 7 days before trial, exhibits numbered from 001 for Petitioner and 501 for Respondent) and stipulations; and non-DV long cause trials.
Title Eight, Chapter 1 (Rule 8.1): the Appellate Division - regular sessions on the first Friday of each calendar month at 1:30 p.m.; the original trial court file as the record; the record of oral proceedings (the official electronic recording in infraction appeals; strict compliance with Rule of Court 8.916 for a Statement on Appeal).
Title Five, Division 1, Chapter 1 (Rules 5.0 to 5.21): application of rules and definitions (Rule 5.0); assignment of departments and matters (Rule 5.1); temporary restraining orders and ex parte orders (Rule 5.2); orders shortening time (Rule 5.3); hearings (Rule 5.4); procedures to complete dissolution or legal separation (Rule 5.5); the case management conference / Family Centered Case Resolution Conference (Rule 5.6); the mandatory settlement conference (Rule 5.7); the recommendation conference (Rule 5.8); trials (Rule 5.9); preparation and presentation of orders (Rule 5.10); judgments (Rule 5.11); appointment of elisor (Rule 5.12); confidentiality (Rule 5.13); the Family Law Facilitator (Rule 5.14); temporary spousal or partner support (Rule 5.15); presence of children in the courtroom (Rule 5.16); Family Court Services appointments - orientation, mediation, information gathering and child custody recommending counseling (Rule 5.17); child custody evaluations (Rule 5.18); court communication for domestic violence and child custody orders (Rule 5.19); dismissal for failure to prosecute (Rule 5.20); and the requirement for a current mailing address (Rule 5.21).
Division 2, Chapter 1 (Rules 5.50 to 5.75): the juvenile rules, judge and court commissioner (Rules 5.50 to 5.52); motions (Rule 5.53); appointment of juvenile court appointed counsel (Rule 5.54); the minute order (Rule 5.55); public hearings (Rule 5.57); records access by Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) (Rule 5.58); inter-agency exchange of information (Rule 5.59); experience, training and education (Rule 5.61); screening for competency (Rule 5.62); mediation (Rule 5.63); reciprocal discovery (Rule 5.64); disclosure of victim or witness contact information (Rule 5.65); notices regarding change in placement, to caregivers and to minor's counsel regarding subpoenas (Rules 5.66, 5.68 and 5.69); CASA program guidelines and reports (Rules 5.71 and 5.72); assignment of transfer hearings (Rule 5.73); service of JV-790 on victim (Rule 5.74); and presence at juvenile proceedings (Rule 5.75).
Title Four, Division 1, Chapter 1: electronic recording in misdemeanor and infraction cases (Rule 4.01); motions (Rule 4.1); discovery (Rule 4.2); applications on behalf of inmates (Rule 4.3); violations of probation (Rule 4.4); relief from forfeiture of bail in misdemeanor and felony cases (Rule 4.6); submitting sensitive exhibits (Rule 4.7); and withdrawal of time waivers in misdemeanor cases (Rule 4.8).
Chapter 2 (Rules 4.10 to 4.12): direct calendaring in felony matters (Rule 4.10); arraignments and assignment for all purposes (Rule 4.11); and reassignment by the Presiding Judge (Rule 4.12).
Division 2, Chapter 1 (Rules 4.40 to 4.46): filing (Rule 4.40); court sessions (Rule 4.41); arraignments and remote appearance for arraignments (Rule 4.42); demurrers (Rule 4.43); withdrawal of time waivers in infraction cases (Rule 4.44); continuances (Rule 4.45); and juvenile traffic infraction matters (Rule 4.46).
Chapter 2 (Rules 4.60 to 4.64): trial by declaration for traffic infractions (Rule 4.60); clerks' authority in infraction cases (Rule 4.61); prohibited requests in traffic matters (Rule 4.62); requests for ability to pay consideration and civil assessment waiver (Rule 4.63); and appeals (Rule 4.64).
Chapter 3 (Rules 4.80 and 4.81): the court collections program (Rule 4.80) and the application of an overpayment (Rule 4.81).
Title One, Chapter 1 (Rules 1.1 to 1.6): adoption and amendment of rules (Rule 1.1); department designations (Rule 1.2); the Presiding Judge (Rule 1.3); the Executive Committee (Rule 1.4); the definition of vacation for a judge (Rule 1.5); and activities prohibited on courthouse grounds (Rule 1.6).
Chapter 2 (Rules 1.20 to 1.27): media coverage (Rule 1.20); requests for coverage (Rule 1.21); limitation on coverage (Rule 1.22); prohibited coverage (Rule 1.23); parking limitations for media vehicles (Rule 1.24); areas in court facilities where media activities are authorized (Rule 1.25); video recording and still photography (Rule 1.26); and body worn cameras (Rule 1.27).
