Tulare County, CA
All 44 county-scoped rules
Every published instrument scoped to Tulare County, newest effective date first. 11 circuit-wide and 1,704 statewide instruments also apply here — search all three layers together. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Published rules, newest effective date first
Showing 1–44 of 44
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 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) — 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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) — 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) — 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 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) — 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 — 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 — Appeals
Notices of appeal to the Fifth District Court of Appeal filed electronically by e-mail to Tulare-5DCA@tulare.courts.ca.gov, where courtesy copies of all briefs may also be sent, the Appeals clerks consulted on the filing fees for a civil notice of appeal or designation of record; the steps the California Rules of Court set for felony, juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency appeals (delinquency appeals treated the same as criminal appeals) - the clerk's notice to the court reporters, who are usually given 20 days for their transcripts, the clerk's transcript, transmittal, appointment of counsel, the briefs, the opinion and the remittitur; in unlimited civil appeals (probate, family law, adoptions and unlawful detainers included) a completed fee waiver or the $775.00 filing fee payable to the Court of Appeal with the notice of appeal and a $100.00 deposit with the superior court clerk, a notice designating a reporter's transcript with a deposit of the reporter's written estimate or $325.00 for each partial day designated (not exceeding 3 hours) or $650.00 for each full day, a clerk's transcript designated by each document's title and filing date, and a default entered by the clerk and possible dismissal for failure to designate the record or deposit the estimated costs; in limited civil appeals (unlawful detainers included) the clerk's estimate of the transcript costs paid within 10 days of the clerk's notification, the record transmitted once all fees are paid and the record is certified, and the appellate clerk setting the hearing; and misdemeanor appeals (a notice within thirty (30) days on form CR-132, with CR-131-INFO) and traffic infraction appeals (a notice within thirty (30) days on form CR-142, with CR-141-INFO) heard by the appellate panel of three Superior Court judges once a month on the last Wednesday of the month, with written notice of the hearing and the briefing deadlines, limited oral argument and a ruling taken under submission usually mailed within 30 days.
Tulare County Superior Court — Basic eFiling FAQ's
Electronic filing only through an approved electronic filing service provider (EFSP; Code of Civil Procedure Section 1010.6(e)), with a registered account, the EFSP changeable at any time and eFiling open to self-represented parties, mandatory for no case type; a document received electronically between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day deemed filed that court day and one received on a non-court day deemed filed the next court day (Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 subd. (b)(3); rules 2.252 and 2.253); the case types eFiled - adoption (declare free, with or without an adoption petition), civil harassment petitions (civil harassment, elder or dependent adult abuse, workplace violence), civil petitions (name and/or gender change, minor's claim or other In the Matter of petitions), family, probate and small claims; each document needing its own file stamp filed as a lead document with its own event code, several in one envelope; limits of 35 megabits an envelope and 25 megabits a document, a larger document filed in batches only after calling the court; PDF format, electronic bookmarks for exhibits (rule 3.1110(f)), text-searchable documents (rule 2.256(b)(3)), 300 DPI recommended for scans and no password protection; the correct Filing Document Name, which sets the fee and the court's workflow, and the lead document identified; no cancellation of a completed submission, errors reported at once to the clerk's office at 559-730-5000 option 4; the documents exempt from eFiling - any order with an original judicial officer's signature, exhibits to be lodged for hearings or trials, an original will and codicil, a Family Law Request for Entry of Default or Notice of Entry of Judgment, any paper document the court orders filed in a clerk's office and documents in child support cases beginning with the prefix VFS; and refunds requested on form TCSC CIV-004, eFiled or submitted at the filing window or by U.S. Mail where the case is assigned, for fees charged inappropriately by the court, through court system errors, after a fee waiver or to an agency exempt under GC 6103, or ordered refunded, an eFiled fee refunded to the payer (typically the EFSP), a denied request not processed and a rejected one returned for completion or correction.
Tulare County Superior Court — CARE Act
Petitions under the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act heard in the CARE Act Court on Tuesdays at 8:30am in Department 9 of the County Civic Center, 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia; the eligibility criteria - a person 18 years of age or older, currently experiencing schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder, not clinically stabilized in on-going voluntary treatment, unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision or in need of services to prevent a relapse or deterioration, for whom a CARE plan or CARE agreement is the least restrictive alternative and likely of benefit; the court's CARE Act Packet; remote appearance at a future hearing requested online; and the Self-Help Resource Center (559-737-5500, selfhelp@tulare.courts.ca.gov) for information.
