Patrick J. Smalling

Civil Department, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/civil, fetched 2026-10-10.

Civil harassment orders picked up at the Clerk's Office (2nd Floor) from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM - the same day if filed before 10:00 AM, the next business day if filed after; a table of civil items pending (estimates updated each business Friday); direct calendaring under Local Rule 3-101 (carded) and the Notice of Case Assignment served with the complaint, summons and ADR information; remote appearances - case management conferences, law and motion and ex parte hearings remotely under Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 and California Rule of Court 3.672 (notice waived; in person when the tentative ruling or the court requires it), the telephone bridge (209) 992-5590 with each department's bridge and PIN (Departments 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 11A and 11B), Zoom at the judicial officer's discretion, no recording; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, trials and order to show cause hearings in person unless authorized in writing - the Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010) and the Order Regarding Remote Appearance (RA-020) no later than 10 court days before, an opposition (RA-015) no later than 5 court days before, copies to the department; law and motion heard Tuesday through Friday at 9:00 AM (except when Tuesday is the first court day of the week), at least five available dates with the moving papers, the proof of service on file before the hearing, motions heard remotely unless directed otherwise; courtesy copies under Local Rule 3-117 (carded) to the 1st floor drop box; petitions to approve a minor's compromise heard by the Probate Judge in Dept. L2 on Mondays only (California Rule of Court 7.950 and following); tentative rulings posted by 1:30 PM the day before and contested by email to the civil court clerks no later than 4:00 PM the day before, with the affected parties notified (otherwise the tentative ruling becomes the ruling); ex parte matters approved by the civil courtroom before filing (not unlawful detainers); trial counsel, parties and persons with full authority to settle at mandatory settlement conferences; telephone appearances; and the clerk's office, phone and drop box hours.

Civil, Appeals & Dependency Clerk’s Office Drop Box Guidelines, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Appeals page (https://www.sjcourts.org/appeals) and the court's Civil Department page (https://www.sjcourts.org/civil) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Drop-Box-Guidelines-Civil-Appeals-COVID.Revised-12.7.2020_compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

The Civil, Appeals & Dependency drop box: available between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm; documents placed in it by 4:00 pm deemed filed the same day (CRC 2.210(b)); a self-addressed stamped envelope with up to two (2) copies for the return of conformed copies, otherwise copies placed in the pickup cabinet at the Information Desk on the 1st Floor and shredded if not picked up within 30 days; fees by check or money order payable to Superior Court, or by credit card with the Drop Box Authorization Form, the payment secured to the documents, and no cash; and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.210 (Drop box for filing documents) with its Advisory Committee Comment reprinted - documents deposited up to and including 4:00 p.m. on a court day deemed deposited for filing that day, and those deposited after 4:00 p.m. or on a judicial holiday on the next court day.

Court Reporter Information, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/court-reporter-information, fetched 2026-10-10.

Official and pro tempore reporters; RealTime connections for privately retained reporters (the adapter's driver installed beforehand; arrival at least 15 minutes before the proceeding); court-provided reporters by case type - provided as required by law in felony criminal, juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency matters; generally not provided in civil (the public notice of August 23, 2012 on the non-availability of official reporters in the civil departments), misdemeanor and family law matters; not provided in probate, conservatorships, guardianships, small claims, unlawful detainers, infractions and traffic; the stipulation and order appointing a privately retained certified shorthand reporter; the court record (the register of actions; transcripts under Government Code section 69950 and following); transcript requests to the official reporter (by email when the reporter is unknown) with the requester, case, proceeding, date, judge, department and reporter; transcripts from privately arranged reporters; and the Court Reporter's Office.

