Mark A. Ralphs

Administrative Order Re: Amendment to Local Rules (Rule 2.00.08A(1), effective April 01, 2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20260327-administrative-orde-re-amendment-local-rule-20008.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An order of the Presiding Judge (Michael J. McLaughlin) dated March 27, 2026: effective April 01, 2026, Local Rule 2.00.08A(1) of the El Dorado County Superior Court is amended - in the Western Slope of El Dorado County, also referred to as the Western Slope area (excludes the Tahoe Basin), sessions of the court may be held at the Placerville Main Street Branch, 495 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667, the Placerville Building C Branch, 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville, CA 95667, and the Cameron Park Branch, 2927 Meder Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682.

Administrative Order Re: Amendment to Local Rules (Rule 2.00.17 K, effective September 17, 2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20260917-administrative-order-re-amendment-local-rule-20017.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An order of the Presiding Judge (Michael J. McLaughlin) dated September 17, 2026: effective September 17, 2026, Local Rule 2.00.17 (Use of Electronic Devices in the Courtroom) is amended to add subdivision K, Law Enforcement Use of Body-Worn Cameras - the definitions of “body-worn camera”, “peace officer” (Penal Code section 830) and “law enforcement activities”; a peace officer may use a body-worn camera in a courthouse to create a recording ONLY when conducting law enforcement activities - responding to a call for service within the courthouse, conducting or assisting with an arrest or detention, interacting with an individual who is not complying with a command, responding to an emergency situation, or reasonably believing that the use of force will be required - or with prior authorization from the Presiding Judge; law enforcement activities do not include being present in connection with a pending matter as a witness or to assist the prosecution; in a courthouse facility where juvenile matters are heard, and for the disclosure of a juvenile court matter recorded, compliance with Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 and California Rules of Court, rule 5.552; the law enforcement agency's written notice of a body-worn camera recording to the Court Executive Officer no later than two (2) court days after the recording.

Administrative Order Re: Use of Electronic Recording (May 16, 2024), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20240516-administrative-order-re-use-electronic-recording.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An order of the Presiding Judge (Vicki Ashworth) dated May 16, 2024: due to the nationwide court reporter shortage, the Court is unable to provide a Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) in each matter required under CCP § 269 and Local Rule 2.00.07; the attached and incorporated Proposed Tentative Ruling Re Electronic Recording allows the Judicial Officer presiding over any matter before the Court to make good cause findings allowing the use of electronic recording whenever a CSR is otherwise unavailable, and the Court may reference the order in the minutes of each case in which such findings are made. The incorporated bench memorandum sets out the Court's efforts to secure CSRs - an open recruitment since 2019, 33 other courts and private court reporting services contacted - the law (CCP section 269, Government Code section 69957, People v. Turner (1999) 67 Cal. App. 4th 1258) and the rights to a speedy trial and to a record on appeal, and its tentative ruling: good cause to proceed forward with electronic recording where a CSR could not be obtained.

Amended Administrative Order Re: Amendment to Local Rules (Rules 8.10.01, 8.10.02 and 8.10.06, effective June 15, 2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20260820-amended-administrative-order-re-local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An amended order of the Presiding Judge (Michael J. McLaughlin) dated August 20, 2026, superseding the Administrative Order filed on June 11, 2026: effective June 15, 2026, Local Rules 8.10.01, 8.10.02, and 8.10.06 are amended - all contested child custody and visitation matters referred to Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) by order of the Court pursuant to Family Code section 3175, no new CCRC session absent further order of the Court if a CCRC report was issued within the preceding six (6) months of the filing of a request for order (8.10.01); for all CCRC referral orders issued on or after June 15, 2026, all CCRC appointments conducted remotely, each party participating from a private setting, no person other than the parties and individuals authorized by the Recommending Counselor present, any video recording, audio recording, photographing, taking screenshots and/or reproducing of the CCRC appointment strictly prohibited and subject to penalties for contempt of court; the referral order specifying the date and time of the appointment and the deadlines for service, registration, completion of orientation, and submission of required documentation; the requesting party serving the referral order and the CCRC Questionnaire; registration no earlier than 14 days before the scheduled appointment and no later than 15 minutes before the appointment time; a failure to submit required documents to the Court and complete the required orientation possibly resulting in cancellation of the appointment and notification to the Court; a separate CCRC session requested at the time of the appointment; a party more than 15 minutes late considered to have failed to appear and not permitted to participate; sanctions or other orders for a failure to appear or to participate in good faith (8.10.02); the Recommending Counselor's discretion to disclose the lack of confidentiality to the minor child(ren), children not present at the CCRC appointment unless ordered by the Court, sibling interviews jointly or separately, and any interview of a minor child conducted in person by the Recommending Counselor unless otherwise ordered by the Court (8.10.06).

Amended Standing Order Re: Appropriate Attire (June 9, 2023), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/amended-standing-order-re-appropriate-attire-060923-signed.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An amended standing order of the Presiding Judge (Vicki Ashworth) dated June 9, 2023: the public expected to dress in an appropriate manner consistent with the seriousness and dignity of the judicial process when entering and/or attending courtroom proceedings at a Court facility, members of the public not allowed entry unless appropriately dressed; the attire deemed inappropriate - clothing with offensive illustrations, promoting drugs or alcohol use or gang related; halters, tube tops, shirts with sides cut out, undershirts or bare midriffs (tank tops not worn in a courtroom); clothing that is see through or unduly revealing; shorts, skirts or dresses less than mid-thigh in length (shorts not worn in a courtroom); pants that fall below the hips; hair curlers, hats or head coverings except those worn for religious purposes; shoeless or bare foot (flip flops not worn in a courtroom); any other attire deemed inappropriate by a judicial officer; enforcement by court security officers, concerns directed to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Court Sergeant or a Custody Division Lieutenant; inappropriate attire and being denied entry not an excuse as to tardiness or failure to appear for any court hearing.

Amended Standing Order Re: Discontinuance of Civil Assessments (January 8, 2024), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20240108-amended-standing-order-re-discontinuance-civil-assessments.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An amended standing order of the Presiding Judge (Vicki Ashworth) dated January 8, 2024: civil assessments imposed at the reduced amount of $100.00 pursuant to Penal Code section 1214.1 and Assembly Bill 199 as of July 1, 2022; effective January 1, 2024, the court to discontinue imposing civil assessments in each eligible case in which a defendant has failed to appear or failed to pay, judicial discretion to impose a civil assessment on individual cases remaining, subject to ongoing statutory authority; effective on or before February 1, 2024, all outstanding debt from Civil Assessments imposed between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023 eliminated.

Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/child-custody-recommending-counseling-ccrc, fetched 2026-10-10.

All CCRC appointments conducted remotely for CCRC referral orders issued on or after June 15, 2026 (the Administrative Notice); the date and time set by the Court, the questionnaire filled out and turned in before the appointment as specified on the referral order, a separate meeting requested at the Clerk’s Office or from the Child Custody Recommending Counselor; each party registering for the online appointment through the Court’s remote appearance platform, Unicorn Digital Courtroom (UDC), no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment time, registration opening 14 days prior; a failure to register timely or to appear resulting in cancellation of the appointment and notice to the Court; a mandatory online CCRC orientation (Sections 2.1 through 2.6, in English or Spanish) completed before the appointment; the confirmation email from Tech Unicorn and the UDC account, the same email address used for registration and for the account; participation from a private setting, no person other than the parties and individuals authorized by the counselor present, a device with sufficient battery life, appointments of up to two (2) hours; an agreement written up by the counselor and signed by the judge, or a report with recommendations where the parents do not agree; the conduct rules; complaints under Local Rule 8.13.00, by letter to the Court Executive Officer with proof of service within 30 days of the session, answered in writing within 30 days.

Civil Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil/adr, fetched 2026-10-10.