Title Seven, Chapter 1 (Rules 7.1 to 7.5): probate matters (Rule 7.1); judicial commitments (Rule 7.2); trust fund withdrawals (Rule 7.3); the probate rules (Rule 7.4); and court reporting in probate (Rule 7.5).
Chapter 10 (Rules 7.450 to 7.452): trustee compensation and attorney's fees (Rule 7.450); establishment of a trust (Rule 7.451); and establishment of a special needs trust from inheritance by court order (Rule 7.452).
Chapter 11 (Rule 7.501): the proceeding for a spousal property transaction under Probate Code Section 3100 et seq. - the declaration of a licensed physician or licensed psychologist, appointed counsel for the non-petitioning spouse, and notice when the petition is predicated on Medi-Cal qualification.
Chapter 12 (Rule 7.520): for the appointment of an elisor, Local Rule 5.12.
Chapter 13, the probate guidelines' attachments: Attachment 1 - The ABCs of Dividing the Commission Pie in Probate Sales (with its chart); Attachment 2 - Probate Department Fees and Costs Guidelines; Attachment 3 - Fee Declaration Template; and Attachment 4 - Probate Department Operations (the probate calendars, ex parte applications submitted to the Probate Examiners between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and tentative rulings).
Chapter 2 (Rules 7.50 to 7.65): the probate calendar (Rule 7.50); contested matters (Rule 7.51); appearances (Rule 7.52); verifications (Rule 7.53); submission of a proposed order before the hearing (Rule 7.54); responses to tentative rulings, filed no later than the close of business two (2) court days before the hearing (Rule 7.55); continuances to cure defective pleadings or procedures (Rule 7.56); discretion to waive (Rule 7.58); fees (Rule 7.59); record title (Rule 7.60); court ordered fees for fiduciaries and attorneys (Rule 7.61); factual allegations (Rule 7.62); guardian ad litem (Rule 7.63); special notice to attorneys and clients (Rule 7.64); and coordination of fee petitions with accountings (Rule 7.65).
Chapter 3 (Rules 7.100 to 7.114): material to be included in formal rulings (Rule 7.101); written response (Rule 7.102); applications for ex parte orders (Rule 7.104); petitions for family allowance (Rule 7.105); bond on petitions for authority to borrow money (Rule 7.106); nunc pro tunc orders correcting clerical errors (Rule 7.107); general notice requirements (Rule 7.108); a probate hearing once noticed cannot be advanced (Rule 7.109); orders to be complete (Rule 7.110); accounts and reports (Rule 7.111); and petitions to show who is entitled to notice (Rule 7.112).
Chapter 4 (Rules 7.150 to 7.156): notice re special letters (Rule 7.150); petitions for probate of will and for letters (Rule 7.151); notice (Rule 7.152); requirements of publication for notice of petition to administer estate (Rule 7.153); court discretion regarding bond (Rule 7.154); continuance to permit filing of a contest (Rule 7.155); and multiple representatives (Rule 7.156).
Chapter 5 (Rules 7.200 to 7.203): the nature and form of claims (Rule 7.200); claims of personal representatives and attorneys (Rule 7.202); and funeral claims (Rule 7.203).
Chapter 6 (Rules 7.250 to 7.257): sales of real property not under IAEA (Rule 7.250); return of private sale (Rule 7.251); broker's commissions, including in an overbid situation (Rules 7.252 and 7.253); condominiums, community or cooperative apartments (Rule 7.255); purchase of estate property by the personal representative or his or her attorney (Rule 7.256); and tangible personal property (Rule 7.257).
Chapter 7 (Rules 7.300 to 7.317): notice of petition for distribution (Rule 7.300); property to be distributed must be listed (Rule 7.301); the form of accounting (Rule 7.302); waiver of account (Rule 7.303); inheritance by a surviving spouse (Rule 7.305); extraordinary fees (Rule 7.306); the order (Rule 7.307); segregating trust income and principal (Rule 7.308); creditor's claims (Rule 7.309); federal estate taxes (Rule 7.310); specifically devised property (Rule 7.311); distribution to minors (Rule 7.312); preliminary distribution (Rule 7.313); actions for damages following wrongful death (Rule 7.314); additional powers to a testamentary trustee (Rule 7.315); application for final discharge (Rule 7.316); and payment of costs of administration (Rule 7.317).
Chapter 8 (Rules 7.350 and 7.351): preparation of the inventory and appraisal (Rule 7.350) and waiver of appraisal by the probate referee (Rule 7.351).