Ex Parte Procedures for Probate & Civil Mental Health, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Probate page (https://www.sjcourts.org/probate) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Ex-Parte-Procedures_compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Ex parte procedures for Probate and Civil Mental Health, effective October 1, 2024 (Estate, Trust, Conservatorship (general and limited), LPS Conservatorship, and Guardianship matters, heard as of 8/15/2024 in Departments 11A and 7C): California Rules of Court, rule 3.1200 et seq., except as provided; ex parte applications decided on written submissions as non-appearance matters unless the court sets a hearing; the applicant specifying the date on which the court's ruling is requested, and the Notice of Ex Parte Request (Local Form SJPR/MH-008) filed and served with the application; the application and supporting documents filed and served no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before that date, absent exceptional circumstances, with the Declaration Re: Notice of Ex Parte Application (Local form SJPR/MH-006); a written opposition filed and served no later than 10:00 a.m. on the requested date (the optional Opposition to Ex Parte Application, Local Form SJPR/MH-010); these steps not applying to the applications listed in Local Rule 4-106A; the filing fee paid before the court reviews the matter; petitions for a temporary conservator (General or LPS) or guardian set on a minimum of five (5) days' notice (Probate Code section 2250(e) and 2250.2 through 2250.6), shorter notice only by ex parte application showing exigent circumstances; and nunc pro tunc orders by ex parte application with the Order Nunc Pro Tunc Correcting Order (Local Form SJPR/MH-009).

Family Law & Probate Drop Box Guidelines, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Family Law & Support page (https://www.sjcourts.org/family-law-and-support) and the court's Probate page (https://www.sjcourts.org/probate) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/family-law-probate-dropbox-english_compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

The Family Law and Probate drop box (Rev. 12/21/2021): available between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Friday, except Court holidays; a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with up to two (2) copies for the return of conformed copies, otherwise copies and rejected documents held by the clerk on the 4th Floor and shredded if not picked up within 30 days; documents placed in the drop box by 4:00 p.m. and accepted for filing after the clerk's review deemed filed that same day (CRC, Rule 2.210(b)), later deposits filed and processed on the next Court business day, and incomplete documents or documents deposited in error rejected and not deemed filed; fees by check, money order or credit card (the Drop Box Authorization Form), checks and money orders payable to San Joaquin County Superior Court, and no cash; originals and copies in a sealed envelope or securely clipped together; and a copy kept for one's records.

Family Law & Support, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/family-law-and-support, fetched 2026-10-10.

A table of family law items pending (estimates updated each business Friday); Departments 4A, 4B and 5A - court at 8:15 AM; remote hearings - law and motion and ex parte matters under Local Rule 7-116 and other hearings with approval under Local Rule 7-115 (both carded) by the telephone bridge (209) 992-5590 with each department's bridge and PIN; fees and fee waivers; the Pro Per Clinic; mediation and child custody recommending counseling at no cost and the mandatory mediation orientation (a video watched before the court appearance); custody and visitation heard in Department 4A, support in Department 5A or by the Department of Child Support Services; proof of employment, income and expenses for support matters in 5A; interpreters "only in limited cases" (a review task: the Interpreter Information page says interpreters are available in all case types); children at court, attire and punctuality; accommodation requests on form MC-410; domestic violence and elder abuse restraining orders - typed or hand-printed in blue or black ink, no lined or colored paper for declarations, declarations and exhibits limited to 10 pages each without prior permission, papers submitted correctly by 10:00 AM ready at 3:30 PM the same day, addresses kept confidential on request; the Findings and Order After Hearing procedure - prepared by court staff only when the judge orders it, otherwise by the prevailing party (the minute order purchased no sooner than two days after the hearing, blue or black ink, returned to the Clerk's Office, return postage, orders kept 30 days then shredded, service and the proof of service); the Advisement of Rights (Family Code section 4251(b) and (c)) read before Department 5A; Local Rule 7-103 (carded): meeting and conferring before mediation, parenting plans described in the pleadings; family law records; and its answers - the three departments and the daily public calendar, Requests for Order filed at Suite 413, dates assigned by the clerk on filing, Requests for Order with temporary orders reviewed by a judicial officer first, custody and financial issues set on the same day (the 8:15 AM mediation calendar in 4A), transcripts from the reporter.