The ADR Information Sheet received from the Superior Court Clerk on filing a Complaint and included by the Plaintiff when serving the Complaint on the Defendant; Dispute Resolution Conferences (DRC), early settlement conferences conducted by volunteer attorneys serving as temporary judges, which the parties and their attorneys must attend with DRC Statements; arbitration and mediation, the parties choosing and contacting their own ADR provider from the panelist lists; an initial Case Management Conference (CMC) within 120 days of the filing of the Complaint and a Case Management Conference Statement no later than 15 calendar days prior; where the parties agree to ADR before the CMC and file the Stipulation and Order to Participate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) (Local Form C-45), the CMC vacated to allow the ADR process to conclude within 90 days and continued for case management/status review 90-100 days after the original CMC date, the status review vacated on a dismissal or judgment; at the CMC, a Dispute Resolution Conference date assigned or mediation, private arbitration or judicial arbitration elected; attendance in person or by phone at both the CMC and the ADR conference mandatory; mediation and arbitration paid for by the parties under a separate ADR fee agreement; a Dispute Resolution Conference Report form completed and submitted within 10 days of completion of the process; Local Rules, rules 7.12.00 through 7.12.13; the case management conference policies and the pretrial orders made at the CMC; the Statement of Agreement or NonAgreement (Judicial Council Form ADR-100).

Court Interpreters, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/court-interpreters, fetched 2026-10-10.

Interpreters provided by the Superior Court, effective 01/01/2015, for Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile and all Civil Case Types (Except for Small Claims); parties and counsel required to give the Court notice of any need for interpreting - the Request for Court Interpreter Form, Local Form M-47, which must be submitted online by email to the Interpreter Coordinator, at the Clerk’s Office or by mail to the Interpreter Coordinator at the Main Street Branch (495 Main Street, Placerville), or the need told to a Court Clerk at the Counter or to a Courtroom Clerk; cancellation through the Interpreter Coordinator by email or by calling (530) 621-6495, the Court notified at least two days prior to the scheduled hearing date if interpreter services are no longer needed; in small claims hearings, a friend, relative or someone else - never a child under the age of 18 - interpreting with the Foreign Language Interpreter’s Duties-Civil and Small Claims; sign language interpreters requested at any courthouse for any hearing; Language Access Complaints on the Court's fillable forms in English and Spanish, reviewed by the Language Access Coordinator, whose review neither changes a judicial decision nor extends a deadline; complaints about a certified or registered interpreter to the Judicial Council (California Rules of Court, rule 2.890); the Limited English Proficiency Plan.

Court Reporter Transcripts, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/transcripts, fetched 2026-10-10.

A court reporter transcript requested online (the Online Court Reporter Transcript Order Form), or on a completed Transcript Order Form (M-33) sent by email or by mail or drop box to ATTN: Transcripts at 2927 Meder Road, Cameron Park (West Slope) or 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe; the court reporters; electronic audio recording under Government Code Section 69957 and Local Rule 2.00.07 where the services of an official court reporter cannot be obtained, the minute order showing whether it was used; a transcript of an electronic recording for an appeal requested through the Court’s Appeals Division at (530) 621-5437, any other ordered from the third-party vendor For The Record, its cost estimate based partly on the length of the proceeding.

eFiling, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling, fetched 2026-10-10.

Electronically filed documents accepted only in Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims matters (Local Rule 7.08.00), available 24/7 through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP), mandatory for all represented parties and justice partners, self-represented parties exempt (CRC, rule 2.250(b)(10)); each EFSP's transaction fee, waived for parties with an active fee waiver and government entities, no filing or convenience fees for parties granted a fee waiver (CCP1010.6, GC68631); no filings by email or fax; documents received electronically between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on any court day deemed filed that day, on a non-court day the next court day; a Notice of Rejection through the EFSP with its reason, and the common reasons for rejection; documents uploaded as they would be filed at the clerk’s window, every document - including any proposed order - a separate PDF entry; PDF format, text searchable (California Rule of Court, rule 2.256(b)(3)) and viewable on any standard PDF viewer, never password protected; documents of 10 pages or more with multiple exhibits or sections bookmarked, page numbers on every document; the filing document name and the lead document; no cancellation once a submission is completed; the documents excluded from eFiling and submitted in paper format (original will and codicil, bonds/undertaking, exhibits to be lodged, subpoenaed documents, copy requests, CARE Act Filings, documents the court orders in paper format); consent to electronic service given apart from eFiling (rule 2.251; EFS-005-CV, EFS-006); proposed orders marked “Received” returned through the EFSP, signed orders returned by email or mail or held for pick up; refund requests on Local Form M-71 submitted through the EFSP, refunds issued to the EFSP, upwards of 8 weeks; no electronic service by the court on a party's behalf; a Proof of Service filed under California Rules of Court, rule 2.251(j)(1) - (3); a document's security level not set by the filer.

Information Regarding Property Bonds (Local Form CR-150 INFO, effective 03/17/2017), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Local Forms page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/cr-150info-real-property-bonds-information-sheet.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

The court's mandatory information sheet for an Application for Real Property Equity Bond (Penal Code sections 1278; 1279; 1280 and 1298): the Court must find the equity in the property equal to twice the amount of the required bail; the forms - the Application for Real Property Equity Bond and Declaration of Property Owner(s) (CR-150) with the full legal description, the current market value and all encumbrances and liens, the Promissory Note (CR-151), notarized and for the sum amount of bail, and the Order Approving Property Bond (CR-152); the Deed of Trust with All Purpose Acknowledgement (Civil Code section 1189), the Trustee “Court Executive Officer of the El Dorado Superior Court” and the beneficiary “El Dorado County”; a current appraisal dated within 6 months prior to the hearing by an appraiser certified by the State of California Office of Real Estate Appraisers; a preliminary title report from a California title company dated within 30 days prior to the hearing, all property taxes paid, a Lot Book Report or Property Profile not acceptable; fire insurance, the County of El Dorado named as an additional insured; a notarized Request for Notice (Civil Code section 2924b); the filed Application and supporting documentation personally served on the District Attorney and County Counsel fifteen days prior to the hearing; at the hearing, proof that the property has not been encumbered since the date of the Title Report; the Deed of Trust, Certificate of Acceptance and Request for Notice recorded with the County Recorder’s Office, and proof of recording provided to the court before an order for the release of the defendant is prepared; the safekeeping of the promissory note and deed of trust by the clerk; on exoneration, a Request for Reconveyance submitted to the Executive Officer of the Court.

Information Sheet for Ex Parte Policies and Procedures: South Lake Tahoe (Local Form F-28-INFO, revised 07/06/2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Local Forms page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms) and the court's Family Law page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-and-filings/f-28-info-information-sheet-ex-parte-policies-and-procedures-south-lake-tahoe.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

The court's information sheet for family law ex parte applications in South Lake Tahoe (Local Form F-28-INFO, optional use): the same information and required criteria as the West Slope sheet (a Request for Order served at least sixteen (16) court days plus five (5) calendar days for mailing); the South Lake Tahoe procedure - complete all required forms; notify the other party by phone, in person, or electronically no later than 10:00 a.m. on the day prior to the requested hearing date, the information on page two (2) of the Ex Parte Application and Declaration for Orders and Notice: South Lake Tahoe (Local Form F-28); serve the paperwork and declarations by personal service or electronically no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior; submit them with a check for the filing fee, or fee waiver application, to the Clerk’s Office no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior; an application not heard if the documents are not provided before 2:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing or the notice and service requirements are not met; the Court to notify the party when the judge has reviewed the request and made orders, including the scheduling of a hearing, and the service and notice requirements of the Request for Order (Judicial Council Form FL-300).

Information Sheet for Ex Parte Policies and Procedures: West Slope (Local Form F-27-INFO, revised 07/06/2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Local Forms page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms) and the court's Family Law page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-and-filings/f-27-info-information-sheet-ex-parte-policies-and-procedures-west-slope.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

The court's information sheet for family law ex parte applications on the West Slope (Local Form F-27-INFO, optional use): ex parte applications are requests for extraordinary and immediate relief that cannot wait for a Request for Order (FL-300), limited in the relief and in the time any orders remain in place; the required criteria - specific facts showing “great or irreparable injury” set forth in the form of a declaration under Local Rule 8.07.01, relief limited in its scope, otherwise a Request for Order served at least sixteen (16) court days plus five (5) calendar days for mailing before the hearing; the West Slope procedure - call the Clerk’s Office at (530) 621-5047 to secure a date, three (3) Ex Parte Applications heard on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, Thursdays only with prior approval; notify the other party of the hearing date, time, and location no later than 10:00 a.m. on the day prior; have the other party served with all the paperwork and declarations, in accordance with Local Rule 8.07.05, no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior, or have a copy available for service before the hearing and be prepared to explain why service was not completed earlier; an application not heard if the documents are not provided before 2:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing or the notice and service requirements are not met.