Chapter 9 (Rules 7.400 to 7.429): initiation of the guardianship investigation (Rule 7.400); temporary guardianships (Rule 7.401); consultation with other departments re custody or dependency proceedings (Rule 7.402); guardianships for dependent children (Rule 7.403); restriction on parental use of a minor's estate (Rule 7.404); final account of guardian (Rule 7.405); setting a guardianship hearing when a temporary guardianship has not been granted (Rule 7.406); appointment of conservator (Rule 7.411); ex parte petitions for appointment of temporary conservatorships (Rule 7.412); specific medical treatment and placement (Rule 7.413); termination (Rule 7.414); accounts of conservator (Rule 7.415); orientation class requirements for unlicensed conservators (Rule 7.416); release of information by the court investigator for benefit of conservatees (Rule 7.417); temporary guardian or conservator (Rule 7.422); duties and conflicts (Rule 7.423); bonds (Rule 7.424); accounts (Rule 7.425); compensation and attorney's fees (Rule 7.426); independent exercise of powers (Rule 7.427); investments (Rule 7.428); and account statements with accountings (Rule 7.429).
Title Three, Chapter 1 (Rules 3.1 to 3.19): applicability, definitions and transferred cases (Rules 3.1 to 3.3); policy (Rule 3.4); venue, filing and form of papers (Rule 3.5); challenge to the assigned judge (Rule 3.6); service of summons, complaint, cross-complaint, responsive pleadings and default judgments (Rule 3.7); the case management conference procedure (Rule 3.8); telephone appearances (Rule 3.9); sanctions (Rule 3.10); the issue conference (Rule 3.11); jury fees (Rule 3.12); reporting of court proceedings in civil fast track departments (Rule 3.13); unlawful detainer trial setting (Rule 3.14); relief following breach of a settlement agreement in limited jurisdiction cases (Rule 3.15); complex litigation cases (Rule 3.16); CEQA claims (Rule 3.17); conforming copies (Rule 3.18); and the unlawful detainer process (Rule 3.19).
Chapter 2 (Rules 3.40 to 3.54): the law and motion calendar (Rule 3.40); hearing dates (Rule 3.41); papers to comply with state rules (Rule 3.42); the tentative ruling (Rule 3.43); remote appearances and reporting for law and motion (Rules 3.44 and 3.45); civil ex parte orders (Rule 3.46); original orders to show cause (Rule 3.47); continuances (Rule 3.48); calendar matters heard in the law and motion department (Rule 3.49); name change applications (Rule 3.50); motions (Rule 3.51); uncontested calendars (Rule 3.52); written orders (Rule 3.53); and the number of attorneys examining a witness (Rule 3.54).
Chapter 3 (Rule 3.80): appointment of receivers - court clerks may be appointed where no independent third party or active management is needed, but not by stipulation of counsel; California Rules of Court, 3.1175-3.1184.
Chapter 4 (Rule 3.90): for the appointment of an elisor, Local Rule 5.12.
Chapter 5 (Rules 3.100 to 3.103): settlements (Rule 3.100); settlement conferences (Rule 3.101); special needs trusts (Rule 3.102); and special bench bar settlement conferences (BBSC) (Rule 3.103).
Chapter 6 (Rules 3.200 to 3.206): the alternative dispute resolution programs (Rule 3.200); mediation - the panel's fees, attendance and mediation statements (Rule 3.201); judicial arbitration (Rule 3.202); settlement mentors (Rule 3.203); neutral case evaluation (Rule 3.204); the temporary judge trial in the civil division (Rule 3.205); and ethical and practice standards for ADR panel members (Rule 3.206).
Chapter 7 (Rules 3.300 and 3.301): the optional Discovery Facilitator Program - the stipulation (Local Court Form ADR-602), the request for assignment, the facilitator's conflict check and the four-hour expectation - and discovery motions and the program.
Title Two, Chapter 1 (Rules 2.1 to 2.9): selection of prospective jurors and juror source lists (Rules 2.1 and 2.2); juror qualifications, statutory excusals and temporary deferment of service (Rules 2.3 to 2.5); employment while serving and the period of juror service (Rules 2.6 and 2.7); juror telephone standby (Rule 2.8); and the jury assembly room (Rule 2.9).
Chapter 10 (Rule 2.170): concerns about judges and subordinate judicial officers submitted in writing, signed and addressed to the Presiding Judge, P.O. Box 431, Martinez, CA 94553 (not by email); and concerns about court employees and services.
Chapter 11 (Rule 2.180): remote appearances under Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 and California Rule of Court, rule 3.672 - the notice requirements, the general provisions, and remote hearings in domestic violence and gun violence restraining order matters (Family Code §6308(b), Penal Code § 18123(b)).
