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San Bernardino County, CA
Every published instrument scoped to San Bernardino 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 131 · page 1 of 3
The court's notice of the availability of official court reporters (revised October 1, 2026), posted in the clerk's office at each court facility: for each courtroom at each court location and district, whether an official court reporter is assigned (Y or N).
Amended General Order #GO26-027 (effective August 13, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): official court reporters are required in felony criminal and juvenile cases and are not normally available for trials or law and motion matters in unlimited civil cases; parties to a civil or probate matter may arrange at their own expense for a court reporter (Gov. Code, § 68086, subd. (d)(2) and Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.956(c)), complying with rule 2.956(b)(3) for trial; an indigent litigant may request an electronic record where no official reporter or pro tempore reporter is available; priority for any available official reporter goes to Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorships; and a privately retained certified shorthand reporter is designated the official court reporter for the trial, paid by the arranging party.
Chapter 1 (Court Rules and Administration; rules 113–133): the court's adoption of its local rules effective July 1, 1999 and the names “Court” and “Local Rules”; the method of amending the rules (Rule 113); their construction and application (Rule 115); judicial resources (Rule 120); and trial jury venires (Rule 133).
Chapter 10 (Unlawful Detainer Actions): a reference to California Code of Civil Procedure section 1161 et seq.
Chapter 11 (Small Claims): a reference to California Code of Civil Procedure section 116.110 et seq. and California Rules of Court, rules 3.2100, et seq., and 3.2120.
Chapter 13 (Criminal Rules; rules 1300–1330): the California Rules of Court as supplemented by the local rules; where felony, misdemeanor and infraction matters are filed and heard; the priority of protective orders and their modification (Rule 1311); P. C. 995 motions (Rule 1320); transfer of cases (Rule 1322); and remote video arraignments, trials and related proceedings in traffic infraction cases (Rule 1330).
Chapter 14 (Attorney/Investigator/Expert Fees; rules 1400–1461): appointed attorney service fee schedules (Rule 1400); determination of compensation and expenses for appointed counsel; the form and timely submission of claims; fee complaint procedures; attorney fee payments in criminal cases (complex felonies, ordinary and extraordinary fees, counsel in death penalty and LWOP cases, appointed defense fees under Rule 1414, reimbursement orders and collection); appointed services of investigators, experts and others (Rule 1419: claims for payment, transcription services, appointed psychiatric and psychological evaluation services and their fee schedules, extraordinary expert fees, subpoena and testimony); the computation of fees in civil law cases (Rule 1440), default attorney fees (Rule 1441), mobile home abandonment actions, foreclosure and exceptions; and claims for attorney fees in family law cases (rules 1460–1461).
Chapter 15 (Family Law Rules; rules 1500–1521): the subject matter of the family law division and the rules applicable to family law cases; changing the child custody recommending counselor (Rule 1510); child custody recommending counseling procedures and ex parte communications (Rule 1511); the child custody evaluation process (Rule 1512: qualifications, ex parte communication, the list of evaluators and complaint procedures); complaints about appointed counsel for minors (Rule 1513); the priority of protective orders (Rule 1516); case management (Rule 1517); the setting of contested trials by At-Issue Memorandum (Rule 1518); status conferences and mandatory settlement conferences, governed by the family law policy (Rule 1519); and continuances (Rule 1521).
Chapter 16 (Juvenile Rules; rules 1610–1695): sanctions; the time for filing reports; the calendar call; continuances (Rule 1640); motions, with notice, response and reply (Rule 1650); orders shortening time; the pretrial settlement conference before a contested section 366.26 hearing; pretrial discovery in proceedings under section 600 et seq. (Rule 1680); the priority of protective orders; release of information relating to juveniles (Rule 1690); client complaints in dependency matters; the competency of attorneys representing parties in juvenile dependency proceedings (Rule 1692: certification, minimum standards, recertification, decertification and maximum caseload); the Court Appointed Special Advocate program (Rule 1693); juvenile restitution orders (Rule 1694); and signatures on documents filed in juvenile court (Rule 1695).
Chapter 18 (Electronic Filings and Service; rules 1800–1860): electronic filing (Rule 1800); electronic filing participation (Rule 1810); fax filings (Rule 1820); the date and time of electronic filing (Rule 1830); receipt of electronically submitted data; errors or malfunction in electronic filing (Rule 1850); and electronic filing system inquiries (Rule 1860).