Judicial Assignments, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/judicial-assignments, fetched 2026-10-10.

The departments for all purposes - Department 1, Jamie L. Pesce (Assistant Presiding Judge; Criminal Pre-Trial, Criminal Trials), and Department 2, Mark A. Ralphs (Criminal Pre-Trial, Criminal Trials), at the Main Street Branch; Department 3, Michael J. McLaughlin (Presiding Judge; Criminal Pre-Trial, Criminal Trials, Domestic Violence Compliance Court), at the South Lake Tahoe Branch; Department 4, Leanne K. Mayberry (Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court; Adoptions, Civil, Conservatorships, Family Law, Guardianships, Juvenile Dependency, Juvenile Justice, Probate), at the South Lake Tahoe Branch; Department 5, Lauren C. Bowers (Family Law, Firearms Prohibition), at the Placerville Building C Branch; Department 6 vacant (Main Street Branch); Department 7, Stephanie Shirkey (Criminal Pre-Trial, Criminal Trials), at the Main Street Branch; Department 8, Gary S. Slossberg (Behavioral Health Court, CARE Court, the civil harassment, domestic violence, elder abuse, gun violence and workplace violence restraining orders, Guardianships, Juvenile Dependency, Mental Health Capacity to Give Informed Consent, Mental Health Diversion Court, Veterans Treatment Court), at the Placerville Building C Branch; Department 9, Hana Balfour (Civil, Conservatorships, Family Wellness Court, Probate, Mental Health Writs of Habeas Corpus), at the Cameron Park Branch; Department 10, Comm. Michael H. Friel (Civil Case Management Conferences, Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), Juvenile Infractions, Small Claims, Traffic, Unlawful Detainers), at the Cameron Park Branch; Department 11, Pro Tem Judges (Civil Mandatory Settlement Conferences), at the South Lake Tahoe Branch; Department 12, Comm. Michael H. Friel (Case Management Conferences, Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Family Law, Juvenile Infractions, Traffic), at the South Lake Tahoe Branch; the department telephone lines and the four branch addresses.

Juvenile Division, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/juvenile-division, fetched 2026-10-10.

Delinquency and dependency cases handled by departments 4, 8, and 10; the designated hearing dates and times and intercounty transfer-in hearings - on the West Slope, Juvenile Dependency Detentions, Monday – Friday at 1:15 p.m. in Department 8, the Juvenile Dependency Calendar on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. in Department 8, Juvenile Justice Detentions, Monday - Friday at 8:30 a.m. in Department 4 and Juvenile Non-Vehicle Code Infractions on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in Department 10; at South Lake Tahoe, Juvenile Dependency Detentions, Monday – Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Department 4, the Juvenile Dependency Calendar on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in Department 4, Juvenile Justice Detentions, Monday - Friday at 8:30 a.m. in Department 4, the Juvenile Justice Calendar on Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. in Department 4 and Juvenile Non-Vehicle Code Infractions on the 3rd Monday of each month in Department 10; the intercounty transfer-in hearing contacts of Departments 8 and 4; the locations for filing (the Placerville Building C Branch for dependency, the South Lake Tahoe Branch, the Cameron Park Branch for traffic) and their office hours; the standing orders on MACS meeting statements, MACS information sharing, the destruction of juvenile records and the disclosure of juvenile case files (decided in build/el_dorado_catalog.py); a petition to seal submitted to the El Dorado Juvenile Probation Department.

Remote Appearances, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/online-services/remote-appearances, fetched 2026-10-10.

Remote appearances in various case types under Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75, California Rules of Court (CRC), rule 3.672, and Penal Code Sections 977, 977.3, and 1043.5; any recording, including screen-shots, prohibited (rule 1.150); the Unicorn Digital Courtroom (UDC) platform for all remote appearances beginning February 2, 2026 (the Amended Public Notice Re: New Remote Appearance Platform Effective February 2, 2026); Step 1, a remote appearance request under Local Rules 5.01.00 and 7.02.00 filed in the department where the hearing is scheduled - via the Web Portal (all case types, excluding confidential matters), via eFiling (Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims matters) or at the Clerks Office - Civil Case Management Conferences, Ex Parte Proceedings, Family Law Trial Setting Conferences, and Juvenile Detention Hearings exempt from the request process (Local Rules 7.02.00 and 8.18.05), and the Court's order on the request; Step 2, registration and payment for an approved appearance, opening 14 days prior to the hearing and completed no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing time, a $5.00 late fee for same-day registration, the same email address for the self-registration account and the UDC account; Step 3, the confirmation email from Tech Unicorn and the UDC account; a failure to appear, remotely or in person, possibly resulting in the hearing proceeding in the party's absence or a finding of failure to appear; the New Appearing Party; remote appearance fees in Civil, Family Law, and Probate matters - a $25.00 remote appearance fee, a $10.00 convenience fee and a payment processing fee, charged on the day of the appearance (Government Code 70630, CRC rule 3.672) - none in Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile, Protective Orders, Mental Health, & CARE Act matters or with a valid fee waiver or other applicable exemption; a registration cancelled on the Self-Registration Portal - no fee four (4) or more days before the hearing, $2.00 one (1) – four (4) days before, $5.00 on the day of the hearing, where the case is subject to fees; one UDC account for each participant; the hallway.

Service of Process, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/service-process, fetched 2026-10-10.

Service effected on the Court Executive Officer, or designee, as the agent for service of process where the El Dorado County Superior Court, a judge or a staff person in their official capacity is a named party to an action or proceeding involving a tort claim or for production of records, at Court Administration, Placerville Building C Branch, 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 110, Placerville; court staff subpoenaed as third-party witnesses served personally or through the Court Executive Officer; a Child Custody Recommending Counselor (CCRC) subpoenaed as a witness - under Local Rule 8.15.03 the Family Law Clerk’s Office contacted first to confirm the CCRC’s availability, the subpoena served at least 10 calendar days before the hearing with the required deposit, by personal service on the CCRC or on the Clerk’s Office (the Placerville Building C Branch, Suite 120, or the South Lake Tahoe Branch); the deposit of two hundred seventy five dollars ($275) for each day an employee is required to remain in attendance under a subpoena (Government Code § 68096.1 and 68097), included with the subpoena at the time of service.

Standing Order Re: Disclosure of Juvenile Case Files (Welf. & Inst. Code § 827; Cal. Rules of Court rule 5.552; March 22, 2017), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Juvenile Division page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/juvenile-division) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/disclosure-juvenile-case-files-pursuant-ss827-crc-5552.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

A standing order of the court sitting as the Juvenile Court (Hon. Dylan Sullivan, Presiding Juvenile Judge) dated March 22, 2017: juvenile case file records, including documents and information maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Probation Department, not obtained or inspected by civil or criminal subpoena (Welfare and Institutions Code sections 827 and 828, California Rules of Court rules 5.552 and 5.553); law enforcement information regarding taking a juvenile into custody disclosed without a court order only as section 828 allows, otherwise by petition on form JV-575; access by court order - a Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File (form JV-570), the Petition, a Notice (form JV-571) and a blank Objection (form JV-572) served at least 10 calendar days before the filing on the child, the parent or guardian, County Counsel, the agencies, the District Attorney, a tribal representative and the CASA, with the Proof of Service (form JV-569); Petitions filed for the West Slope in Department 8 and for the Tahoe Basin at the main counter of the Courthouse in South Lake Tahoe, in-person or by mail; the judges assigned to hear the petitions; objections on form JV-572 filed no later than 15 calendar days after the date of service of the Petition; summary denial of Petitions that lack complete information or are not properly served, a hearing within 60 days from service on the custodian of record and a decision within 30 days of the hearing, or within 10 days of the last day to file an objection where there are none, an in camera review, and limited use of the records under a protective order; access without a court order for the persons and agencies in section 827 subdivision (a)(1), on the Declaration for Access to Juvenile Case File in Possession of Juvenile Court (local form J-16), filed in Department 8 or at the Tahoe Basin counter, with proper identification in person, copies without further order only for the persons in section 827 subdivision (a)(5).