Fish & Game Citations, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/fish-and-game, fetched 2026-10-10.

The citation's promise to appear and the courtesy notice at least 10 days before the appearance date (a mandatory appearance where the notice says so); Fish and Game citations heard on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the Lodi Branch Court, court dates scheduled by phone ((209) 992-5520); the consequences of failing to appear or post bail or submit proof of correction (increased bail, license suspension, an arrest warrant); and the clerk's office of the Lodi Branch Court.

Fourth Floor Counter Filing Guidelines, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Family Law & Support page (https://www.sjcourts.org/family-law-and-support) and the court's Probate page (https://www.sjcourts.org/probate) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/fourth-floor-filing-guidelines-english_compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Counter filing on the Fourth Floor (revised 12/27/2021): a maximum of three (3) new cases and five (5) miscellaneous documents filed at a time, and a new kiosk ticket for additional filings; no kiosk ticket after 4:00 PM (a customer holding one before 4:00 PM is served); one clerk's window at a time and no cell phone at the window; a maximum of two (2) copies conformed (Local Rule 3-100); family law requests for defaults, judgments, dismissals, writs, abstracts, RFOs with temporary orders, at-issue memorandums and findings and orders after hearing not processed at the counter but returned by pick up box, or by mail in a self-addressed envelope large enough for all returned copies, with sufficient postage; documents for attorneys and couriers placed in the filing cabinet, pro per filings picked up at the clerk's windows between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, documents destroyed if not picked up within 30 days, and each courier submission with its own cover or transmittal sheet.

Juvenile, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/juvenile, fetched 2026-10-10.

Dependency matters heard at the Stockton Courthouse and delinquency matters at the Juvenile Justice Center (535 W Mathews Rd, French Camp); dependency transfer-in hearings Monday-Friday at 8:30 AM in Department 9C, with HSA contacted within 48 hours of the transfer-out hearing; delinquency transfer-in hearings Monday-Friday at 8:45 AM (non-detained) and 11:00 AM (detained) in Department J1 or J3; juvenile traffic - hearing officers, a parent or guardian with the minor, a one-time 60-day extension when the citation is not past due, an appearance when it is, the Advisement and Rights form completed before the hearing; juvenile records under Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 - the steps to view a dependency or delinquency file (case number, phone and email, identification, an appointment); and the clerk's offices, phones and drop boxes.

Juvenile Traffic & Juvenile Delinquency Clerk’s Office Drop Box Guidelines, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Juvenile page (https://www.sjcourts.org/juvenile) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Drop-Box-Juvenile-Delinquency-English_compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Drop box filings for Juvenile Traffic & Juvenile Delinquency (Rev. 09/23/25): documents placed in it by 4:00 pm deemed filed the same day (CRC 2.210(b)), and those placed on a non-court day or after 4:00 p.m. on a court business day deemed filed on the next court day (California Rule of Court 2.210(c)(1)); a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of copies unless one has a pick-up box in the Clerk's Office; fees by check, money order or credit card (the Drop Box Payment Form), checks and money orders payable to San Joaquin County Superior Court, and no cash; originals and copies in a sealed envelope or securely clipped together, and a copy kept for one's records; and Rule 2.210 (Drop box for filing documents) with its Advisory Committee Comment reprinted.

Probate, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/probate, fetched 2026-10-10.

The e-filing notice (filings for a court date within the next 30 days submitted in person; no calls on pending e-filings); the Probate Department in Lodi, Department L2, 315 W. Elm Street, from Monday, February 3, 2025 (the Zoom link unchanged; hearing notices to show the location); the division's work (examiners, court investigators, creditors' claims); proposed orders - with the PDF proposed order filed through e-filing (EFS-020), an editable word-processing version emailed to the court under CRC 3.1312(c); the drop box - documents placed after 4:00 PM or on a court holiday deemed filed the next court business day under CRC 2.210; and the clerk's office, phone and drop box hours and the probate inquiry form.