Chapter 2 (Judicial Officer and Court Executive Officer Duties; rules 210–280), in eight parts: the presiding judge (duties; election of the presiding judge and assistant presiding judge; succession of office); meetings of judges; the executive committee (duties, elections, quorum and the effect of its action); the court executive officer (selection and removal, statutory responsibilities and duties); other committees, including the elimination of bias committee (Rule 250); court commissioners (selection, removal, appointment procedure and vacation); disciplinary procedures for hearing officers (Rule 272); and judges' vacation (Rule 280).
Chapter 20 (Probate Rules; rules 20-102 to 20-1502): probate notes and the recommended-for-approval practice (Rule 20-102); probate court appointed counsel and their written reports; rejected wills; bond waivers; preliminary distribution; captions, petitions and law and motion; tentative rulings in probate law and motion and discovery matters (Rule 20-603); ex parte orders and special notice (Rule 20-609); property, orders, death and marriage certificates and continuances; sales and broker's commissions; accountings, inventories, compensation and the expedited final account (Rule 20-912); homesteads and family allowance; guardianships (rules 20-1301 to 20-1317); conservatorships, including the court investigator, appointed counsel, accountings and the conservator orientation class (Rule 20-1414); and the required submission of trust instruments (Rule 20-1502).
Chapter 3 (Court Business Procedures; rules 320–332): fax filing (Rule 320); no use of correction fluid or tape; exhibits (Rule 322); the court reporter policy (Rule 329); telephonic appearances of counsel (Rule 330: use of a private telephone vendor, the obligation to place the call, its cost and non-appearance by telephone); courtroom decorum (Rule 331); and language access services, with the notice times for interpreter requests and cancellations (Rule 332).
Chapter 4 (Civil Case Management; rules 400–425): civil cases subject to the Delay Reduction Act and exemption for exceptional cases; assigned judges and designation; alternate dispute resolution proceedings; the mandatory settlement conference (Rule 410); trial conferences (Rule 411: the trial setting conference and the trial readiness conference); complex cases and PAGA designation (Rule 412); the uninsured motorist class; motions in limine (Rule 415); the duty of counsel as to the trial date assigned; continuances (Rule 418); the civil court communication protocol (Rule 419); cases removed to other courts; civil unlimited complaints; civil defaults; and the repealed default entry forms rule (Rule 425).
Chapter 5 (Civil Law and Motion; rules 510–591): subsequent filings; reserving a motion date before noticing a motion and filing moving papers within five court days (Rule 520); motion filing fees (Rule 521); continuances (Rule 550); motions removed from calendar; tentative rulings, posted after 3:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing (Rule 561); records under seal; exhibits and sealed records; and orders and judgments (Rule 591).
Chapter 6 (Settlement Conferences; rules 601–621): the court's adoption of California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1380 for mediations and mandatory settlement conferences (Rule 601); the persons whose presence is required (Rule 611); failure to attend or be prepared (Rule 615); continuances; notice of settlement (Rule 617); arbitration (Rule 620); and complaints against mediators (Rule 621).
Chapter 7 (Ex Parte and Other Applications; rules 731–742): civil ex parte applications (Rule 731); remote appearance at the hearing on a domestic violence or gun violence restraining order, with form RA-010 (Rule 735); guardian ad litem applications (Rule 740); shortening or extending time (Rule 741); and appointment of counsel for military personnel (Rule 742).
Chapter 8 (Cases Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)): Rule 800, CEQA designation - the first page of each paper specifies, immediately below the case number, that the case is one filed under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Chapter 9 (Appellate Division Rules): hearings before the appellate division on the fourth Friday of every month at 1:30 p.m. (Rule 901); and the use of official electronic recordings of limited civil and infraction proceedings as the record of oral proceedings (Rule 902).