Standing Order Re: Notice of Unavailability Pursuant to Tenderloin Housing Clinic (May 22, 2013), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/documents/pdf/standing_orders/Notice%20of%20Unavailablity%20Pursuant%20Tenderloin%20Housing%20Clinic%2005-22-13.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

A standing order of the Presiding Judge (Suzanne N. Kingsbury) dated May 22, 2013: a purported “notice of unavailability” pursuant to Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Inc. v. Sparks (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 299 is not a fileable document under the California Rules of Court and is an impermissible infringement of a trial court’s inherent power to control its calendar (Carl v. Superior Court (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 73, 76–77); any such notice presented to the Clerk’s Office for filing returned by the clerk to the presenting party.

Standing Order Re: Statements Made by Youth during Multi-Agency Case Staffing Meetings Are Protected from Future Use (September 26, 2017), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Juvenile Division page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/juvenile-division) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/standing-order-re-macs-meeting-statements-protected.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

A standing order of the court sitting as the Juvenile Court (Dylan Sullivan, Presiding Juvenile Judge) dated September 26, 2017: Multi Agency Case Staffing (MACS) meetings, the county's case planning process for youth involved, or at risk of being involved, in both the dependency and delinquency systems, are confidential and non-accusatory; consistent with In re Wayne H. (1979) 24 Cal.3d 595 and People v. Macias (1997) 16 Cal.4th 739, other than for impeachment purposes, statements, admissions, confessions, or incriminating information shared by the youth in a MACS meeting are exempt from admission as substantive evidence in any future delinquency or criminal court proceedings.

Standing Order Re: Unlawful Detainer Jury Trial Assignment (August 26, 2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/202608-standing-order-re-unlawful-detainer-jury-trial-requests.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

A standing order of the Presiding Judge (Michael J. McLaughlin) dated August 26, 2026: upon timely filing of a request to set case for jury trial in an Unlawful Detainer, the matter assigned for jury trial purposes to Department 9 on the West Slope and to Department 4 on the East Slope, until further order of the Court.

Standing Order Re: Writs of Mandate (March 9, 2026), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20260309-standing-order-re-writs-mandate.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

A standing order of the Presiding Judge (Michael J. McLaughlin) dated March 9, 2026: all future filings of civil writs of mandate on the West Slope assigned to the Honorable Hana Balfour, and on the East Slope to the Honorable Leanne K. Mayberry, for all purposes; the original writ forwarded directly to the assigned judicial officer; upon the filing of the writ, the clerk to issue a minute order assigning the matter and forward a copy via electronic transmission to all counsel and the presiding judge; the matter referred to the presiding judge for reassignment if the assigned judicial officer is disqualified or refuses him/herself; criminal writs of habeas corpus to continue to be forwarded to the presiding judge for assignment.

Traffic Court, Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; the court's web page https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/divisions/traffic, fetched 2026-10-10.

Most infraction violations, minors cited for a non-vehicle code infraction required to appear in Court, DUI violations heard in the Criminal Division; the duty to pay, appear or otherwise address a citation before the date on the ticket, the Reminder Notice, a failure to appear and a hold on the DMV record; traffic/infraction cases handled by Departments 10, and 12 at the Cameron Park Branch or the South Lake Tahoe Branch; payment online (a 2.75% credit card fee and a $5.95 convenience fee, $2.95 for installment payments; a $2.50 convenience fee by Electronic Funds Transfer), by mail or at the clerk's office; a one-time 60 day continuance for infraction Arraignments requested before the date on the citation - online, by phone or at the clerk's office, where the case appears on the Web Portal, all charges are active and the date to appear has not passed; a guilty plea with a fine reduction or a payment plan on Local Form T-26 (or Judicial Council Form TR-300 with an initial payment of at least 10%) by email, by mail, at the clerk's office or in court; a not guilty plea and court trial requested online or on Local Form T-19, a contested trial scheduled within 45 days unless time is waived, the deposit of bail under California Rule of Court, Rule 4.105(c); a Trial by Written Declaration under Vehicle Code section 40902(a) and California Rule of Court, rule 4.210, requested online or on Local Form T-21 with the bail/fine posted, the appearance vacated, the declarations usually within 30 days from mailing, the bail returned within four (4) to six (6) weeks if found not guilty; a continuance of a court trial requested in writing at least 10 days before the trial date; proof of correction reducing the fine to $25.00 per correctable violation, and insurance violations (Vehicle Code Section 16028(a) or 16028(c)) at $25.00 per violation on proof of insurance at the time of the citation or $469.00 on insurance purchased not more than 30 days after it; traffic school eligibility, the additional non-refundable fee of $69.00 and 90 days to complete the class, no extension; 20 days from a Failure to Appear Notice or a Failure to Pay Notice to respond or to pay, then referral to a collections agency; an appeal filed with the Appeals Division no later than 30 days from the date of decision.

Waiver of Limitations on the Service of Temporary Judges in Unlawful Detainer Cases (November 15, 2022), Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado; posted on the court's Standing Orders page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/standing-orders) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/20221115160722775.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

An order of the Presiding Judge (Vicki Ashworth) dated November 15, 2022: effective November 15, 2022, due to the lack of judicial resources available to the South Lake Tahoe Session, and under the California Rules of Court, rule 2.818(b), good cause found to waive the limitation on the service of temporary judges in unlawful detainer cases wherein one party is self-represented and the other party is represented by an attorney or is an attorney, in effect until modified or revoked.

Chapter 1: Scope of Rules for the Superior Court, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 1 (Rules 1.00.00 to 1.00.05): the rules apply to the Superior Court of California, in and for the County of El Dorado (1.00.00); they take effect on January 1, 2026 (1.00.01); they are known and cited as “Local Rules of the El Dorado County Superior Court” and supersede all local court rules previously adopted (1.00.02); they are construed not to conflict with the California Rules of Court, the civil rules apply to all probate and unlawful detainer matters except where time limits are otherwise prescribed by law, the rules do not apply to small claims division actions or proceedings unless the text of specific rules otherwise indicates, and the CEO of the Superior Court, as court clerk, is their official publisher (1.00.03); the definition of “court” - including any judge, commissioner, or judge pro tempore assigned to a trial court in the county - “person”, “affidavit” and “declaration”, and “judgment” (1.00.04); amendment or repeal by a majority vote of the judges (1.00.05).