Tulare County Superior Court — Civil
Local Rule 703's courtesy copy of all law and motion documents delivered to the research attorney upon filing, which may be e-mailed to research_attorney@tulare.courts.ca.gov in .doc/.docx or .pdf format; unlawful detainer practice - the trial date mailed once the written response and a Request for Setting are filed, the filing fee paid with the written response unless a Request to Waive Court Fees and Order on Court Fee Waiver are filed with it, a Counter Request for Setting requesting a jury trial within five days of the mailing of the landlord's Request for Setting, the initial jury fees posted five days before the trial date, a trial date changed only by a Motion for Continuance or a written Stipulation, each with a declaration showing a good reason and a filing fee, at least three copies of all documents brought to trial, the Sheriff's Notice to Vacate giving five days to move, and judgment by default on a failure to respond or to appear; no foreign language interpreters provided by the court for unlawful detainer cases, sign language interpreters provided on sufficient notice; the Alternative Dispute Resolution Package, the court approved mediator/arbitrator list and the panel application; and Civil Legal Filings at 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 201, Visalia, and at the South County Justice Center, 300 E Olive Ave., Porterville.
Tulare County Superior Court — Collections
The Collections Department, in person or by phone Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Ground Floor, Room G28 of the Visalia courthouse, and the South County Justice Center), collecting traffic and criminal fines by cash, check, cashier's check, money order or credit card, in person, by mail or by phone; a Failure to Appear notice mailed by the Traffic and Criminal Filings departments when a defendant fails to appear as promised, a notice not answered within 20 days sending the case to the Traffic Commissioner for a Trial in Absentia; a Failure to Pay notice when a payment plan or other court agreement is not kept, a notice not answered within 20 days referring the case to Court Collections; a referred fine paid in full or by payment arrangements of $150.00 per month, made by phone or at the counter, the paperwork returned within 10 days with the first payment; for a delinquent unsigned citation, a certified letter giving 15 calendar days (a traffic accident) or 10 calendar days (an owner responsibility citation) to provide proof of correction or pay the bail forfeiture amount, then the full bail and a Failure to Appear notice; a reduction of the fine sought through the Ability to Pay application; and unresolved balances referred to the State Franchise Tax Board or the court's private collection agency for wage garnishments, bank levies and tax return intercepts.
Tulare County Superior Court — Conservatorship Orientation
The educational program each proposed conservator views, in four parts - (1) the online conservatorship orientation, a video adopted from Orange County Superior Court (informational only, in English or Spanish), (2) the video "With Heart: Understanding Conservatorship", (3) the Handbook for Conservators, printed or downloaded, and (4) the Declaration of Completion of Orientation for Non-Professional Conservators, printed, signed and filed, the signed original and two copies in the clerk's office and one filed-endorsed copy provided to Family Court Services; and the Self-Help Resource Center for self-represented parties.
Tulare County Superior Court — Court Interpreters
Free interpreters for limited English proficient court users in criminal, traffic, juvenile and mental competency cases; free interpreters in civil matters within the priorities of Evidence Code §756 - Priority 1, domestic violence, civil harassment cases where there is no fee to file and elder abuse cases with physical abuse or neglect; Priority 2, unlawful detainers (evictions); Priority 3, termination of parental rights; Priority 4, guardianship and conservatorship; Priority 5, cases where one person asks for sole custody or visitation; Priority 6, other civil harassment and elder abuse cases; Priority 7, other family law cases; Priority 8, other civil cases - parties with a fee waiver having preference within priorities 2 to 8; and a civil interpreter requested by filing the Request for Interpreter (INT-300) with the civil clerk's office.
Tulare County Superior Court — eFiling Fee & Procedures
EFiled documents carrying their filing fees unless a fee waiver or a valid government exemption (Government Code Section 6103) applies, the EFSP collecting the filing fees with its own service or convenience fees and transmitting only the filing fees to the court; a filing submitted without all the required filing fees rejected, including the $30 court reporter fee in Family Law for any hearing the party initiates (Government Code 68086(a)); a complaint or petition eFiled with a fee waiver request FW-001 and proposed order FW-003 as separate PDF document entries, processed at the same time; receipts in the EFSP account and refunds through the EFSP, fees for eFiled documents refunded to the EFSP (Code of Civil Procedure Section 411.20 and Government Code Section 6159); and filing fees required of all parties, court-appointed attorneys included, absent a fee waiver.
