Tulare County
Fifth Appellate District (Circuit 5) · official circuit site ✓
Rules that apply here (county → circuit → statewide)
Preview of 25 instruments. All 44 county-scoped rules → search all three layers.
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Standing Orders 01-001 to 17-008
Standing Orders the court reaffirmed effective as of July 1, 2026: the court's files and records retrieved and signed out only by the Clerk's Office (Room 201) and the Criminal/Calendar Division (Room 124) (01-001); demurrers, motions to strike and other pre-trial motions in unlawful detainer actions heard no less than three days or more than seven days after filing (Code of Civil Procedure section 1167.4, CRC 3.1320) (01-002); Tulare County Child Welfare Services and the Tulare County Probation Department reporting whether a minor in a section 300 or 602 case is a Regional Center client, and the clerk serving the Regional Center with the minutes (05-003); Child Welfare Services placing a dependent child's case on calendar on a change of placement - a report within 24 hours of a contract or 23-hour bed or a section 5150 detention, not more than 30 days or less than 15 days before a discharge from a group home, and at least 5 days before a removal from a group home, within 24 hours in an emergency (05-004); information exchanged among the members of the Tulare County Permanency Team for youth leaving foster care (05-005); the designated Family Law Child Support Officer from the Tulare County Department of Child Support Services reviewing confidential paternity files when directed to prepare a support recommendation (07-006); the Penal Code section 987.9 policy (revised as of 3/4/2024) - the 987.9 judge reviewing requests in death penalty cases and requests for investigators and ancillary services in all criminal cases, the judge of the pending department reviewing expert funding where the death penalty is not sought, a confidential 987.9 file, written requests with Judicial Council Form CR-115, service providers at no more than $50.00 per hour, an investigator's license number and resume, requests presented in a sealed envelope to Court Administration/Executive Assistant for the 987.9 judge (not the criminal clerks in Room 124), one payment request a month for the prior month's work, photocopies at no more than 10 cents, mileage at 54.5 cents, meals at $13.00, $15.00 and $26.00 under State of California guidelines, and experts at no more than $200.00 per hour, $500.00 for ½ day and $800.00 for a full day of testimony and $75.00 per hour of travel (08-007); and children taken into temporary custody assessed by a qualified medical practitioner within 24 hours, Child Welfare Services consenting to urgent treatment when the parents or guardian cannot be reached (17-008).
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapters 6 and 7: Managing Civil Cases; Civil Law and Motion (Rules 600 to 709)
Rules 600 to 709: the court following California Rules of Court, rule 3.714, the clerk issuing a Case Management Conference date no less than 120 days after the complaint is filed, the Notice of CMC served with the summons and complaint and on new cross-defendants and later-named defendants, proof of service filed within 60 days, the parties ordered to meet and confer before the CMC on an agreed mediator and mediation date, a CMC statement on form CM-110 or a joint statement filed and served no later than 15 calendar days before the CMC, assignment to the South County Justice Center on a written stipulation of all parties at least 15 days before the CMC, counsel and unrepresented parties present in person, remotely or by telephone under rule 108 with information and authority, and sanctions for failure to attend (600); order to show cause sanctions, the civil calendar clerk notified in writing of a settlement and a dismissal, judgment or statement of conditional settlement filed within 10 days (601); no at-issue memorandum or separate trial setting conference (602); cases presumed completed within one year unless designated protracted on motion (603); the complaint served and proof of service filed within 60 calendar days unless a Request for Extension of Time in the form of Appendix 9 is filed (604); arbitration under Code of Civil Procedure section 1141.10, the amount in controversy determined at the CMC, a back-up trial date, the hearing within 120 days of the order if no time is set, and binding arbitration only on the client's signed written consent (605); mandatory settlement conferences except small claims trials de novo, a written statement delivered to the civil calendar clerk and all other counsel no later than 5 court days before, not filed, and parties and insurance representatives with full authority present (606); hearings continued by written stipulation with the calendar clerk's permission, no more than two times or within 24 hours without an order, no matter taken off calendar after a tentative ruling, trial continuances only on good cause under rule 3.1332, and trial counsel designated within 30 days of the CMC (607); in cases estimated for five or more days of trial, all motions filed and served at least five court days before trial, and Evidence Code section 402 requests over five (5) minutes in writing (608); uninsured motorist cases designated on application within 30 days, a hearing six months later (609); a bankruptcy stay limited to the filing defendant, status reviewed in 12 months (610); counsel meeting and conferring at least five (5) court days before trial on jury instructions or trial briefs and a joint binder of pre-marked exhibits, and a trial readiness conference before the trial judge on the Friday before trial, trial counsel attending personally (611); tentative rulings in civil law and motion available no later than 3:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing by telephone at (559) 737-4339 or on the court's website, oral argument only on notice to all other parties by telephone or in person and to the court by telephone at (559) 730-5010, facsimile to (559) 733-6774 or email to research_attorney@tulare.courts.ca.gov by 4:00 p.m. the court day before (701); 24-hour notice or a court order to take a matter off calendar, never after the tentative ruling (702); civil ex parte hearings at the time the assigned judge designates, reserved with the judge's clerk, all papers filed by 10:00 a.m. on the day before the hearing (704); judicial notice material copied and attached (705); guardian ad litem petitions and minors' compromises on the Judicial Council mandatory forms, an acknowledgment of receipt within two weeks of the order, blocked-account funds released at 18, and a Certificate Accounting for Funds Withdrawn From Minor's Account within 15 days of a withdrawal order (706); an annuity considered for a minor's compromise (707); default attorney fees under the Appendix 8 schedule with the attorney's declaration (708); and CEQA mandamus actions filed in the Visalia civil clerk's office, the electronic administrative record (rule 3.2207), a hearing requested within 90 days of filing, briefing completed within 90 days and a hearing not more than 30 days after, and two trial notebooks filed 14 days before the hearing (709)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapters 4 and 5: Appellate Division; Presentation, Filing, and Service of Court Papers (Rules 400 to 506)