Chapter 10: Probate Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 10 (Rules 10.00.00 to 10.15.00): the probate calendar in the department assigned by the presiding judge and the tentative ruling system of Department Nine - most matters not heard on the calendar date, oral argument only where the tentative ruling mandates appearances or a hearing is requested when the matter is scheduled, no appearances and no hearing on uncontested matters if a proposed order is submitted prior to hearing, the tentative ruling and written rationale on the court's web page and posted outside the assigned department on the court day preceding, the tentative ruling the order of the court at the time and date set unless oral argument is requested (10.00.01); objections asserted at the hearing or filed and served five (5) days prior to the hearing, a matter continued for one (1) week only when the petitioner has not been timely served (10.00.02); the petitioning party may request a continuance in writing no later than 1:00 p.m. the day before the hearing, unless formal objections have been filed (10.00.03); the matters requiring appearance of counsel or parties - appointment of a guardian or conservator, termination, confirmation of sale, contested matters (10.00.04); an order or judgment presented within five (5) court days after the hearing (10.00.05); remote appearances under Local Rule 7.02.00 (10.00.06); waiver of a Local Rule for good cause shown (10.00.08); additional notice under Probate Code section 1202 (10.01.04); special letters of administration ordinarily not granted ex parte without notice to the surviving spouse, the nominated executor and others having priority (10.02.01); corporate and individual co-representatives (10.02.02); a deposit to reduce bond under Probate Code section 8483 on the Order to Deposit Money Into Blocked Account (Judicial Council form MC-355) (10.02.04); multiple representatives (10.02.05); wills proven by affidavit or declaration (10.02.06); the address, relationship and age of the persons named in the petition (10.02.09); the driver's license numbers of personal representatives kept confidential (10.02.10); captions, ex parte orders supported by a petition, affidavit or declaration, orders complete in themselves, nunc pro tunc orders correcting clerical errors and escheat petitions (10.03.01 to 10.03.06); funeral claims approved in keeping with the decedent's standard of living, the proof of service of a rejected claim filed with the notice of rejection (10.04.02, 10.04.03); a broker's commission on the sale of real property no more than 6% for improved and 10% for unimproved property, a copy of a proposed listing agreement, a 10% deposit to bid at the hearing on confirmation of sale (10.05.01 to 10.05.03); the last 25 percent of the statutory compensation not allowed prior to the approval of the final account, the costs allowed, the description of property distributed, a supplemental account where assets in excess of $1,000 are withheld, agreements for distribution, distribution to minors, the documents on file before the hearing, the tax report in a petition for final distribution and the spousal property election (10.07.04 to 10.07.13); a petition to establish the fact of death in the name of the decedent (10.08.01); guardianships and conservatorships - a temporary guardian or conservator, the citation to the court investigator, the Notice of Hearing (Judicial Council form GC-020) personally served at least five (5) days before the hearing, bonds and blocked accounts with the receipt filed within 10 days of deposit, fees, investments under Probate Code section 16040, the investment performance report, waiver of account, additional powers, the first account on or before the anniversary of the appointment and accounts at least biennially thereafter, identifying numbers, the verified Duties of Conservator (Judicial Council Form GC-348) filed before the hearing (10.09.01 to 10.09.10); guardianships of minors - notices, petitions set for hearing no sooner than 30 days after filing, no ex parte appointment of a permanent guardian, notice under Probate Code section 1511, no guardianship of the person where the family law court has jurisdiction, adoption is pending or the minor is subject to the juvenile court, support by parents (Judicial Council form FL-150 and form FL-160), the final account set no sooner than 20 days after filing, proceedings under Probate Code section 3410, the costs of investigations (10.10.00 to 10.10.07); conservatorships - notice under Probate Code section 1822, petitions set no sooner than 30 days after filing, the proposed conservator to appear personally, the general plan and its hearing at least 120 days from the appointment, termination, the final account or report, the sale of the conservatee's residence under Probate Code section 2540(b), confidential reports filed as a separate document (10.11.00 to 10.11.06); trusts subject to continuing court jurisdiction - the first account one (1) year after the judgment of distribution and the trustee's report (10.13.00 to 10.13.04); court appointed counsel in guardianships and conservatorships under California Rules of Court, rule 7.1101 - an active member of the State Bar of California for at least three (3) years, 3 hours of MCLE credit annually, the certification on Judicial Council form GC-010 and the Annual Certification (Judicial Council form GC-011), the experience required (10.14.00); application for investigative and expert fees made in writing to the judge of the department to which the case has been assigned (10.14.01); access to Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act conservatorship files when authorized by the client, the authorization in writing (10.15.00).

Chapter 11: Juvenile Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 11 (Rules 11.00.00 to 11.00.21): juvenile court matters heard before the assigned judicial officer on days and times as directed by the court, no contested matter scheduled for hearing more than 30 days from the date of trial setting where time is waived (11.00.01); juvenile 300 proceedings governed by the Welfare and Institutions Code and the California Rules of Court from rule 5.667 and 601 or 602 proceedings from rule 5.752 (11.00.02); access to juvenile case file records governed by Welfare and Institutions Code sections 827 and 828, California Rules of Court, rules 5.552 and 5.553, and the El Dorado County Juvenile Court Standing Order dated March 22, 2017 (11.00.03); the district attorney to represent the probation department in section 602 proceedings and county counsel the Department of Social Services in section 300 proceedings (11.00.04); all requests for prehearing discovery in section 300 proceedings made no later than 5 court days after setting a contested hearing, rule 5.546 governs in section 601 or 602 proceedings, discovery disputes filed no later than 10 calendar days prior to the contested hearing, a request to inspect the juvenile file three (3) business days in advance (11.00.05); the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program - a request for appointment of a child advocate, the advocate an officer of the court, its functions, duties and right to timely notice (11.00.06); CASA reports filed and served not later than five (5) calendar days prior to the hearing, or 10 calendar days prior to a status review (11.00.07); the release of information to CASA advocates (11.00.08); family law advocacy (11.00.09); calendar priority (11.00.10); the case selection procedure (11.00.11); the parents' financial declaration where the court has appointed counsel (11.00.12); the appointment of private attorneys under California Rules of Court, rule 5.660 - a certification of competency within 10 days of a first appearance in a dependency matter, at least eight (8) hours of training or six (6) months of experience, a new certificate of competency on or before January 31 of the third year, the standards of representation, the court to review a written complaint about appointed counsel within 10 days of receipt, the attorney to request a hearing within 10 days, notice of a minor's interest in another forum on Judicial Council form JV-180 (11.00.13); investigator and expert fees submitted to the court for approval, the attorney to hire the investigator or expert only after approval from the court, fees in sections 601 and 602 cases in accordance with Local Rules 5.15.02 and 5.15.03 (11.00.14); dependency detention hearings - CPS to advise the clerk not later than two (2) hours prior to filing the petition, counsel appointed by the clerk not later than two (2) hours after notice, the designated court appearance time one (1) hour prior to the detention hearing, the attorneys to meet with clients no later than one-half hour after it, contested detentions under Welfare and Institutions Code section 321, CPS to notify the attorney for the minor no later than five (5) court days prior to a change in placement (11.00.15); in non-detention cases, the initial hearing not later than 30 court days following the filing of the petition, discovery and negotiation not less than two (2) court days prior to the jurisdiction hearing, counsel appointed not later than one (1) court day after the filing (11.00.16); contested jurisdictional/dispositional hearings - witnesses and reports disclosed no later than 10 calendar days prior, an offer of proof, each party responsible for subpoenaing their own witnesses, exhibits pre-marked, listed and copied, counsel to meet and confer not later than 30 minutes prior to the contested hearing (11.00.17); visitation - the first visit no more than five (5) calendar days after removal, visitation addressed at every regularly scheduled hearing, section 388 motions on visitation heard within five (5) court days of filing (11.00.18); confidentiality in dependency matters - a confidentiality statement for each party to sign, psychological evaluations retained by the attorney, an ex parte communication returned unread, the notice on reports, documents destroyed or returned upon termination of the case, transcripts released only on noticed motion (11.00.19); remote appearances in juvenile 300 proceedings under rule 3.672 and Local Rule 7.02.00(D), and in juvenile justice proceedings under rule 3.672 (11.00.20); the procedures for AIDS testing of minors (11.00.21).

Chapter 12: Appellate Department of the Superior Court, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 12 (Rule 12.00.00): in the Appellate Department, a request for oral argument made by notifying the court in writing no later than five (5) court days prior to the date set for hearing in the notice of time and place of hearing on appeal, the notification made to the appeals clerk of the court, the court otherwise to take the matter under submission without oral argument (12.00.00); in misdemeanor and traffic infraction appeals, the original trial court file used instead of a clerk's transcript unless the trial court orders otherwise (California Rules of Court, rules 8.863, 8.914), the court clerk to ensure within 20 days after the filing of the notice of appeal that the file is in chronological order with a chronological index and a list of all attorneys, and to send a copy of the index to the appellant and the respondent (12.00.00).