Tulare County Superior Court — Electronic Evidence Portal
A secure portal for submitting electronic evidence in selected courtrooms - Family Law matters set in Department 11 only, small claims, probate, civil harassment, unlawful detainer and administrative appeal matters following the traditional evidence submission process for now; access with the case type, case number and hearing date (a desktop computer with the Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser recommended), an account activated by a 6-digit key sent to the e-mail or cell phone given, exhibits added to the case for the party or parties uploading, an Exhibit Receipt printed and brought to the hearing to reference each exhibit by its assigned number, and exhibits shared with the other parties through the Virtual Viewing Room, each receiving a link and an authentication pin.
Tulare County Superior Court — Elisor Signing Information Sheet
Court Administration's procedure for an elisor - the Clerk of the Court, or a designee, appointed to sign a deed or other document a party cannot or will not sign to carry out a court order (Code of Civil Procedure section 128(a)(4)): a Request for Order (FL-300) with at least one supporting declaration stating the title and date of the order the request rests on, the title of each document to be signed and, for real property, its legal description with the Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) and property address, copies of the exact documents attached; a Finding and Order After Hearing naming "The Clerk of the Court or Clerk's Designee" as the elisor, the party on whose behalf the elisor signs and each document; once the order is filed, a copy of it and of the documents, with every area requiring signatures and initials flagged, submitted to Court Administration in Room 303 of the Visalia Courthouse for review before an appointment with the elisor is scheduled; a fee of $40.00 for each elisor appointment paid in the Civil Division, Room 201, before the appointment (GC70626(a)(6)); a notary arranged and paid by the party when a document requires notarization; and the elisor's signature block and the case number on documents to be filed with the County Recorder, who may otherwise reject them.
Tulare County Superior Court — Family Law
The Family Law Division processing documents submitted in person or by mail; petitions for domestic violence restraining orders e-filed through an Electronic Filing Service Provider (the clerk's office at (559) 730-5000, option 4), and remote appearance at the hearing requested online, with help at (559) 738-2330, a line staffed before and during court sessions; copies at $.50 per page and certification at $40.00 per document, a mail request with the parties' names, the case number and the documents, a check payable to "Clerk of the Court" preprinted with the maker's name and address ("not to exceed $50.00" when the total is unknown; no cash) and a self-addressed stamped envelope, copy orders filled within 7-10 working days; a certified copy of a judgment (divorce decree) by mail for $15.00 plus $.50 per page, or at the office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; copies from a paternity case only for the parties, in person with picture identification; Department of Child Support Services matters heard in the Dinuba Courthouse on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and in the South County Justice Center on Tuesdays, DCSS papers filed with the Clerk of Court inside the Visalia DCSS office (8040 W Doe Ave) Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, papers left at the Porterville DCSS office couriered and not filed the same day, Friday filings at the Visalia Courthouse (Room 201) or the South County Justice Center, and no Clerk of Court window for DCSS cases in the Dinuba Courthouse; and its answers - a divorce final six months and one day from service once all required documents are submitted, a court date obtained by a Request for Order FL-300, custody and visitation modified by a stipulation and order or a Request for Order (local form FAM-003 may be attached), a former name restored by an Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Name, and a response filed within 30 days of service of a petition.
Tulare County Superior Court — General eFiling Procedural Information
EFiling alone not consent to electronic service (express or affirmative consent, California Rules of Court, Rule 2.251); eFiled documents not printed, the electronic record being the official court record (Government Code Section 68150(a)); a document filed only when the court accepts it, the filer viewing a submission at once through the EFSP's portal and other parties after filing, and unlimited civil complaints available to the media upon submission, before review or acceptance; a Notice of Rejection stating the reason, the deficiency corrected and the document resubmitted; the common reasons for rejection - documents submitted as a single PDF that should be separate entries, data fields that do not match the document, an incorrect payment type, case type, case category, party type or court location, a duplicate or an untimely submission (an ex parte application after the filing deadline) and documents that do not meet the California Rules of Court or Local Rule guidelines; a motion and its supporting documents in one submission, every document, any proposed order included, a separate PDF entry; a proposed order marked "Received" returned through the EFSP and the signed order returned by e-mail to a filer who has requested electronic service, by mail otherwise; no electronic service by the court on another party's behalf; a Proof of Service filed when serving electronically (rule 2.251(j)(1) - (3)); and a document's confidentiality set by legal authority or the court, not by the filer (a limited civil unlawful detainer complaint filed as confidential under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161.2).