Rules 400 to 506: an Appellate Panel of three judges appointed by the Chief Justice, appeals from limited civil cases, misdemeanors and traffic infractions heard once a month in the Visalia courthouse, and one judge hearing traffic infractions under Code of Civil Procedure section 77(h) (400); a timely notice of appeal, filed with the trial court, a jurisdictional requirement (401); no appeal set for hearing until the record of oral proceedings or the statement on appeal is filed, a reporter's transcript where a reporter was present, a copy of the electronic recording used without transcription where proceedings were recorded, a statement on appeal for infraction proceedings, and dismissal for failure to procure the record or prosecute the appeal (402); the clerk's notice of the hearing and the briefing dates once the record is filed, the original brief with three copies, and dismissal for failure to file an opening brief (403); briefs accepted only with proof of service (404); requests to extend or shorten time in writing to the clerk, not exceeding five pages, with a declaration (405); oral argument limited to 10 minutes per side in limited civil and misdemeanor appeals and 5 minutes per side in infraction appeals, argument waived by a party absent at calendar call, continuances only for good cause, and no supplemental briefing unless the court intends to decide an issue not briefed (406); a written decision within 90 days of the hearing unless announced from the bench (407); emergency matters and writs submitted to the court administrator in Room 201 of the Visalia courthouse with proof of service, never directly to an appellate judge (408); the trial court's original file used in lieu of a clerk's transcript (409); statements of decision, orders, judgments and decrees bearing a standard caption, with opposing counsel's approval as to form or a declaration of compliance with rule 3.1312, and no proposed orders filed before the hearing (500); every order on a separate document, a second copy submitted when a request ends It is so Ordered (501); noncomplying papers not considered and signed orders filed forthwith and served (502); minute orders uploaded to the electronic file in lieu of a minute book (503); the Judicial Council's guardian ad litem forms (504); and conformed copies returned by mail only with a self-addressed stamped envelope (505)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapters 1 to 3: General Administration of the Court; Organization of Court; Judicial Assignments (Rules 100 to 302)
Rules 100 to 302: the clerks' offices and telephone lines open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and holidays, drop boxes at each court location except the Juvenile court for papers and fines deposited after 4:00 p.m. and before 5:00 p.m., file stamped the date deposited, any document received electronically between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day deemed filed that court day, and no coin accepted for payment (100); the rules adopted under Code of Civil Procedure section 575.1, a loose-leaf copy for $10.00 (101); amendments under California Rules of Court, rule 10.613 (102); sanctions for failure to comply, from dropping the matter to costs and attorney fees (103); all persons entering a court facility subject to search, no firearms, explosives, weapons or pepper spray (104); no gang clothing or gang-related personal property in any courthouse (105); electronic devices silenced or turned off while court is in session unless the court grants leave, a written Request for Permission to Use Electronic Device, and use at counsel table for calendaring (106); no photographing or recording in any court facility absent written order from the Presiding Judge (106.1); law enforcement body cameras not activated in a court facility without the Presiding Judge's prior authorization (106.2); smoking only in designated outdoor areas and food and drinks barred from public hallways and waiting areas, with exceptions for summoned jurors, staff and meal deliveries (107); CourtCall telephonic appearances requested from CourtCall no later than five court days before the hearing, with notice to the court and the other parties (108); the public defender appointed for parties without funds in criminal, juvenile and conservatorship cases (109); a lien for waived court fees on any money recovered in a civil case except family law and unlawful detainer, the court notified within five days of a settlement (113); filing through a fax filing agency only, no direct fax filing (114); official court reporters normally provided in felony trials and hearings, Lanterman-Petris-Short Act proceedings and juvenile calendars, not in limited civil, misdemeanor or infraction cases nor normally in unlimited civil, probate and family law cases except contempt, parties arranging and paying a certified reporter, a reporter for a fee waiver recipient under rule 2.956, and electronic recording when no reporter is available (115); transcripts filed electronically via YesLaw or another approved vendor (115.1); the court's record viewing and copying policy and the public's own equipment under Government Code section 68150 (116); electronic filing in the actions the court's electronic filing page lists (117); ability-to-pay determinations for Vehicle Code infractions through the online tool or in person (119); civil assessments reduced by the collections clerk to $100.00 if the delinquent fine is paid within forty-five (45) days, $150.00 within 46-60 days and $200.00 within 61-90 days, none after ninety (90) days (120); a presiding judge selected for a term of two years (200); all-purpose assignment of limited civil, unlimited civil and family law matters on filing, challenges under section 170.6(a)(2) within 15 days, juvenile matters assigned for all purposes on filing by the Judicial Assignments Order, misdemeanor cases assigned for all purposes with challenges within 10 days, and felony trial judges designated by alphabet with challenges within 10 days after the defendant is held to answer (201); commissioners and referees acting as judge pro tem by stipulation, members of the State Bar for not less than 10 years (203); attorneys sitting as judge pro tem under rules 2.810-2.819 (204); complaints against court employees in writing to the Chief Executive Officer and against judicial officers to the presiding judge or the Commission on Judicial Performance (207); the business of the court assigned by the Judicial Assignments Order issued on or about July 1st of each year and a daily calendar posted outside each courtroom, the names of parties in adoption, juvenile and mental capacity matters kept confidential (300); and a good faith attempt to resolve a matter before setting it, hearing dates cleared and reserved with the calendar clerk before notice is filed or served, civil case management conferences under Rule 600 and family law conferences under Rule 906, and attorneys avoiding more than two hearings at the same time (301)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 9: Family Law Matters (Rules 920 to 938)