Second Amended General Order #GO26-004 (effective May 5, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): return of firearms petitions at the San Bernardino Justice Center; limited and unlimited civil cases, including complex cases, and unlimited unlawful detainers alleging damages of $35,000 or more at the Justice Center, except those for the zip codes assigned to the Rancho Cucamonga Court or to the Victorville Court; name change petitions; petitions for restraining orders (civil harassment, post-secondary school and workplace violence) at the Barstow, Joshua Tree, Needles or Fontana courthouse; civil harassment restraining orders filed in the Big Bear Courthouse on the 1st Wednesday of each month and heard at Barstow; and limited unlawful detainers, small claims and non-traffic infractions at the Fontana, Barstow, Joshua Tree or Needles courthouse; the order's tables list the zip codes and cities each courthouse serves (by the place of residence or where the incident occurred).
Amended General Order #GO26-018 (effective April 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027), under California Rules of Court, rule 10.603: absent prior written authorization of the Court, no photographing, recording or broadcasting of court proceedings by the media, attorneys or members of the public in any courthouse or court facility (exceptions for authorized court employees, law enforcement body cameras on official business, and media permitted under rule 1.150 and in the designated media areas of Attachment A); devices turned off while transported; no recording through courtroom door windows; protections for jurors, spectators, judicial officers and court employees; camera-enabled devices allowed if their imaging features are not used; written requests for other exceptions; and penalties.
General Order #GO26-001 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): in appeals to the Court of Appeal and in limited civil, misdemeanor and infraction appeals to the Appellate Division, notices of appeal and documents on the designation and preparation of the record may be filed at any courthouse in the county; parties are encouraged to file them in the Appeals Division at 8303 Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga.
General Order #GO26-003 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): child support cases are filed and heard at the Historic Courthouse (351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino) or the Barstow Courthouse; the order's tables list the zip codes and cities each courthouse serves (by the place of residence or where the incident occurred).
General Order #GO26-005 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): prohibited activity (demonstrating, picketing, parading, distributing literature, soliciting and similar acts) is barred within a courthouse and its curtilage; no obstructing, harassing or impeding persons entering, leaving or waiting in line; no approaching a person waiting in line within eight (8) feet without consent; no activity intended to interfere with the administration of justice; limits on amplification equipment; exclusions for court personnel, law enforcement and licensed stationary sales; compliance with law enforcement; and sanctions of up to $1,500 per violation (Code of Civil Procedure, section 177.5) and/or criminal prosecution.
General Order #GO26-006 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): felonies and misdemeanors at the San Bernardino Justice Center or the Rancho Cucamonga, Joshua Tree or Victorville courthouse (Victorville cases may be heard at Victorville or Rancho Cucamonga, at the court's discretion); traffic infractions at the Fontana Courthouse (heard remotely at Rancho Cucamonga, with court trials at Fontana) and the Victorville, Joshua Tree or Needles courthouse; and writs of habeas corpus at the San Bernardino Justice Center; the order's tables list the zip codes and cities each courthouse serves (by the place of residence or where the incident occurred).
General Order #GO26-009 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): adoptions, freedom from custody and family law cases, and domestic violence and emancipation cases, are filed and heard at the Historic Courthouse (351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino) or the Barstow, Joshua Tree or Needles courthouse; the order's tables list the zip codes and cities each courthouse serves (by the place of residence or where the incident occurred).
General Order #GO26-010 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): petitions under Penal Code sections 1171, 1172.1, 1172.6 and 1172.75 are filed in the courthouse where sentencing took place (the Court Executive Office does not accept filings), or, if it no longer hears felony cases, in the courthouse now covering that district (Fontana to Rancho Cucamonga, Barstow to Victorville); the original sentencing judge hears the petition, and if that judge is unavailable the Supervising Judge of the Criminal Division designates another judge (Rule of Court 10.603(d)).
General Order #GO26-013 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): juvenile dependency cases, including dependency adoptions, at the Juvenile Dependency Court (860 East Gilbert Street, San Bernardino); juvenile delinquency cases at the Juvenile Delinquency Courthouse (900 East Gilbert Street, Building 2) or the Victorville Courthouse, with filings under Welfare and Institutions Code §781 and §254 filed and heard in San Bernardino; the order's tables list the zip codes and cities each courthouse serves (by the place of residence or where the incident occurred).
General Order #GO26-015 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): where oral proceedings were officially electronically recorded under Government Code section 69957, the record of oral proceedings in limited civil and infraction appeals is a settled statement or a copy of the official electronic recording (Local Rule 902), which satisfies any requirement for a reporter's transcript (Rules 8.916(d)(6) and 8.837(d)(6)); a party may instead pay the trial court clerk for a transcript from the recording.