Probate Remote Appearance, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/probate/probate-remote-appearance, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules strictly enforced from January 1, 2025 - remote appearances in the Probate Department by Zoom only; general hearings, law and motion matters, ex parte hearings and orders to show cause remotely without notice; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials in person unless the judicial officer authorizes a remote appearance in writing (Local Rule 4-117, carded; Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75; California Rules of Court rule 3.672); remote appearance a privilege the court may withdraw; testing Zoom beforehand (the court cannot assist during a hearing); logging in no later than 8:15 a.m. for an 8:30 or 8:31 hearing (roll call; a later arrival may not be admitted that day) and at least 15 minutes before other hearings; video required unless no device is capable of it; the Zoom meetings of Departments L1 and L2 and telephone participation; the display name; checking in, muting and waiting; no calls to the department; technical difficulties ((209) 992-5696); conduct - no recording, photographs or screenshots (sanctions), live video without virtual backgrounds or filters, courtroom etiquette, a quiet private location, not while walking or in a moving vehicle.

Record of Exhibits Instructions, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Exhibit List page (https://www.sjcourts.org/forms-filing/exhibit-list) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-02/Exhibit-List-Instructions_%20compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

The Record of Exhibits, used when compiling the list of exhibits to be submitted to the court: the template downloaded and saved as a Word document; the case number, the title of the case and the box for one's role completed before submission; each exhibit number identified by a letter for the party submitting it followed by the exhibit's number, within the range the court sets in the Trial Management Orders (for example 01-300 for the Plaintiff and 301-600 for the Defendant, the first exhibits marked P01 and D301); a simple description of each exhibit; and a copy of the completed Record of Exhibits given to the courtroom clerk on CD or flash drive, so the clerk can update the list during the trial.

Stockton Court Civil Division Counter Filing Guidelines, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; posted on the court's Civil Department page (https://www.sjcourts.org/civil) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Counter-Filing-Guidelines.Amended.10.2019_compliant.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Counter filing in the Stockton Court Civil Division (amended 10/2019): a maximum of three (3) new cases and five (5) miscellaneous documents filed at a time, and a new kiosk ticket for additional filings; no kiosk ticket after 5:00 p.m. (a customer holding one by 5:00 p.m. is served); one clerk's window at a time and no cell phone at the window; a maximum of two (2) copies conformed (Local Rule 3-100); the Judicial Officer's name or Department Number under the assigned case number on documents for existing cases; courtesy copies for Dedicated Civil Departments 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D & 11B placed in the drop boxes on the 10th and 11th floor (Local Rule 3-117); civil requests for defaults, dismissals, writs (except Unlawful Detainer Writs for Possession), abstracts and renewals of judgments not processed at the counters but dropped in the basket at counter 7, removed promptly at 5:00 p.m. daily, filings with hearings pending within the week taking priority; unlawful detainer clerk's default judgments for possession of the premises left with the counter clerk and ready after 1:00 p.m. the following business day; documents for pick up at the Information Desk on the 1st floor, destroyed if not picked up within 30 days, each courier submission with its own cover or transmittal sheet; and returns by mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Traffic, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/traffic, fetched 2026-10-10.

The division's jurisdiction; the virtual counter; financial hardship and ability to pay; the citation and its promise to appear; courtesy notices and the case lookup - the defendant's duty to follow up when no notice arrives, collection actions; mandatory appearances; paying the fine (online, by phone or by mail; not online or by phone when a proof of correction applies); a one-time 60-day extension when the citation is not past due, otherwise an appearance before the judge or commissioner; contesting - setting a court date for arraignment or a trial by written declaration (TR-200, TR-205) with the full amount due; traffic school eligibility, the $52 administrative fee plus bail, schools licensed by the DMV; commercial driver licenses; proof of correction and proof of insurance (to the Traffic Clerk's Office); attire; failure to appear - collections, ability to pay, and the Ex Parte Motion to Vacate Conviction (infraction cases) filed no later than 20 days after the original trial date; parking citations (not handled by the court); juvenile tickets (in person or by mail); the uniform bail schedule; questions by the online form; Rule 4.105 (bail deposits by infraction defendants before a first appearance only in the cases it names) and the committees' proposed amendment of rule 4.105(d) (a link to statewide traffic self-help); the Clerk's Office hours (temporary hours through October 30, 2026) and the Stockton, Manteca, and Lodi addresses.