Rules 920 to 938: custody evaluations under rule 5.220, the parties nominating three qualified professionals and the court choosing, and complaints about an evaluator in writing to the Supervising Family Law Judge, a response within seven (7) days (920); custody agreements and orders carrying the move notice language - notice to the other parent by mail, return receipt requested, to the extent feasible at least 45 days before a change of residence for more than thirty (30) days (921); a mandatory settlement conference before trial, a Settlement Conference Statement submitted and served at least ten days before, marked "Received" and not filed, listing community and separate property with values, support data with form FL-157, appraisals of real property and pensions, a furniture inventory, Kelly Blue Book vehicle values and community obligations (922); dismissals without prejudice under the delay reduction statutes (923); default mailing envelopes bearing the superior court clerk's return address (924); the advisement language for a marital settlement agreement where only one party has counsel (926); early disposition conferences on a date agreed and requested of the courtroom clerk (927); child support orders with form FL-192 and the child-care and health-care cost language, below-guideline stipulations reciting Family Code section 4065(a) with the guideline calculation, and Form FS01 attached to orders enforced by TCDCSS (928); family and juvenile court management of child abuse cases - reports under Penal Code section 11166, CWS investigation immediately or within 10 days, section 329 applications on Appendix 4 or form JV-212, family court custody proceedings suspended on a section 300 petition, review within 30 days under section 331, and counsel for the children under Family Code section 3150 (929); the Family Law Facilitator's services and offices in Room 203 of the Visalia courthouse and at the Self Help Resource Center of the South County Justice Center, (559) 737-5500 (930); the Domestic Violence Coordination Rules - a database search under Family Code section 6306 before a judge reviews a request, criminal protective orders having priority, coexisting orders specifying the safe exchange of the children, and a file-endorsed copy conveyed within 24 hours to the Tulare County Sheriff's Department for CLETS (931); minor's counsel appointed by rotation from the court's list (form FL-322), and complaints in writing filed, served and delivered to the courtroom clerk for the Presiding Family Law Judge, a response within 30 days (932); an elisor appointed by a Request for Order with a declaration listing the exact documents, copies filed with it, and "The Clerk of the Court or Clerk's Designee" designated as elisor (933); initial family law pleadings filed at the Visalia Courthouse or the South County Justice Center, Hague Convention petitions in the Visalia Division, and venue transferred by stipulation, Request for Order or the court's motion (934); supervised visitation providers' declarations (FL-324(P), FAM-013) and reports copied to the Director of Family Court Services (935); domestic violence restraining order petitions submitted electronically during and after normal business hours, the clerk's office at (559) 730-5000, option 4, responding within one business day (936); remote appearance by a party or witness at all hearings on a petition for a domestic violence restraining order under Family Code section 6308, remote appearances in other non-evidentiary family law hearings without a Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010), and assistance at (559) 738-2330 (937); and evidentiary hearings - witness lists and exhibit lists, or exhibits uploaded and served through the Omnigo Digital Portal, filed and served at least 10 calendar days before, exhibits not filed with the Clerk's Office, recordings brought on a storage device with a device to play them, and certified transcriptions of sound recordings (938)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 9: Family Law Matters (Rules 900 to 919)
Rules 900 to 919: all Family Code matters assigned to the Family Law Division (Marvin actions filed in the Civil Division), the division consisting of the Family Law and AB 1058 Child Support Courts, and sanctions under rule 5.14 (900); new cases assigned to a judicial officer for all purposes, the assignment stamped on the petition, Department of Child Support Services matters on parentage or child support alone assigned to the AB 1058 Commissioner, and later family law cases between the same parties assigned to the same department (901); a pending Child Welfare Services investigation disclosed to the court, no direct contact by parents' attorneys with the children without a court order, and a criminal history search of both parties before a custody and visitation hearing (902.1); no matter taken off calendar without notice to or consent of the responding party (903); continuances under rule 5.95 (904); a matter taking more than 20 minutes set on the earliest available date for its time estimate (905); dissolution, legal separation, nullity and parentage cases set for a Case Management Conference under rule 5.83 120 days after the petition, or with a request for orders filed with it, each party's Declaration of Service of the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (FL-141) filed by then, mandatory settlement conference dates assigned before trial dates, a review hearing if no response is filed within 120 days, and conferences at least every 180 days (906); emergency short notice hearing pleadings filed with the clerk in Room 201 in Visalia or the Counter Clerk at the South County Justice Center under rules 5.151 through 5.169, with the showings required for orders on a vehicle, removal from a residence or payment of obligations (907); a moving party's failure to appear removing the matter from calendar, and a responding party's allowing an order on the moving party's pleadings (914); Findings and Order After Hearing on the court's local forms completed before leaving the courtroom, prepared under rule 5.125 if the court orders, and by Self-Help Resource Center staff when both parties are unrepresented (915); temporary spousal support by the "Kings County formula" (916); discovery for financial information beyond what must be produced, and tax returns, income records, K-1's, financial statements and loan applications served with the Income and Expense Declaration (917); the Department of Child Support Services referral language - a case opened with the Department, Income and Expense Declarations within 30 days, the report mailed within 120 days of the referral, a Request for Order objecting within 20 days, payments to the California State Disbursement Unit and changes reported within 10 days (918); and child custody recommending counseling and voluntary mediation - the Online Orientation and Intake completed before the session, Family Court Services in Room 204 of the Visalia Courthouse and at the Self-Help Resource Center of the South County Justice Center, a review hearing at least two weeks after the appointment, a written recommendation filed before the hearing if no agreement is reached, challenges to a counselor and complaints to the Family Court Services director, domestic violence sessions conducted remotely with separate interviews, and only the parties present (919)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 8: Criminal Trials and Pretrial Matters (Rules 800 to 814)