Chapter 2 (Rules 2.30 to 2.36): grand jury impanelment, the solicitation for applications, qualifications and the Grand Jury Selection Committee (Rules 2.30 to 2.33); an additional grand jury (Rule 2.34); sealing of the grand jury transcript (Rule 2.35); and recruitment for alternates (Rule 2.36).
Chapter 3 (Rules 2.40 to 2.44): the attorney's fee schedule (Rule 2.40); the schedule for use entering a default judgment (Rule 2.41); setting attorney fees in a contested case (Rule 2.42); attorney fees in foreclosure cases (Rule 2.43); and the itemization of extraordinary services (Rule 2.44).
Chapter 4 (Rules 2.50 to 2.54): electronic recording (Rule 2.50); the Notice of Availability of Court Reporting Services (Rule 2.51); unavailability of court-provided court reporters and procurement of outside private reporters - the meet and confer and the proposed order on Form CV-311 (Rule 2.52); court-provided court reporters in cases involving fee waiver litigants (Rule 2.53); and transcripts and electronic recording (Rule 2.54).
Chapter 5 (Rule 2.60): a violation of any of these rules may result in sanctions and penalties, among them dropping a matter from the calendar, vacating a trial date, dismissal for lack of prosecution, a fine or costs, and expenses, counsel fees, witness fees and jury fees payable to opposing counsel.
Chapter 6 (Rules 2.70 to 2.73): the form of documents filed with the court (Rule 2.70); identifying information on filed documents (Rule 2.71); retention of completed copy requests (Rule 2.72); and access to view a court file (Rule 2.73).
Chapter 7 (Rule 2.87): mandatory electronic filing and service in Designated Cases under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6(d) and Rules 2.252 and 2.253 of the California Rules of Court, the Designated Cases announced on the court's website; the exceptions - self-represented litigants and the motion for exemption on Judicial Council form EFS-007.
Chapter 8: consideration of a history of breaches in professional courtesy (Rule 2.90); the Standards of Professional Courtesy (Rule 2.91) - scheduling (Rule 2.120), discovery (Rule 2.121), conduct towards other attorneys, the court and participants (Rule 2.122), candor to the court and opposing counsel (Rule 2.123) and efficient administration (Rule 2.124); and the Committee on Bias (Rule 2.150).
Chapter 9 (Rule 2.160): the local fees under Government Code section 70631 and California Rule of Court 10.815 - court forms $0.50 per page, a packet of court forms $1.25, recording of court proceedings $25.00, envelopes and postage $0.60, non-professional supervised visitation training, the $100.00 child custody counseling appointment no show fee, and postage and mailing of CDs $4.65.
Department 34's pre-trial orders for jury trials: the summary of deadlines; witness lists and trial exhibits; motions in limine; the Advance Trial Conference; proposed jury instructions and jury verdict forms; voir dire; general courtroom decorum; opening statements; witnesses; objections; closing arguments; additional case specific orders; and the notice regarding compliance with orders.
Department 34's pre-trial orders for long cause court trials: the summary of deadlines; the witness list five (5) calendar days before the Issue Conference (Local Rule 3.11(c)(2)); interpreters three (3) court days before trial; trial exhibits seven (7) court days before; motions in limine ten (10) calendar days before the Issue Conference, oppositions five (5) days before, and binders by 4:00 pm one (1) court day before trial; the Advance Trial Conference three (3) court days before trial (the Master Exhibit List); and the remaining orders.
Department 34's departmental information and policies: the typical weekly schedule; case management conferences Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 am; the law and motion calendar at 9:00 am on Mondays (tentative rulings at 1:30 pm the preceding court day; Local Rule 3.43); ex parte applications under Standing Order 3.5; trials and long cause hearings from 10:00 am; issue conferences at 9:30 am; settlement conferences with the Settlement Mentor; courtesy copies; stipulations and continuances; pre-trial orders; court reporters and interpreters; and decorum and civility.
The court's notice under California Rules of Court 2.956(b): for each department at each courthouse, its room, judge presiding, calendar assignment and the reporting services normally available (Official Court Reporter, Limited Services Available, Electronic Recording); official court reporters only for parties with fee waivers in Unlimited Civil, Probate & Family Law matters; certified reporters pro tempore per CRC 2.956(c); electronic recording of commissioners' proceedings (Government Code section 70141.11).
Entry to court locations through the weapons-screening stations (Code of Civil Procedure sections 128 and 187) and searches of persons and belongings; who may enter without screening; armed or armored entry (Section 171b of the California Penal Code; soft body armor; peace officers on official court business); the prohibited items (firearms, knives, tools, cameras or audio recording devices unless approved under Rule of Court 1.150, and the others listed); and the Sheriff's operational control.