Unlawful Detainer / Landlord-Tenant, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin; the court's web page https://www.sjcourts.org/unlawful-detainer-landlord-tenant, fetched 2026-10-10.

New unlawful detainer complaints, from January 3, 2022, dropped at the clerk's office window or placed in the civil drop box (processed within 24 hours); the filer's responsibility for current forms and attachments; self-addressed stamped envelopes; the supplemental cover sheet with form CM-010 (Code of Civil Procedure section 1179.01.5(c)) and the COVID-19 rental debt caption (section 1161.2.5); the court's processing of commercial and residential complaints and defaults under AB 3088; for landlords and tenants - notices, filing (an original and at least two copies), service and the proof of service, five court days to respond, defaults (requests for clerk default judgment for possession left with the clerk, not processed at the counter), the Memorandum to Set Case for Trial and the court's notice of trial; preparing for trial (three copies of each document); interpreters (the page says the court does not provide them for this case type - a review task: the Interpreter Information page lists unlawful detainer cases); requests for hearing assistance three days before; remote appearances under Local Rule 9-101 (carded) - in person unless authorized in writing, RA-010 no later than 5 court days and RA-015 no later than 3 court days before the hearing; courtroom conduct; post-trial - the prevailing party prepares the judgment, the clerk prepares the Notice of Entry of Judgment only for a self-represented prevailing party, the landlord prepares the Writ of Possession, five days to vacate after the Sheriff's notice; and the clerk's office, phone and drop box hours.

Rule 1: General, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 1-100 to 1-113: the rules cited as the Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, for the County of San Joaquin, supplementary to the Judicial Council's rules, superseding all rules previously adopted and applicable in all judicial districts of the county (1-100); the General Calendar of the time, place and special requirements for court business, ascertained from the Clerk before a matter is noticed (1-101); jurors - the source list of registered voters and the Department of Motor Vehicles lists of licensed drivers and identification cardholders 18 years old or older (Code of Civil Procedure section 197(b)), the countywide master list for the Stockton Courthouse, master lists by zip code for limited jurisdiction cases in the Lodi branch and in the Manteca or Tracy branches, and deferral rather than excuse for a temporary or marginal hardship, generally for no longer than 90 days (1-102); interpreters - a minimum of five (5) business days' notice, requests on the Interpreter Request Form, and notice at least two business days before the hearing when an interpreter is no longer needed, or the court may bill the costs (1-104); the Executive Officer, acting as Clerk of the Superior Court and performing the duties of Jury Commissioner of the County (1-105); firearms barred from the Stockton Courthouse at 180 E. Weber Avenue, the branch court buildings and wings and every courtroom, with the exemptions for peace officers on official business and for a firearm in evidence shown to the bailiff - punishable as contempt of court (1-106); media coverage under California Rules of Court, Rule 1.150 - the Judicial Council form submitted to the Public Information Office at least 5 court days before the hearing, no ex-parte contact with the presiding judge, and the limits on photographing jurors, spectators and the line into the Jury Assembly Room, within a 10-foot radius of a courtroom door in the Stockton Courthouse, and in the Juvenile Justice Center (1-107); camera phones and recording equipment (Eff. 07/01/2026) - prohibited in courtrooms and jury rooms without advance permission, no photographing of anyone wearing a juror badge, none in the Juvenile Justice Center or the branch locations except the public corridors of the Stockton, Manteca, and Lodi branches, copies of official court records with one's own device in the Clerk's Office (Government Code § 68510), confiscation, and punishment under Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5 or for contempt (1-108); commissioners and juvenile court referees appointed judges pro tempore (1-109); dangerous, large or bulky exhibits - the judge's permission, substitutes, sealing, tagging and returns with a photographic record - and exhibits marked consecutively with numbers (plaintiff, petitioner or the People) or letters (defendant or respondent), viewing, temporary release and return (Penal Code §§ 1417.2, 1417.3 and 1417.5; Code of Civil Procedure §§ 1952(a) and 1952.2) (1-110); a judicial vacation day (1-111); the selection of court commissioners (1-112); and electronic recording of limited civil, misdemeanor and infraction proceedings when no official reporter is available (Government Code §69957), transcripts through the Records Management Division (1-113).