Rules 800 to 814: no arraignment on an information, indictment or misdemeanor complaint calendared with less than two days prior notice, in-custody documents filed before 10:00 a.m. for the 1:00 p.m. calendar the same day, felony matters under Penal Code 667.5 heard at 3:00 p.m. only if filed by 2:00 p.m., and matters filed after 2:00 p.m. heard the following day at 1:30 p.m. (800); a copy of all pleadings in a pre-assigned case delivered to the assigned judge two days before the hearing, to room 303 at the Visalia courthouse or the clerk at other locations (801); trial, pretrial conference and last motion dates set at a felony not guilty plea, later special motions heard only on good cause shown in a written declaration (802); criminal law and motion at 8:30 a.m. on the days the assigned department designates (803); pretrial motions, defense attorney fee and cost motions included, heard in the department assigned for all purposes (804); written motions under rule 4.111, motions to set aside stating the deficiencies with particularity, and late motions presumed unreasonably delayed (805); an order shortening the 10 days of rule 4.111 sought ex parte in the assigned department with notice to opposing counsel (806); modification of a sentence or probation terms sought in writing in the sentencing department on 10 days notice, no transport without the judge's order (807); jury instructions and verdict forms provided by counsel and filed no later than the pretrial readiness conference, special instructions not in CALCRIM supported by citations (808); a law and motion matter over 30 minutes set on a convenient date (809); voir dire under Code of Civil Procedure section 223, alternate jurors under section 234, maps and diagrams prepared in advance, witnesses available when needed, and a certified typed transcription of any sound recording offered (810); continuances of noticed motions and trials only before the judge assigned for all purposes, pretrial conferences continued only on proof in open court under Penal Code section 1050, felony trials within 60 days of the indictment or information, and time waivers discouraged (811); any appearance a general appearance, and withdrawal and substitution of retained counsel as in civil proceedings on the Judicial Council forms of rule 3.1362 (812); the Domestic Violence Coordination Rules - the clerk checking for existing orders in the case management system and CCPOR, criminal orders having priority over conflicting family or juvenile orders, coexisting orders providing for the safe exchange of the children, and a file endorsed copy of an order conveyed within 24 hours to the Tulare County Sheriff's Department for CLETS (813); and accusatory pleadings accepted by electronic filing only, under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, rules 2.250 - 2.261 and Penal Code section 959.1, a document electronically filed after 5:00 P.M. of any business day deemed filed on the next court day (814)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 12: Proceedings for Commitment of Persons with Developmental Disabilities; Habeas Corpus Proceedings Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 4800 and 7250; Proceedings Pursuant to In re Hop (1981) 29 Cal.3d 82 (Rules 1200 to 1202)
Rules 1200 to 1202: proceedings for the commitment of persons with developmental disabilities, habeas corpus proceedings under Welfare and Institutions Code sections 4800 and 7250 and In Re Hop proceedings assigned by the Judicial Assignments Order and heard only on Thursdays, a contested matter expected to exceed 30 minutes set for hearing by the assigned judge (1200); and the hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code section 6507 attended by a physician who has made a special study of the condition and a clinical psychologist, or two such physicians or two such psychologists, to examine the person and testify (1201)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 11: Juvenile Court (Rules 1114 to 1125)
Rules 1114 to 1125: ex parte restraining orders under section 213.5, heard with the regular dependency hearings (1115); each parent's Notification of Mailing Address (JV-140) executed before the initial or detention hearing and filed again to change it (1116); a pre-hearing challenge to a petition's sufficiency akin to a demurrer, made as early as possible (1117); offers of proof, the witness still testifying unless all parties stipulate, and hearsay objections to the social worker's report in writing at least two court days before the hearing, or one day before where the report is filed less than five court days before (1118); modifications to a more restrictive placement under section 387 and to a less restrictive placement under section 388, new service plan requirements submitted to the parents for approval, and notice of a change in placement at least five court days before, 10 court days before a move from one county to another, and within 48 hours in an emergency (1119); court-appointed dependency attorneys with eight hours of training or six months' experience, eight hours of continuing education every three years and an annual Certificate of Competency (Appendix 3), a child's attorney contacting the client before each hearing and interviewing children four years of age or older in person, and complaints about appointed counsel first to the attorney's supervisor, then in writing to the court, reviewed within 10 days (1120); contract counsel for dependent children (1121); family and juvenile court management of child abuse cases, repeated from rule 929 (1122); the exchange of information among the staff of Family Court Services, the Juvenile Probation Department, and Child Welfare Services (1123); the exchange of information among CWS, service providers and schools in dependency cases, a protective order sought on objection (1124); and the Domestic Violence Coordination Rules - the clerk checking the case management system and CCPOR, criminal orders having priority, coexisting orders providing for the safe exchange of the children, and a file-endorsed copy conveyed within 24 hours to the Tulare County Sheriff's Department for CLETS (1125)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 11: Juvenile Court (Rules 1100 to 1113)