General Order #GO26-019 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027), under California Rule of Court, rule 3.1320(d): when a demurrer filed in an unlawful detainer case requests a hearing date more than 10 calendar days from filing, the civil clerk submits it to the unlawful detainer department, which determines whether there is good cause to set an earlier or later date and calendars the hearing.
General Order #GO26-020 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): the clerk's offices handling landlord tenant matters process unlawful detainer status conference hearings; on the plaintiff's or plaintiff's attorney's written or verbal request the clerk may continue the hearing thirty (30) days, for no more than two requests; a third or later request goes to judicial review; and with no request and no filings beyond the summons and complaint the clerk dismisses the complaint.
General Order #GO26-024 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): in the Big Bear District, a self-represented defendant seeking modifications to payment, program or jail reporting requirements may appear by videoconference upon application to, and order of, the Court; the request is made in writing and waives the right to be present.
General Order #GO26-026 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): a party or witness with a reasonable and honest fear that use of his or her true name will jeopardize personal privacy or safety may apply to use a pseudonym, and may ask to exclude or redact the true name and other identifying characteristics from pleadings and documents; the application is supported by a statement of the facts and/or law showing that fear.
General Order #GO26-029 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): an electronically submitted complaint or other first paper rejected only for an unpaid filing fee may be resubmitted with the fee within 20 calendar days of the notice of rejection, with the previous envelope number or eFile receipt number in the filing comment box, and is then filed back to the original date of receipt; where a trial or hearing comes first, the documents are resubmitted and the fee paid before it.
General Order #GO26-030 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027), under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and Local Rules, rule 1810.B.: mandatory electronic filing and service in probate case types (as of June 16, 2025) and general civil cases, including the listed civil petitions (as of September 2, 2025); filing requirements under Local Rules, rule 1800 and the court's posted policies; ineligible documents submitted in hard copy; self-represented parties exempt; exemption requests on form EFS-007; consent to electronic service on form EFS-005-CV (withdrawal on form EFS-006); the electronic service address and its change (form EFS-010); and courtesy copies only when ordered.
General Order #GO26-031 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): the ability to pay tool is not for fine reductions after judgment, including after disposition by bail forfeiture, and the clerk's office rejects such electronically filed requests in all traffic infraction cases, in all courthouses.
General Order #GO26-032 (effective January 1, 2026, in effect until December 31, 2027): probate cases at the Fontana Courthouse or the Victorville District (Mental Health/LPS cases heard at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton; CARE Act cases filed and heard at Fontana); guardianships, affidavits re real property of small value, petitions to determine succession to real property, spousal or domestic partner property petitions and petitions to determine fact of death or marriage for the Needles areas at the Needles Courthouse; and elder abuse cases at the Fontana, Victorville, Needles or Joshua Tree courthouse; the order's tables list the zip codes and cities each courthouse serves (by the place of residence or where the incident occurred).
The civil eFiling page: mandatory electronic filing of documents, including judgments, for attorneys effective September 2, 2025, with self-represented litigants filing voluntarily; each law firm's unique ID number in the Bar Number field; the $25,000 cap on fees processed through eFiling and paying the excess after the Notice of Filing Fees Due; and appeal documents, which cannot be submitted through eFiling.
The court's civil eFiling requirements, issued under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court, rules 2.250, et seq., and Local Rules, rule 1800, with non-complying documents returned or rejected: mandatory electronic filing and service in general civil cases effective September 2, 2025 (Local Rules, rule 1810.B.), with exemptions; accounts with an approved EFSP; PDF format, originals, signatures, redaction and metadata; the filing day; the 25 MB document and 50 MB file limits; general civil motion dates reserved before eFiling; exhibits and bookmarks; color scanning; proposed orders and judgments; ineligible documents; electronic service and consent; and public access to eFiled documents.
The court's probate eFiling requirements, issued under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court, rules 2.250, et seq., and Local Rules, rule 1800, with non-complying documents returned or rejected: mandatory electronic filing and service in probate case types effective June 16, 2025 (Local Rules, rule 1810.B.), with exemptions; accounts with an approved EFSP; PDF format, originals, signatures and redaction; the maximum file size; color scanned documents; letters; exhibits and electronic bookmarks; proposed orders, lodged separately; ineligible documents; electronic service; and public access.