Rule 10: Appellate Division, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 10-100 to 10-107: the Appellate Division's jurisdiction over appeals for writs, infractions, misdemeanors and limited civil cases (California Rules of Court, Rule 8.800) (10-100); the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division, to whom all motions and ex parte applications are presented, the panel of three judges and two alternates, and regular sessions on the third Thursday of each calendar month at 4:00 p.m. (Code of Civil Procedure, section 77), not reported by a court reporter (10-101); the record on appeal - the original trial court file on election in limited civil appeals (rules 8.833 and 8.831) and in lieu of a clerk's transcript in misdemeanor (Rule 8.863) and infraction (Rule 8.914) appeals (10-102); free transcripts with a current financial declaration and, for a reporter's transcript, a colorable need (10-103); official electronic recordings designated as the record of the oral proceedings by stipulation or order (Rules 8.835(c), 8.837(d), 8.868(c), 8.869(5), 8.915(a)(2) and 8.916(b)), the stipulation attached to the designation (10-104); briefs - one (1) original, up to fifteen (15) pages under Rules 8.706 and 8.204 (briefs of five pages or less without the index and table of authorities, Rule 8.205), and no notice of late filing for a People v. Wende brief (10-105); and appointed counsel in misdemeanor appeals (California Rules of Court 8.851) (10-106).

Rule 2: Criminal, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 2-100 to 2-115: discovery under Penal Code Section 1054, et. seq. ordered in all criminal cases (enforcement after the informal request of Penal Code Section 1054.5(b)), work product and other privileges and good cause exceptions asserted by noticed motion heard before the readiness conference, any in-camera showing under Penal Code section 1054.7, and the sanctions (2-100); pre-trial motions - in felony cases heard and determined before the first readiness conference, in misdemeanor cases noticed or scheduled no later than a day in the week before it (2-101), motions to strike prior convictions within the same time (2-101.1); memoranda of points and authorities - the statement of the case or facts, the precise issues and authority, preliminary hearing transcripts cited by page and line, California cases cited to the official reports, copies of Daily Appellate Report cases and other authorities attached, the motion's history at the preliminary examination, and no memorandum deemed a concession that the motion lacks merit (2-102); motions under section 1538.5 of the Penal Code - an itemized list of the items to be suppressed or returned, the specific legal and factual basis, the witnesses named on the first page, the search warrant, affidavit and inventory, and the transcript stipulation (2-102.1); demurrers, motions to dismiss and motions to strike with the current complaint, information or indictment attached (2-102.2); motions at trial - in limine motions in writing, served and filed no later than one week before the first trial assignment date, labeled LIVE TESTIMONY NECESSARY when testimony is needed, with the itemized evidence, the expected testimony and witnesses, and for motions under Evidence Code §1101(b), or 1108 or 1109 the police reports and transcripts (2-103); sanctions (2-104); pre-trial conferences - attorneys familiar with the case and, in felony cases, a pretrial statement filed and served two (2) days before the conference with the maximum exposure, the pretrial offer and any counteroffer (2-105); jury instructions presented in their entirety, special instructions labeled and numbered (2-106); matters improperly set, moved to the next court day (2-107); motions to be relieved by retained counsel - in writing, served on the defendant and the People, with the defendant's last known address (Code of Civil Procedure sections 284 and 285) (2-108); appointed counsel paid under the "Payment Policy and Fee Schedule" of the Lawyer Referral Service (2-110); requests to modify judgment by noticed motion not less than five (5) days before the hearing, except non-substantive modifications (2-111); applications for the temporary release of an inmate for medical, dental, funeral or other appointments - never ex-parte, made to the presiding criminal judge with notice to the District Attorney's Office and the custodial institution, a hearing set 24 hours in advance (2-112); the Uniform County Bail Schedule, prepared and annually revised by the court's Bail Committee (2-113); doctor reports on competency under PC 1368 filed by 5:00 p.m. no later than the last court day before the hearing - in person, by the drop box or by mail, or electronically under local rule number 6 - or a written request for an extension by the same time (2-114); and clerk ability-to-pay determinations (Government Code 68645.3(e)) for litigants receiving public benefits or whose household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, the MyCitations reduction rate, and review by a judicial officer (2-115).