Rules 1100 to 1113: juvenile matters heard by any judge, commissioner or referee, a presiding judge of the juvenile court assigning section 300 and 601 proceedings, guardianship petitions for dependents presented to the juvenile court, and dependency matters heard by officers trained under section 304.7 (1100); commissioners' and referees' orders final under section 250, rehearings under section 252 (1101); juvenile sessions at the Juvenile Justice Center, 11200 Avenue 368, Visalia, and the South County Justice Center, all section 300 and 602 papers filed in the Juvenile Justice Center clerk's office (1102); documents for a hearing the following day submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. the day before, and documents other than original petitions accepted only with the case caption and a proof of service (1103); noticed motions with a proof of service, notice reducible to five court days and opposition filed and served two court days before, the hearing date reserved with the juvenile calendar clerk first, ex parte relief only on written application with at least four hours notice, papers punched with two holes at the top, and stipulated continuances approved at least two court days before (1104); CWS's single Proof of Service Declaration (Appendix 2) for each dependency hearing (1105); ex parte orders in dependency cases on notice and a Declaration Re Notice of Ex Parte Application (Appendix 11), the clerk holding the application four hours, opposition within four hours of notice (1106); CASA volunteers appointed, given notice, access and service of filings, their reports served at least 10 court days before the hearing (1107); psychotropic medication for dependents and wards in out-of-home placement only on an approved form JV-220, the physician having evaluated the child within 30 days (1108); medical treatment under section 369 and a child's hospitalization reported within two (2) court days (1109); informal discovery under rule 5.546, motions to compel only after informal means are exhausted, no civil discovery methods without authorization, dependency reports filed and served three or five court days before the jurisdictional hearing and 10 court days before other hearings, expert and witness information exchanged at least five court days before contested hearings, and Penal Code sections 1054 - 1054.8 in delinquency proceedings (1110); juvenile case files confidential and inspected only under sections 827, 827.12 and 828 and rule 5.552, persons entitled without an order filing Local Form JUV-001 (1111); the public and media excluded from dependency and delinquency proceedings except under sections 346, 676 and 676.5 (1112); and media requests to the presiding judge of the juvenile court at least five days before the access date, copied to the Chief Probation Officer and/or the Deputy Director of Child Welfare Services, objections within two court days, and a signed media order (1113)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 10: Probate Matters (Rules 1059 to 1063)
Rules 1059 to 1063: fees, commissions and compensation to fiduciaries and their attorneys determined as just and reasonable on a properly captioned petition explaining the calculation and listing the dates, nature, hours, person and hourly rate of each service, noncomplying requests continued one time for at least two weeks, paralegal compensation only with prior court approval, no fees or commissions paid before an authorizing order, statutory fees allowed in proportion to the work completed with the last 25 per cent usually after the final accounting, the factors for extraordinary fees, petitions for extraordinary fees over 25 percent of statutory fees mailed to those entitled to notice, and conservator, guardian and attorney compensation only with court approval on a statement of the amount requested (1059); blocked accounts encouraged, bonds in conservatorships and guardianships waived only in the cases listed, the depository's receipt and agreement filed before letters issue, and bonds reduced, assets released and bonds increased on ex parte petitions (1060); an Increased Bid in Open Court form (Appendix 7) completed and signed on a successful overbid, no real estate commission to a purchaser, personal representative or fiduciary who is a licensed broker or salesperson without good cause, and broker compensation disputes heard separately after a face-to-face meet and confer (1061); a personal representative's or attorney's creditor's claim approved on a noticed petition served at least 15 days before the hearing, except funeral and last illness expenses not exceeding $5,000.00, claims less than $1,000.00 and the other cases listed (1062); and adoption hearings set by the calendar clerk in Room 201 of the Visalia Division or the civil clerk at the South County Justice Center only after the Family Code section 8604 consents are filed or consent is judicially dispensed with, stepparent adoption investigations and reports by Family Court Services, other investigations by the Adoptions Division of the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency, the section 8610 accounting report, the consent of a child twelve years of age or older, the section 8612(b) acknowledgment and the proposed adoption decree lodged before a hearing is set (1063)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 10: Probate Matters (Rules 1022 to 1058)
Rules 1022 to 1058: the LPS individualized treatment plan filed within 10 days of the establishment of the conservatorship, a review hearing within 20 days, the plan's goals and review approved and subscribed under penalty of perjury by a qualified professional person, a written report filed at least two weeks before each review hearing, and the conservatee present unless the presence is waived (1022); orders at variance with the rules on good cause (1025); definitions - hearing officer, facility (Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital the only licensed facility), patients' rights advocate, public facility and professional person (1026); the public defender for indigent patients and private counsel otherwise, the court deciding compensable services and reimbursable costs (1027 and 1028); the public defender or alternate defense counsel representing patients, the District Attorney's Office prosecuting the writs of habeas corpus, and the facility's counsel representing the physician in Riese hearings and appeals (1029); hearing officers who are attorneys (1030); LPS conservatorships heard in the Visalia Division on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., writs and Riese writs and appeals within two court days, certification review and original Riese hearings at the treating facility, and section 6500 and In Re Hop proceedings on Thursdays from 8:30a.m. -10:00 a.m. (1031); LPS jury trials set by the assigned judge (1032); mental health petitions set by the legal filings clerk on the customary hearing date (1033); certification review hearings on Tuesdays and Fridays and original Riese hearings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 4:00 p.m. at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital, and writs and Riese writs and appeals heard at 8:30 a.m. within two court days - petitions filed on Mondays heard on Wednesdays, on Tuesdays on Thursdays, on Wednesdays and Thursdays on Fridays, on Fridays on Mondays - filed with the mental health clerk, a Riese appeal with a proposed order, and heard first (1034); writs on optional Judicial Council Form HC-002 (1035 and 1041); writ and Riese hearings scheduled on filing, the mental health clerk notifying the facility and counsel, and witnesses by court call on the consent of all parties (1036); the county's burden by a preponderance on a writ (1037); certification review hearings for 14-day and 30-day holds within four days of certification, postponable 48 hours, at the facility, informal, with counsel or an advocate, notice to family members and a written decision (1038 to 1040); Riese hearings on a treating physician's petition delivered or faxed to the mental health clerk and set within two court days whenever possible, interpreters arranged by the facility, counsel meeting the patient in advance, the physician's burden by clear and convincing evidence, the patient's right to be present, a determination at the hearing, and confidential records (1042 to 1057); and Riese appeals heard within two days - petitions filed on Mondays and Tuesdays heard on Wednesdays, on Wednesdays and Thursdays on Fridays, on Fridays on Mondays (1058)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Chapter 10: Probate Matters (Rules 1000 to 1021)