The court's family law eFiling requirements, issued under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court, rules 2.250, et seq., and Local Rules, rule 1800, with non-complying documents returned or rejected: participation by all court users effective February 26, 2024; accounts with an approved EFSP; PDF format, originals, signatures, redaction and metadata; the maximum file size; exhibits; color scanned documents; documents ineligible for eFiling; proposed orders and proposed judgments; and public access to eFiled documents.
Family Court Services' fact sheet (effective January 1, 2019; revised 11/7/18): when litigants reach a complete custody and visitation agreement, the child custody recommending counselor prepares it while the parties are present, with an attached Agreement and Stipulated Order (acknowledgments, ten days to object to or rescind the Agreement, and signature blocks); the matter stays on calendar but no appearance is required if custody and visitation are the only issues.
Family Law Policy FL-001 (effective May 18, 2017, until rescinded) on status conference proceedings in family law: a status conference is set after an At-Issue Memorandum is filed, or at the first calendared hearing after a Response is filed; the matters the parties or counsel should be prepared to discuss (Family Court Services mediation and orientation, declarations of disclosure, alternative dispute resolution, an informal discovery plan, case management under Family Code section 2451 and California Rules of Court 5.83, and court experts); what the court may set; and mandatory appearance by counsel and self-represented parties, in person or by telephone, on pain of an Order to Show Cause re sanctions.
Family Law Policy FL-002 (effective May 18, 2017, until rescinded) on mandatory and voluntary settlement conferences in family law: the court may set mandatory and voluntary settlement conferences; counsel and the parties must personally attend the Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC) with full authority to settle; meeting and conferring before the conference (not required in domestic violence cases); and the settlement statement brief and its contents, with a current Income and Expense Declaration served and filed separately.
The administrative order of the presiding judges of the juvenile courts of the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial and Orange adopting the Southern California Inter-County Transfer Protocol for the transfer of juvenile dependency and delinquency cases among them: the protocol's required provisions; the eCase eXchange; all parties, attorneys, agencies and organizations appearing before the courts comply with the protocol; and the protocol governs over the California Rules of Court, including Rule 5.612, on the timelines and setting of transfer-in hearings.
A summary of the court's rules and procedures for appointed attorney services, with the fee schedule: establishing a vendor code; Capital/LWOP cases; prior express written approval of the Court for all appointed attorney services; fee limits (LRC 1400) and the scope of billable work (Local Rule 1402); appointment of counsel in conservatorships and guardianships; expenses and extraordinary fees (Local Rule 1412); the claim process and claim forms; timely submission of claims, with each case type's deadline and late penalty (Local Rules 1405, 1460, 20-1315 and 20-1402); mileage; and the appointed attorney fee schedule.
A summary of the court's rules and procedures for appointed investigators, legal runners, paralegals and experts, from the Penal Code 987.2 rules, with the fee schedule: vendor codes; court appointment; the scope of billable work; extraordinary expert fees (LRC 1419.6); the claim process on claim form 17713, itemized in .25-hour increments, with original receipts and prior approval of expense items over $50; mileage; claims within 60 days of completion of the case; and legal runner screening by the Sheriff's Department.
Calendaring guidelines for civil and unlimited unlawful detainer cases at the San Bernardino Justice Center: the hearing types and their days and times (ex parte hearings, informal discovery conferences, motions, summary judgment motions, orders to appear for examination and court sponsored mediation), times per the Schedule of Assignments; remote appearance guidelines by department; and all motions reserved before filing ((909) 708-8678).
Calendaring guidelines for civil cases in the Rancho District: the hearing types and their days and times (ex parte hearings, informal discovery conferences by Zoom, motions and court sponsored mediation); remote appearances allowed except for MSC and mediation (C.R.C 3.894); initial trial settings as non-appearance hearings; all motions reserved before filing; and civil matters heard in departments R12 and R17.
Calendaring guidelines for civil cases in the Victorville District: motions Monday-Thursday at 8:30 am, reserved before filing ((909) 708-8678); all civil matters heard in department V11.