Tulare County Superior Court — General Information
In the courtroom, no food or drinks (Tulare County Local Rule of Court, Rule 107), no gum or candy, no cell phones, no shorts, hats, tank tops or crop tops, no gang colors or insignia (Rule 105) and no communication with persons in custody (PC4570), a violation resulting in eviction from the courtroom and possible charges of contempt of Court; the list of newspapers adjudged newspapers of general circulation for legal advertising in Tulare County (Government Code Section 6000, et seq.), effective 3/15/2022; and the court's Policy for Record Viewing and Copying.
Tulare County Superior Court — Guardianship 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 relative guardianship investigation (Probate Code Section 1513(g)), a Court Investigator interviewing the petitioners and the children and reporting on the children's best interest, whether the guardianship is necessary or convenient and whether the guardians are suitable, with a check of local court records and a CLETS criminal background check on each legal parent in a confidential report, the investigators having 90 days; changes of contact information reported to Family Court Services at (559) 730-5000, Option 6, and filed; the mandatory local Guardianship Questionnaire (PRO-004) completed accurately and in detail; the Live Scan Fingerprint forms obtained from the Self-Help Resource Center after the Declaration of Completion of Guardianship Orientation is filed, Live Scan completed by each proposed guardian and each household member age 18 and over, 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 1513(d)), any investigation fee ordered paid at the hearing, separate from the filing fee and waivable with a fee waiver; after appointment, contact changes filed on form MC-040 with a copy to Family Court Services, and the Annual Status Report (GC-251) for each child every year until the child reaches 18 or the guardianship ends, Family Court Services mailing a blank report about 60 days before the month the guardianship was granted and a report not filed set for an order to show cause; Family Court Services called if no investigator has called within 30 days, investigators returning calls within 48 hours; and a dismissal filed and served on Family Court Services to end the process.
Tulare County Superior Court — Guardianship Orientation
The educational program each proposed guardian views (Rule 1007), in two sections - a PowerPoint presentation covering the general orientation for all guardians and the video "Becoming a Guardian" from the Contra Costa Superior Court website - then the "Declaration of Completion of Orientation for Guardian" printed, signed and filed, the signed original and two copies in the clerk's office and one filed-endorsed copy provided to Family Court Services; and the Self-Help Resource Center for self-represented parties.
Tulare County Superior Court — Judicial Assignments
The judicial assignments effective June 22, 2026, with each department's calendar by weekday - in Visalia, civil cases assigned for all purposes on filing by the first plaintiff's last name to Department 1 (A, B, C, S; with workplace violence and gun violence restraining orders, and civil harassment A to L, R and S), Department 2 (D to L and R) and Department 9 (M to Q and T to Z; with elder abuse and civil harassment M to Q and T to Z, and on Tuesdays LPS conservatorships, public guardian petitions and CARE Court), these departments also hearing guardianship, probate, adoption, name change and unlawful detainer matters; felony complaints by the first defendant's last name in Departments 3 and 5 (with 9:00am preliminary examinations in Department 5) and felony informations in Departments 4, 6 and 10; misdemeanor complaints assigned for all purposes by the defendant's last name to Departments 7 and 8; family law assigned for all purposes by the first petitioner's last name to Departments 11, 12 and 13, which hear motions, contempt and request for order hearings and domestic violence restraining orders at 8:30am and 9:00am, review hearings at 10:00am, ex parte hearings at 11:00am and contested hearings at 1:30pm, DCSS matters on one Monday a month each, and case management and mandatory settlement conferences on Fridays; Department 14's commissioners hearing North County DCSS and family law case management (Monday and Friday) and North County traffic, criminal infractions and small claims (Tuesday and Wednesday); in the Juvenile Division, Department A taking North County even numbered delinquency cases and Department C the odd numbered ones, each with the North County dependency cases set for initial hearing on its calendar, Department B vacant; in Dinuba, small claims (Monday) and North County DCSS (Wednesday and Thursday) before the commissioners; and at the South County Justice Center, Department 15 (misdemeanor pretrial conferences A through N, the drug, recovery and military diversion courts, and South County dependency and delinquency cases), Department 16 (misdemeanor pretrial conferences O through Z and all misdemeanor jury trials), Department 17's commissioners (South County DCSS on Tuesday; traffic, criminal infractions and small claims on Thursday and Friday), Department 18 (all North County and South County in-custody arraignments and South County out of custody misdemeanor arraignments), Department 19 (South County civil and family law for all purposes, with probate, guardianship and conservatorship matters on Thursdays and adoptions on the 4th Thursday), Departments 20 and 23 (felony informations) and Departments 21 and 22 (felony complaints), each by the first defendant's last name.