Chapter 2: Court of Original Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 2 (Rules 2.00.00 to 2.01.00): the business of the court supervised by the executive committee - the presiding judge, the assistant presiding judge, the court executive officer and the assistant court executive officer - the presiding judge and the assistant presiding judge selected by a majority of the judges to serve for a 2-year term beginning January 1, a supervising judge for each branch court (2.00.01); the duties of the presiding judge under California Rules of Court, rule 10.603 (2.00.02); the assistant presiding judge to perform the duties of the presiding judge who is absent or otherwise unable to perform them (2.00.03); the CEO of the Superior Court as clerk of the court (2.00.04); court commissioners and temporary judges appointed under the California Rules of Court, rules 2.810-2.819 (2.00.05); complaints about a subordinate judicial officer or judge pro tempore made in writing to the presiding judge under rule 10.703, the complainant informed of the results within 90 days, and concerns about court staff in writing to the Court Executive Officer, each at 2850 Fairlane Court, Ste 110, Placerville (2.00.06); the record of proceedings - official reporters for most civil case matters, no reporters under rule 2.956 for civil case management conferences, settlement conferences and ex parte application hearings or for unlawful detainers, name changes, small claims and infraction hearings, a court-connected reporter at the fees of the court's Uniform Civil Fee Schedule, electronic recording under Government Code section 69957 in limited civil actions and misdemeanor and infraction proceedings, an official reporter at court expense for a party with a valid fee waiver unless the proceeding is electronically recorded, reporter fees posted under Government Code section 68086 and transcript costs under section 69953 (2.00.07); the locations for filing and court sessions in the Western Slope area and at the South Lake Tahoe Branch, 1354 Johnson Blvd., all papers filed with the clerk's office in the courthouse where the case is assigned, filings for Department 8 in Building C, the South Lake Tahoe Area and the actions and proceedings heard in the South Lake Tahoe Session (2.00.08); transfers between the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe sessions only with the consent of the presiding judge, filings in the session where the case is venued (2.00.09); cases assigned to a judge for all purposes, the current judicial assignments maintained on the court's website (2.00.10); the duty judge, each judge to serve 1 week at a time on a rotating basis from Friday at 5:00 p.m., available by email or telephone at all times, for probable cause requests, domestic violence restraining orders, search warrants and emergency authorization for medical treatment (2.00.12); an act due on a holiday performed on the next succeeding court day (2.00.13); open containers of alcoholic beverages prohibited (2.00.14); no firearms or other weapons, and no body armor or ballistic protection, in the court building (2.00.15); searches of persons and property - cursory searches on entering the courthouse, detailed searches authorized by the judge, the right to decline a search on condition that they immediately leave the courthouse (2.00.16); electronic devices in the courtroom - media requests under California Rules of Court, rule 1.150, no videotaping, photographing or electronic recording by the media and general public in any part of the court, audible devices turned off, no photographing of anyone wearing a juror badge or involved in any case, no computer or other electronic device used unless specifically authorized by the judge, confiscation and search on a violation (2.00.17); audio/visual evidence - the courtroom equipment, assistance requested at least one week in advance, DVDs in a DVD-player playable format (2.00.18); the Committee on the Elimination of Bias with the El Dorado County Bar Association, its policy and complaints to the presiding judge or the Court Executive Officer, complaints against a judicial officer to the Commission on Judicial Performance (2.01.00).

Chapter 3: Juries and Jury Service, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 3 (Rules 3.00.00 to 3.00.09): a common jury panel within the South Lake Tahoe area or the Western Slope area, venire persons summoned from the supervisorial district proximate to the court, a countywide venire in the interest of justice, the prospective juror's option of selecting the South Lake Tahoe or Placerville Session (3.00.01); the demand for a jury in civil actions and payment of jury fees under Code of Civil Procedure section 631 (3.00.02); jury service a responsibility of citizenship (3.00.03); requests to be excused for undue hardship in writing or on the record (3.00.04); the grounds of undue hardship - no transportation, travel exceeding one and one-half hours, an extreme financial burden, risk to property, a physical or mental disability (verification except where the person is aged 70 years or older), services immediately needed for the protection of the public health and safety, the care of another (3.00.05); an excuse on request for 1 year after jury service in the immediately preceding 12 months - the rule does not apply to the South Lake Tahoe jury service requirement (3.00.06); the persons qualified to serve as jurors (3.00.07); the persons disqualified from jury service, a peace officer as defined in Penal Code sections 830.1 and 830.2(a) exempt (3.00.08); the jury commissioner or the court empowered upon written request to excuse for undue hardship and to postpone jury service for a period not to exceed 90 days (3.00.09).

Chapter 4: Documents Presented for Filing, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 4 (Rules 4.00.00 to 4.00.10): papers presented for filing comply with California Rules of Court, rules 2.100-2.150 and rules 3.1110-3.1116, include the office telephone number, facsimile telephone number and e-mail address of the attorney or party in propria persona, and in a civil action exclude social security numbers and financial account numbers except the last four digits, an unredacted document filed under seal only on order of the court, the responsibility for redacting rests solely with the filing party (4.00.01); law and motion documents include no attached copies of documents already in the court's file, which are referred to by the title, date of the document and date of filing, with a duplicate copy delivered to the clerk for use by the judge (4.00.02); judgments and decrees presented for signature with a legible copy, a proposed judgment on a stipulation a separate document (4.00.03); the clerk to conform a maximum of 2 copies at the time of filing (4.00.04); a self-addressed, return envelope with sufficient postage for the return of conformed copies (4.00.05); the date, time and department of the hearing below the action number on documents in any law and motion, criminal, or probate matter (4.00.06); the attorney's “will-call” file, service on the attorney deemed complete five (5) days after the date of the minute order or other document (4.00.07); no filing by fax except criminal complaints, parole violation petitions and registration of protective orders issued by the local Tribal Court, unless by an Electronic Filing Service Provider under rule 7.08.00 (4.00.08); digital signatures under Government Code section 16.5(a)(1)-(5), felony plea forms presented with original, wet signatures (4.00.09); filings placed in an after-hours drop box after 4:00 p.m. filed on the next court day (4.00.10).

Chapter 5: Criminal Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 5 (Rules 5.00.00 to 5.15.05): the criminal rules apply to all criminal cases unless otherwise provided by statute, or rule (5.00.01); criminal actions or proceedings where the subject matter arises in the South Lake Tahoe area filed in the South Lake Tahoe Session and all others in the Placerville Session, complaints and petitions charging in-custody defendants filed no later than 11:00 a.m. on the date set for the arraignment, complaints charging out-of-custody defendants no later than five (5) court days before the first appearance (5.00.03); the policy to dispose of misdemeanors and felony preliminary examinations - 90 percent within 30 days after the defendant's first court appearance, 100 percent of misdemeanor cases within 120 days and of felony preliminary examinations within 90 days (5.00.04); remote appearances with the approval of the court, the requesting party to file and serve Local Form M-51 (Application and Order for Video Conference Appearance) at least four (4) days prior to the date the matter is initially set for hearing, no remote appearances for evidentiary hearings or trials absent a prior finding of good cause, any recording strictly prohibited (5.01.00); written notice of a request to modify bail given to all parties and the court no less than two (2) court days prior to the hearing (5.10.01); a request to set aside a forfeiture of bail under Penal Code section 1305(a) without notice to the district attorney or county counsel where the defendant has been delivered into custody or is present and the proceeding for exoneration of bail has been commenced within 180 days, in all other cases notice given by the agency posting bail (5.10.02); a date certain for trial and readiness conference, counsel to personally meet and confer prior to the Readiness Conference (5.11.00); the criminal law and motion calendar - a total of no more than 15 minutes for argument, without the taking of testimony, longer matters scheduled as a long cause hearing on request to the calendar clerk (5.11.04); pretrial motions, accompanied by a memorandum, served and filed at least ten (10) court days before the hearing, no opening or responding memorandum to exceed fifteen (15) pages and no reply memorandum ten (10) pages absent good cause and leave of the court (5.11.04); motions in limine in writing not less than seven (7) calendar days before the trial date, any response not later than four (4) calendar days preceding the first day of trial, the hearing no later than 1:30 p.m. on the Friday preceding the first day of trial (5.11.04); complex motions during trial on the same notice (5.11.04); a typewritten transcript lodged for an electronic sound or sound-and-video recording offered into evidence (5.11.05); a continuance only with the approval of the court, on a noticed motion or a written stipulation with a good cause finding and a time waiver, signed by all counsel and defendant(s) (5.12.01); a list of proposed exhibits from all counsel not later than the day before trial where 10 or more exhibits will be marked, and if less than 10 exhibits are to be marked the List of Exhibits Form with the marked exhibits by 8:30 a.m. on the first day of trial (5.12.02); a defendant who wishes to withdraw a general time waiver to give “proper notice” in writing to the district attorney under Penal Code section 1382(a), two days' notice to constitute proper notice (5.12.03); the court to periodically adopt a bail schedule, available on the court website (5.13.00); exhibits - only items required in the case, the containers, cash and firearms marked or secured and each exhibit individually tagged, no exhibit received if it poses a security or storage problem or a risk to health or safety, toxic exhibits introduced by a photographic record and a certified written chemical analysis, parties to sign and file a request for return of exhibits prior to the end of the hearing or trial, the viewing of exhibits only by the attorneys of record and court personnel, in the presence of the exhibit's custodian (5.14.01 to 5.14.04); application for investigative and expert fees and expenses made in writing to the judge of the department to which the case has been assigned, to the judge of the department to which the matter has been referred pursuant to Penal Code section 987.9, or to the presiding judge, with the proposed expert's hourly fees, name and qualification (5.15.02, 5.15.03); police reports placed in the confidential section of the court file, a member of the public's request upon written notice, a judge to review the report within five (5) court days and to redact any contact information for witnesses and victims (5.15.04); the prosecution's proposed jury instructions no later than the first day of trial (5.15.05).