Rules 1000 to 1021: probate matters and adoptions assigned under the annual order, LPS conservatorships set only on Tuesdays and adoption proceedings on Thursdays or Fridays, moving pleadings filed at least 15 days and supporting papers at least 10 days before the hearing (proofs of publication within two days), proposed orders lodged at least five days before, an automatic two-week continuance for untimely filing, the personal representative's birth date and driver's license number on the confidential Acknowledgment of Receipt of the Statement of Duties and Liabilities, an Order to Show Cause if no Judgment of Final Distribution or Report of Status of Administration is filed within 12 months after letters issued (18 months with a federal estate tax return), and the notice of special letters, publication of notice of death and notice to creditors (1000); a matter approved without a hearing on counsel's written verification of agreement, all matters posted on the court's web site the day before each hearing date, continuances in court or through the probate judge's clerk, no more than three without good cause, and an oral objection to a will continued up to four weeks for a written contest (1001); contested petitions - a face-to-face meet and confer, a Statement of Issues and an offer of proof from each party, the calendar clerk notified or the statement filed at least two court days before, and verified written objections (1002); ex parte petitions heard on any court day at the probate judge's determination, appointments made through the clerk of the court in room 201 of the Visalia courthouse or the civil clerk at the South County Justice Center, verified petitions with evidentiary facts, special notice statements, at least six business hours' notice where the need for an opportunity to be heard is apparent, and a separate order complete in itself (1003); probate referee applications, and inventories and appraisals filed at least two weeks before a sale or distribution with the bond particulars on form DE-160 (1004); accountings in the Summary of Account format, supplemental and amended accounts, waivers of accounting and distribution petitions (1005); family allowance orders for a definite period usually not over 12 months (1006); no order or letters of general guardianship before each proposed guardian has viewed the online guardianship orientation and filed the Declaration of Completion of Orientation for Guardian, filed the Confidential Guardianship Questionnaire (PRO-004) and, with each household member over 18, completed Live Scan fingerprinting (1007); no order or letters of general conservatorship, except for the public guardian or a qualified professional conservator, before each proposed conservator has viewed the online orientation and the video "With Heart: Understanding Conservatorships," printed or downloaded the Handbook for Conservators and filed the Declaration of Completion of Orientation for Non-Professional Conservators, filed the Confidential Conservatorship Questionnaire (PRO-006) and completed Live Scan fingerprinting (1008); no out of state conservator without good cause (1012); care plans under Probate Code section 2351.2 on forms GC-355 and GC-356 (1013); independent powers limited to specific factual situations and enumerated in the statute's language, sales of real property returned for confirmation (1014); a minimum bond of $10,000 in conservatorships and guardianships of the estate (1015); sanctions or surcharges for incorrect filings (1016); the conservatee's appearance and an updated Capacity Declaration on a petition to terminate, and a certified copy of the death certificate within 30 days of the conservatee's death (1017); accountings in the format for decedents' estates with current addresses, bond adequacy, and an Order to Show Cause if an accounting is not filed (1018); appointed counsel for a conservatee or ward not later representing the conservator or guardian (1019); final distribution on a conservatee's or ward's death only after a personal representative is appointed, and the investigator's assessment paid before termination (1020); and limited conservatorships - the regional center report, a hearing set at least 30 days after notice to the regional center (Appendix 6), and confidential envelopes for sensitive reports (1021)
Tulare County Superior Court Local Rules (revised July 1, 2026) — Appendix 8: Counsel Services and Fees — Default Action on Note or Contract
The schedule of counsel fees for a default action, awarded exclusive of costs under normal circumstances in a default action on a promissory note or contract providing for the payment of counsel fees: 25% of the first $5,000 with a minimum fee of $250, and 10% of the amount over $5,000; a prove up hearing may be required to establish the reasonableness of the fees when the attorneys' fees requested exceed $7,500.00 (Revised July 1, 2018).
Tulare County Superior Court — FCS-001 Instructions for Family Court Services Online Orientation/Intake and Counseling Services (Mandatory, Revised 7/22/22)
Family Court Services' mandatory instructions for child custody recommending counseling (CCRC) and minor interviews: within 24 hours of being ordered to attend CCRC or to have a child interviewed, the online Orientation/Intake completed on the court's website (allowing 90 minutes), the e-mailed intake form being the proof of completion, with help from the Self-Help Resource Center (559-737-5500) or Family Court Services (559-730-5000, Option 6, between 8AM and 4PM), and changes of contact information telephoned in before the session; an in-person session unless a remote session is circled or ordered, the parties arriving 10-15 minutes early at Room 204 on the second floor of the Visalia Courthouse or at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, checking in at the Self-Help Resource Center, no one else brought, and a session canceled and the Court notified of a failure to appear after a 15-minute grace period; remote (telephone) sessions for all cases with allegations of domestic violence and all Spanish-language CCRC cases in Porterville, the mediator calling at the session time (Zoom or a conference call) and a party not called within 10 minutes contacting Family Court Services; and the ground rules - one to two hours allowed, confidential sessions, no recording, speaker phone or others present, a quiet, private place for a remote session, no shared documents or photos, the counselor's directives followed, and a violation reported to the Judicial Officer as a failure to cooperate.