Tulare County Superior Court — Juvenile
Transfer-in hearings (California Rules of Court, Rule 5.610(f)(2)) for dependency and delinquency matters at the William Silveria Jr. Juvenile Justice Center, 11200 Avenue 368, Room 201, Visalia, Monday-Friday 8:30 am (excluding holidays), the department to be determined, checking in with the clerk, and transfer-in packets submitted electronically to juvenilefilings@tulare.courts.ca.gov (the Juvenile Court Clerk's office, (559) 738-2300 ext. 4019); juvenile hearings and records confidential, open only to persons authorized under Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 676 and 827 and Rule 5.552, who view a file or request copies by appointment with the clerk's office, with valid photo identification, no information given by phone or by mail and no charge for copies to authorized persons, others filing a JV-570 Petition for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File; records sealed under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 786, or on a petition under Section 781 through the Tulare County Probation Department; a court order changed on form JV-180 after consulting counsel; emancipations filed in the Civil Division of the Visalia Courthouse or the South County Justice Center; a parent or legal guardian required to appear with the child at delinquency hearings, a detained child not released without one; the courtroom dress code - no shorts, tank tops, halter tops or bare midriffs, mini-skirts, hats, bare feet, clothing with emblems that condone illegal or inappropriate activity or gang-related clothing - no chewing gum, and no camera or other recording devices; North County juvenile matters at the Juvenile Justice Center, South County matters at the South County Justice Center, and juvenile traffic in Room 124 of the Visalia Division and at the South County Justice Center.
Tulare County Superior Court — Mandatory Background Check
The fingerprints of prospective guardians and conservators (California Penal Code Section 11105 (b) (22) and (23)) taken through the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, California Department of Justice - each proposed guardian and each household member age 18 and over, and each proposed conservator, completing Live Scan fingerprinting before the guardianship or conservatorship can be granted, the Court Investigator inquiring into its status; the Live Scan Fingerprint forms obtained from Family Court Services (221 S Mooney Blvd., RM204, Visalia, or the Porterville courthouse; 559-730-5000, Option #6) after the Declaration of Completion of Guardianship Orientation is filed; fingerprinting at the Tulare County Sheriff's Office - 833 South Akers Street, Visalia (appointments, with priority, and walk-ins 8-11AM and 2-4PM, Monday-Friday) or 1839 S. Newcomb, Porterville (appointments 9-3PM, Monday-Friday) - with the completed form and valid identification, the technician keeping the white copy and returning two; and the pink copy brought or mailed to Family Court Services (RM204, Visalia) or the South County Justice Center service counter so the results can be tracked, an incomplete Live Scan being the most common reason investigations are delayed.
Tulare County Superior Court — Minor Marriage Investigations
A court order granting permission needed before a minor is issued a marriage license or establishes a domestic partnership (Family Code sections 297.1 and 303-304, CRC 5.448), the minor requesting to marry, the proposed spouse or domestic partner and the minor's legal parents or guardians interviewed by Family Court Services - except where both minors are age 17 or older and have a GED Certificate or High School diploma, the petition then sent directly to the judge; 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; the local form FAM-200 questionnaire (confidential) completed by the minor and by the proposed spouse or partner under penalty of perjury and filed with the petition; a Child Custody Recommending Counselor assigned once all the documents are received, the interviews (usually within 30-60 days of filing) held separately at the Family Court Services offices, each party presenting a valid ID, and a report on any force, threat, persuasion, fraud, coercion or duress with a recommendation to grant or deny mailed to the parties before the hearing; suspected child abuse or neglect reported to the county child protective services agency; premarital or domestic partnership counseling where the court orders it, recommended before filing, with local form FCS-202, Certification of Premarital Counseling, signed by the counselor; contact information kept current with Family Court Services at (559) 730-5000, Option 6, a call after 30 days returned within 48 hours; and a request for dismissal served on Family Court Services to withdraw.
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.
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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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.