Chapter 6: Traffic and Small Claims Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 6 (Rules 6.00.00 to 6.00.01): the trial by declaration process of Vehicle Code section 40902, and a person who fails to appear at trial deemed under Vehicle Code section 40903 to have elected a trial by written declaration (6.00.01).

Chapter 7: Civil Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 7 (Rules 7.00.00 to 7.16.00): the civil rules apply to all civil cases, including general civil, family, juvenile, and probate cases, unless otherwise provided by statute, or rule (7.01.00); remote proceedings under Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 and California Rules of Court, rule 3.672 - the Court's discretion to require an in-person appearance, for a proceeding other than an evidentiary hearing or trial set with at least three (3) court days' notice the Notice of Remote Appearance (Judicial Council form RA-010) filed and served at least two (2) court days prior to the hearing date, for less notice, including Ex Parte applications, no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the proceeding, no notice required prior to a Case Management Conference, for an evidentiary hearing or trial form RA-010 with notice received at least 10 court days before the proceeding, or at least two (2) court days before where it is set with less than 15 court days' notice, an opposition on form RA-015 with a proposed order on form RA-020 at least five (5) court days prior to the hearing or trial date, in juvenile dependency a Request to Appear Remotely (form RA-025) filed and served at least three (3) court days prior to the hearing date and a request to compel physical presence (form RA-030) no later than two (2) court days prior, waiver of notice by stipulation, the vendors or platforms on the Court's website, remote appearance fees under rule 3.672 and Government Code section 70630, parties with a fee waiver not charged (7.02.00); absent a showing of good cause, the party responsible for a cancellation or continuance with less than 48 hours' notice responsible for payment of any interpreter fees incurred (7.03.00); eFiling mandatory in Adoptions, Civil, Family Law, Family Support, Probate, and Small Claims for all represented parties and justice partners and not permitted in other case types, self-represented parties exempt, documents received electronically between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on any court day deemed filed that same day, no filings by email or fax, eFilings submitted through an authorized Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) in PDF format, text searchable, documents of 10 pages or more with multiple exhibits or sections bookmarked, the documents excluded from eFiling, an attorney's request for exemption on Judicial Council form EFS-007 and form EFS-008 by showing undue hardship or significant prejudice (7.08.00); the law and motion rules supplement the Uniform Law and Motion Rules (7.10.01); law and motion calendar dates assigned by the clerk upon the filing of the papers, a failure to timely serve and file opposition papers that may be deemed a waiver of any objections and treated as an admission that the motion is meritorious, each exhibit attached to a declaration, separately tabbed and identified numerically, an index to exhibits if there are five or more, an English translation certified under oath for exhibits written in a foreign language, a copy of a cited administrative regulation, decision or opinion of the attorney general attached (7.10.02); the tentative ruling system for the law and motion calendars of both the Western Slope and South Lake Tahoe Branches - tentative rulings posted on the court's website by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the date the matter is set, and by telephone at (530) 621-6551 or (530) 573-3042, the tentative ruling the final order of the court if no notice of intent to appear and request oral argument is received from any party by 4:00 p.m. on the day the tentative ruling is issued, transmitted electronically through the court's website or via telephone call and made to all parties, oral argument on the law and motion calendar on the court day following, the statement required in all notices of motion (7.10.05); no more than 15 minutes for argument (7.10.06); defaults and uncontested matters set only when all pleadings and documents are on file, evidence in written form and an evidentiary declaration from the plaintiff in all cases of default, the schedule of attorney's fees on promissory notes and contracts - 25% of the first $1,000 to 2% of the amount over $50,000 (7.10.07); judicial arbitration upon stipulation or election of the plaintiff if the matter in controversy is less than $50,000 (7.10.09); ex parte applications - the moving papers filed no later than 2:00 p.m. the court day preceding, a declaration or Local Form M-1 that notice was given to all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day prior, a declaration showing irreparable harm, immediate danger, or other good cause, a Memorandum of Points and Authorities and a proposed order, moving papers on an order shortening time served at least two court days prior to the hearing, a stay of execution only from the trial judge who entered the judgment, a declaration on a subsequent application after a previous application has been denied (7.10.10); a petition to compromise the claim of a minor or incompetent person - the matters it shall contain, the deposit order and the presence of the petitioner and the minor or incompetent person (7.10.12); exhibits in a civil proceeding - the policy, exhibits individually tagged, the exhibits not received, custody until the final determination or dismissal, exhibits destroyed, disposed of or returned 60 days after the expiration of the time for filing a notice of appeal, viewing only by the attorneys of record and Court personnel (7.11.01 to 7.11.04); the case management rules apply to all general civil cases, probate, guardianship, conservatorship, family law, juvenile court proceedings, collection cases, unlawful detainers and cases which are the subject of a petition for coordination excluded (7.12.01); upon filing the complaint, the clerk to assign a subject case to a single judge for all purposes (7.12.03); the parties to object within 30 days after notice of the delegation of pretrial management to a temporary judge (7.12.04); upon filing the complaint, the clerk to deliver to the plaintiff the case management documents - the Notice of Case Management Conference, a blank Case Management Statement (form CM-110) and the Notice to Litigants (Local Form C-13) (7.12.05); uninsured motorist cases - the plaintiff's declaration no later than the first case management conference, the designation suspends the time requirements of these rules for 180 days (7.12.09); the case management conference within 120 days, but not less than 90 days, after the complaint is filed, within 45 days after the order of transfer where a responsive pleading has been filed, the case management statement filed and served at least 15 calendar days prior, the plaintiff and each party or counsel to attend, who may appear remotely, the pretrial orders made at the conference, a Dispute Resolution Conference (DRC) within 60 days unless the parties agree to another form of ADR, the DRC temporary judge assigned within 7 to 10 days after the conference, each party's dispute resolution conference statement at least five (5) court days prior to the DRC, the special procedures for personal injury, building and construction and business/partnership dissolution and accounting cases (7.12.10); the Mandatory Settlement Conference approximately one to two months prior to the trial date, trial counsel, the parties and all persons whose consent is necessary for a settlement to attend in person, each party to lodge its written statement no later than five court days before the conference, a settled case dismissed within 45 days (7.12.11); the Issues Conference approximately two weeks before the trial date - the Issues Conference Statement and, for a jury trial, a Statement of the Case and proposed voir dire submitted jointly at least three court days before, the joint jury instructions, exhibits and exhibit list at the conference, motions in limine heard at the Issues Conference, filed and served no later than three weeks prior, oppositions two weeks and replies one week prior (7.12.12); sanctions for the failure to comply with these rules (7.12.13); attorney fees in a residential Unlawful Detainer - $600 on a default judgment, $900 where an answer requires a trial and the matter is uncontested, and $1,000 if contested at trial (7.13.00); actions under the California Environmental Quality Act - filed in the civil section of the clerk's office and assigned for all purposes to a judge designated by the presiding judge, a record status conference requested at filing within 30 days, the request for preparation of the administrative record personally served within 10 business days after the action is filed, the notice inviting mediation within five days after the deadline for the response, the preparation, format and certification of the record, lodged no later than 60 days after the request, disputes on noticed motion, the settlement meeting and a trial notebook filed no later than 15 days prior to the hearing (7.16.00).