Tulare County Superior Court — Traffic
A citation contested by arraignment and court trial without any bail paid - the arraignment scheduled with the clerk before the Due Date on the Reminder Notice (California Rules of Court rule 4.105) -, by a court trial without a separate arraignment requested before the Due Date with the bail forfeiture amount (Vehicle Code section 40519(a) and (b)), or by a trial by written declaration requested before the Due Date with the bail forfeiture amount on the mandatory form TR-205 (Vehicle Code section 40902), a new trial then requested on form TR-220 by the deadline the written decision states; an ability to pay determination requested in court (by appointment), by mail or on form TR-320, or online; trial by a judge, a commissioner or a qualified temporary judge with the citing officer subpoenaed, three hours or more planned at court, witnesses subpoenaed and the subpoena and proof of service filed on or before the trial date, a trial in absentia on a failure to appear, and bail returned by mail within 60 days after a not guilty finding; a continuance of a court trial requested at least 10 days before the trial; an appeal within 30 days after a guilty finding in a court trial; an extension of 60 days to post bail from the clerk by telephone, in person or on the court's web site, and a written request to the judicial officer beyond 60 days; mandatory appearances (22348(b) VC, 23140(a) VC); proof of correction on or before the due date - registration proof from the Department of Motor Vehicles with a $25.00 correction fee, proof of insurance in force when cited dismissible with a $25.00 correction fee, other corrections signed off by an authorized station or a law enforcement agency, no self-certification, and dog and cat licenses or vaccinations only in court; payment online by Visa, Discover, AMEX or MasterCard, by check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Court, by mail or in person; delinquent fines referred to the State Franchise Tax Board or a private collection agency; traffic school under Vehicle Code section 42005 and rule 4.101 for eligible violations (no traffic school for a citation within the last 18 months), at a fee of $68.00 plus the bail payable to the Clerk of the Court, Tulare County, a conviction reported if proof of completion is not timely; and parking citations handled by the issuing city or agency, not the court.
Tulare County Superior Court — Stepparent/Domestic Partner Adoption
Family Court Services conducting stepparent adoption investigations (Family Code Section 9000) only where the petitioner has requested it, and Declare Free from Parental Custody and Control investigations only with a concurrently filed stepparent adoption; a copy of the filed petition and supporting documents, and of later filings, provided to Family Court Services (Room 204, Visalia Courthouse) or the counter clerks at the South County Justice Center; Phase I, the adoption petition alone, where the non-custodial parent's written consent (form AD2A_2B), the parent's death certificate or the order terminating the parent's rights is filed with the petition, and Phase II, where a petition to Declare Free From Parental Custody and Control is filed with the adoption petition and given a court date at filing; the case assigned to a Court Investigator only after the mandatory local questionnaire, the verification documents, the stepparent's Live Scan fingerprinting (the forms from the Self-Help Resource Center, a copy of the completed form to Family Court Services or the SCJC front counter) and the references are received, an investigation by a private therapist not assigned to the court; interviews at the Family Court Services offices with the custodial parent, the adoptive stepparent and the children, a report and recommendation mailed, and the petitioner then placing the adoption on calendar, after the 60-day appeal period where parental rights were terminated; any investigation fee ordered paid at the hearing, separate from the filing fee; a call after 30 days returned within 48 hours; the children not required at the termination hearing unless ordered but present at the adoption hearing, children age 7 and older interviewed and children 12 and older consenting in open court; and a child who turns 18 during the investigation not adoptable as a stepchild.
Tulare County Superior Court — Reserve a Traffic Court Date
A court date for a traffic hearing reserved with the page's online request form (name, court case or citation number, date of birth, e-mail, phone, the court date chosen and a bar number for an attorney), available dates typically approximately three (3) weeks out; matters beginning with VTR or VJT heard in Visalia, 221 S Mooney Blvd, on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 8:30am, and matters beginning with PTR or PJT at the South County Justice Center, 300 E Olive, Porterville, on Fridays at 8:30am; and an e-mail response or phone call confirming whether the requested date has been scheduled, the date subject to change with court availability.
Tulare County Superior Court — Request Remote Hearings
Remote appearances by video or phone on Zoom, requested on the page's form no more than one week in advance, a response expected within 24 hours and requests made within 24 hours of a hearing accommodated to the best of the Court's ability, with notice given to the court and all others entitled to notice under California Rule of Court 3.672 and Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75; no remote hearing recorded without expressed prior consent, and a naming convention for the participant's name (first initial, last name and Retained Counsel, the justice partner's organization, or Self-Represented); Local Rule 937 on remote appearances in family law and domestic violence cases (effective July 1, 2022); criminal, civil and family law attorneys appearing remotely for non-evidentiary hearings (law firms joining a weekly distribution list by e-mail to RemoteHearings@tulare.courts.ca.gov); persons out of custody pending criminal charges not authorized to appear remotely, counsel requesting remote appearances for them, and in-custody persons appearing in person or remotely by hearing type; personal or remote appearances required in criminal cases for evidentiary hearings, a change of plea, entering a time waiver, sentencing and as ordered; a personal appearance required in civil, family law and probate cases for settlement conferences, trial readiness conferences, trials, contested and evidentiary hearings, creditor examinations, restraining orders and unlawful detainers, other hearings remote at the judge's discretion and Court Call still available; no remote hearings in traffic and small claims cases; incomplete requests ignored and confidential requests denied; and help with a scheduled remote appearance at (559) 738-2330.