Chapter 8: Family Law Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 8 (Rules 8.00.00 to 8.27.05): the definition of family law matters (8.00.01); family law matters subject to the rules governing civil cases generally, except as inconsistent with the family law rules (8.00.02); the family and juvenile court management of child abuse cases - a report under Penal Code section 11166, the CPS investigation, an application under Welfare and Institutions Code section 329, custody and visitation proceedings in the family court suspended for eighteen calendar days after a report or on a section 300 petition, appointment of counsel for the child under Family Code section 3150 (8.00.03); family court orders issued in the juvenile court (8.00.04); counsel with their clients to meet and confer in good faith before any motion, order to show cause, or trial is heard - the requirement does not apply to cases involving domestic violence (8.01.01); continuances disfavored (8.02.01); no more than one continuance at the request of either party except for good cause (8.02.02); a continuance for child custody recommending counseling not counted as one requested by either party (8.02.03); a continuance by stipulation or letter request, at least one party contacts the calendar clerk not less than three (3) court days prior to the hearing (8.02.04); a current income and expense declaration filed and served with the moving and responsive papers where support or attorney's fees are requested, at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the hearing if responsive papers are not filed (8.03.01); the declaration filled out completely, dated and signed, with pay stub(s) representing at least two (2) full months' wages and the most recent W-2 form, a self-employed party's profit and loss statement for the prior 12 months (8.03.02); a demand for further documentation, the service of the demand made at least 30 (thirty) calendar days prior to the hearing, an objection conveyed in writing at least 20(twenty) calendar days prior (8.03.03); the sanctions (8.03.04); the documentation privileged (8.03.05); no subject child in the courtroom without the court's prior knowledge and consent (8.04.00); the date, time, and place of hearing scheduled through the calendar clerk (8.05.01); the proposed guideline support calculation printout at the time of filing on a request for order regarding child support or temporary spousal support (8.05.03); supplemental declarations filed and served no later than 10 calendar days prior to a review or continued hearing (8.05.04); an application for ex parte orders of temporary custody to include the existing custody orders and the facts showing the best interest of the child (8.05.05); an ex parte change of custody only on a risk of irreparable harm or immediate danger under California Rules of Court, rule 5.151 (8.05.06); the tentative ruling system for the law and motion calendars of both the Western Slope and South Lake Tahoe Branches - posted on the court's web site by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day preceding, and by telephone at (530) 621-6726 or (530) 573-3075, the tentative ruling the final order of the court if no notice of intent to appear and request oral argument is received by 4:00 p.m. on the day the tentative ruling is issued, through the court's website or via telephone call, with notice to all parties by telephone or in person, matters of 15 minutes or less set on the law and motion calendar of the court day following (8.05.07); a short cause hearing of a maximum duration of 15 minutes (8.06.01); a matter with no appearance by either party ordered off calendar (8.06.02); the moving party to notify the calendar clerk if a matter is to be taken off calendar (8.06.03); the order after hearing prepared and served within 10 calendar days, 10 calendar days to approve it, all orders effective immediately (8.06.04); remote appearances under rule 3.672 and Local Rule 7.02.00 (8.06.05); ex parte orders - specific declarations, notice under rule 3.1203, notice to the opposing side by 10:00 a.m. the court day preceding and the moving papers filed no later than 2:00 p.m. the court day preceding under rule 3.1206, notice excused or waived (8.07.01 to 8.07.06); an order shortening time - the affidavit or declaration under rule 3.1201, notice under rule 3.1203, the reason stated (8.08.01 to 8.08.03); spousal support for temporary awards calculated at 40% of the supporting spouse's net income and subject to reduction by 50% of the supported spouse's net income, or by the formula adopted by Alameda County if child support is paid (8.09.03); no limitation on court discretion (8.09.04); all contested child custody and visitation matters scheduled for child custody recommending counseling (CCRC), no new date within 6 months of a report (8.10.01); the scheduling of CCRC, the questionnaire, a Telephonic Appearance on Local form F-102 at least five (5) days before if you live more than 120 miles away, sanctions for a failure to attend or a late cancellation (less than 48 hours' notice) (8.10.02); the appointment of a child custody recommending counselor/evaluator and the minimum standards (8.10.03, 8.10.04); no ex parte contact with a child custody recommending counselor/evaluator (8.10.05); children not present for child custody recommending counseling sessions unless ordered by the court (8.10.06); no recommendation when one party fails to appear (8.10.07); supervised visitation providers - the Custody and Parenting Resource List (Local Form F-101), the Declaration of Supervised Visitation Provider (form FL-324(P) or FL-324(NP)) completed and signed within 10 days prior to filing (8.10.08); one peremptory challenge per party (8.11.01 to 8.11.04); the cost apportioned equally (8.12.00); a complaint by letter to the Court Executive Officer within 30 days of the session, to respond in writing within 30 days (8.13.00); the child custody recommending counseling process - support persons, the counselor's conduct, agreements, recommendations issued no later than 10 calendar days prior to the hearing, copies, private child custody recommending counseling by stipulation, the confidentiality of the reports (8.14.01 to 8.14.09); evaluation under Family Code section 3110 and the evaluation report (8.15.01, 8.15.02); a subpoena for a counselor served at least 10 calendar days before the hearing with the required fee deposit, after the party contacts the family law clerk's office to confirm the counselor's availability (8.15.03); a Special Master by written stipulation only (8.15.04); attorney's fees and costs - the factors, an Income and Expense Declaration (Judicial Council form FL-150) required (8.16.01 to 8.16.05); sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 128.5 and Family Code section 271 (8.17.01, 8.17.02); the Trial Setting Conference within 30 days of the request, counsel with a conflict to notify the court in writing within 15 calendar days, attendance, parties or counsel authorized to appear remotely without the need to submit the Remote Appearance Request form (8.18.01 to 8.18.06); the Statement of Issues, Contentions and Proposed Disposition of the Case filed and served no later than 10 calendar days prior to the settlement conference, trial or long-cause evidentiary hearing (8.19.01); its contents (8.19.02); a mandatory settlement conference before trial, counsel, the parties and all persons with full authority to settle the case to personally attend, each party to file an original and two (2) copies of the statement (8.19.03); a contested case set for trial or evidentiary hearing on Local Form F-5 (West Slope) or Local Form F-6 (South Lake Tahoe) filed with a proof of service (8.20.01); the post-trial judgment approved within 10 calendar days (8.20.02); counsel or self-represented parties to meet and confer and exchange all intended exhibits at least 10 calendar days prior to the trial or long-cause evidentiary hearing, the exhibits listed and marked (8.20.03); trial briefs filed and served at least 10 calendar days before (8.20.04); motions in limine at least five (5) calendar days prior (8.20.05); court reporter fees under Government Code section 68086 (8.20.06); witness lists no later than 10 calendar days prior (8.20.07); default or uncontested judgments by declaration on Judicial Council form FL-180 (8.21.01 to 8.21.03); a judgment by default - the attached declaration on custody and visitation, child support under Family Code sections 4051 – 4068 and spousal support, restraining orders and the division of community property with notice at least 30 days in advance (8.22.01 to 8.22.05); counsel for a child under California Rules of Court, rule 5.242 - at least 12 hours of education and training, eight (8) hours annually, the declaration no later than 10 days after appointment (form FL-322), the experience requirements (8.23.01, 8.23.02); Title IV-D cases and the commissioner (8.24.01 to 8.24.04); the family law facilitator - the services and duties, a complaint verbally or in writing to the family law commissioner, who will respond within 30 days, an appeal to the presiding judge (8.25.01 to 8.25.04); access to a hearing for all litigants (8.26.00); access to paternity files (8.26.01); the family centered case resolution process for dissolution, legal separation, nullity, and parentage cases filed after July 1, 2013 - three (3) status conferences within six (6) months, one (1) year and 18 months of the filing of the petition, two (2) dismissal hearings, the parties not required to attend unless required to attend by order of the court (8.27.01 to 8.27.05).

Chapter 9: Adoption Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado (effective January 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules, Information & Services page (https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/general-information/local-rules-information-services) links the book (“Local Rules (Effective 01/01/2026)”) at https://www.eldorado.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/local-rules.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Chapter 9 (Rules 9.00.00 to 9.00.02): adoption hearings scheduled at the request of petitioner, who should contact the calendar clerk, all proposed orders, accountings, agreements, consents and other pleadings on file before a hearing is scheduled (9.00.01); access to adoption files - the attorney of record without a court order, a “Certificate of Adoption” for a party on written request with no fee, other information only on a court order, the original birth certificate by petition under Health and Safety Code section 10439 with the Department of Social Services, and any other person's request from a sealed adoption file by petition showing good cause “tantamount to necessity” (9.00.02).