Tulare County Superior Court — Request for Electronic Recordings
In all misdemeanor cases, trials included, an electronic recording maintained as the official record of the proceedings, a copy requested on the page's online form (the case, the purpose - a notice of appeal or a declared mistrial -, the department, the hearing date and the requester) and provided as a download link; a fee of $10.00 per media download request, paid in the applicable clerk's office before the request is processed unless arrangements have been made with the court; a court representative making contact within 5 business days of the form and the payment; and incomplete requests ignored and confidential requests denied.
Tulare County Superior Court — Records Request
Active and archived public records (some destroyed under the court's destruction program) copied in person, by appointment, online or by mail; mail requests with a case number sent to the Visalia Division (case numbers beginning with a "V") or the South County Justice Center (case numbers beginning with a "P"), Attn: Civil/Criminal Records, with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check, money order or cashier's check (no cash), turned around in 15 workdays from receipt of the request and the payment; online requests on the request card with the case number and a valid e-mail address, staff reaching out in 24-48 hours and scheduling in-person appointments, all e-mailed and mailed requests processed within 15 business days of the request and payment; copy fees - a certified divorce decree (Dissolution of Judgment) $15.00, $10.00 for any public agency, any other certified document $40.00 plus copies, and copies $.50 per page per side; the clerk's search at $15.00 for any search taking longer than 10 minutes per name, the court completing no criminal background checks (criminal histories from the State of California Department of Justice); and computer terminals for case number searches in Room 124 and Room 201 of the Visalia Division.
Tulare County Superior Court — Probate Guardianship Information
Petitions set for hearing at the time of filing, with the filing fee unless a waiver is granted (conservatorship petitions with the filing fee and the initial court investigator's fee), an original and two copies of all forms submitted when the case is first filed; parties and counsel expected at all scheduled hearings unless the document examiner notes indicate that a petition is "RFA" (recommended for approval); the original and one copy of a proposed order submitted with all petitions, with a self-addressed return envelope; a guardian removed for specific reasons or in the child's best interest, on the court's own motion or a petition; and the Order Appointing Guardian of Minor signed by the court, then prepared Letters of Guardianship taken to the clerk's office for issuance, several certified copies advised.
Tulare County Superior Court — Probate Conservatorship Investigations
A copy of the filed petition and related documents, and of any document filed later, provided to Family Court Services (Room 204, Visalia Courthouse) or to the counter clerks at the South County Justice Center; once the court orders a probate conservatorship investigation (Probate Code Section 1820), a Court Investigator interviewing the petitioners and the proposed conservatee and reporting on best interest, necessity or alternatives and suitability, the investigators having 90 days; the mandatory Confidential Conservatorship Care Plan (Part 1 and Part 2) completed accurately; changes of contact information reported to Family Court Services at (559) 730-5000, Option 6, and filed on form MC-040; the online orientation and its declaration completed by each proposed conservator, the Live Scan Fingerprint forms obtained from the Self-Help Resource Center and a copy of the completed form given to Family Court Services or the SCJC front counter; the report filed and mailed to the parties (Probate Code Section 1826), any investigation fee ordered paid at the hearing; after appointment, a Care Plan for each conservatee as the court requests, Family Court Services mailing a blank plan about 60 days before the month the conservatorship was granted and a plan not filed set for an order to show cause; for a conservatorship of the estate, an Inventory and Appraisal within 90 days of appointment and an accounting within 60 days of the first-year anniversary and every other year after; the Court Investigator's unannounced visit one year after appointment and biennially after (Probate Code section 1850); Family Court Services called if no investigator has called within 30 days, calls returned within 48 hours; and on the conservatee's death, form GC-399 filed and served with the death certificate and a copy given to Family Court Services.
Tulare County Superior Court — Policy for Record Viewing and Copying
The policy (effective Monday, August 3, 2015, as updated on July 11, 2016) for all who view or copy court records, the media included - calendared files unavailable two (2) days before and three (3) days after the hearing and offsite files retrieved within two (2) weeks, a call advised before returning; files disassembled or removed only by court personnel (California Rules of Court, Rule 2.400(a)); files requested in person at the counter with identification, a signature on the Viewing Log and a contact number, criminal, traffic, small claims and appeals files viewed at the customer service windows and civil, family law and probate files at the designated file viewing table, up to 5 files of a type at a time (traffic 10); copies requested in person, by mail or online and processed between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., the statewide record fees charged and paid at the time of copying or, for mail and large orders, of the request, voluminous orders ready within two (2) weeks; one copy of the papers in the court's file the only reasonably necessary photocopying waived under a fee waiver (Rule 3.55), fee waivers honored for one year from the date signed; mail requests with a check bearing "not to exceed (amount) dollars", a self-addressed stamped envelope and a separate request for each division's file type, no phone or fax requests; and exhibits viewed or copied by arrangement with the exhibit clerk through Court Administration at (559) 730-5000, only the exhibit clerk handling them.
Tulare County Superior Court — Orientation to Family Court Services Mediation and Child Custody Recommending Counseling
The online orientation required of anyone ordered by the court, or asked by Family Court Services staff, to complete it - Part One, information on what to expect from family court mediation with a 30-minute video, "Orientation to Family Court Mediation and Child Custody Recommending Counseling"; Part Two, the Intake Form, confirmed by e-mail when an address is given; and Part Three, the Domestic Violence Questionnaire, required only where there are current or past allegations of domestic violence against the other party - completed with the case number, the mediation appointment date and the next court date at hand; the second and third parts not completed by those taking the orientation for information only; and the Parenting After Separation course highly recommended before the mediation session.