Rule 3: Civil, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 3-100 to 3-128: the rules as lawful orders of the court - sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5 and Government Code section 68608(b), and a maximum of two (2) copies conformed (3-100); direct calendaring - civil cases assigned to a judicial officer for all purposes at filing (not abandonment, adoption, mental health, minors' compromises or family law), the Notice of Case Assignment and Notice of Hearing served with the complaint, summons and ADR information, peremptory challenges under CCP Section 170.6 (3-101); general civil litigation (not limited civil cases) - the time frame of 75% within 12 months, 85% within 18 months and 100% within 24 months, the Declaration of Exemption (Form Sup. Ct.56) for uninsured motorist and eminent domain cases (the case management conference 180 days out), dismissal within ten (10) days after receipt of monies or 60 days after the arbitration hearing, applications to change a hearing date five (5) court days before, order to show cause hearings and written responses at least five (5) calendar days before, certificates of inability to respond, a request for entry of default within 10 days (C.R.C 3.110(g)), stays only for binding ADR, extensions for good cause (C.C.P. section 583.240), the first case management conference within 180 days (45 or 90 days after a transfer), the Case Management Conference Statement filed and served at least fifteen (15) calendar days before, the orders at the conference, complex litigation, arbitration and the trial setting conference about 21 days after a request for trial de novo, the mandatory settlement conference 15 to 30 days before trial, the Declaration in Lieu of Personal Appearance filed at least ten (10) days before a trial setting conference, and the non-availability of the official court reporters in civil cases (California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956; the civil departments from September 10, 2024: 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 11A, and 11B) - the parties' certified shorthand reporter as official pro tempore reporter, and the Notice served with the complaint and with motions (3-102); remote appearances (Civil Code of Procedure section 367.75; California Rule of Court, rule 3.672) - case management conferences, law and motion and ex parte hearings remotely, notice waived, by the Bridge Conference Line (Zoom at the judicial officer's discretion), no recording; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, trials and orders to show cause in person unless authorized in writing - Form RA-010 no later than 10 court days before, Form RA-015 no later than 2 court days from service of the notice, copies to the department - and the termination of a remote appearance (3-103); settlement conferences - statements filed and served at least ten (10) calendar days before (California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1380(c)), preparation, materials, the attendance of trial attorneys, parties and insurers, and the Settlement Conference Checklist (3-104); proposed orders under Rule 3.1312 (3-105); ex parte applications - notice shown by declaration (Rule 3.1204), approval and scheduling by the Law and Motion Judge before filing, the moving papers and fee no later than 24 hours before the hearing, the proof of service on file, and the bond declaration (3-106); the guardian ad litem petition filed with a minor plaintiff's complaint (3-107); eminent domain parcels (Code of Civil Procedure, section 1250.310) and final orders of condemnation (section 1268.030) (3-108); a party's death (3-109); petitions to approve the compromise of a minor's or disabled person's claim, in the civil department or, in the cases named, the probate department (3-110); the attorney fee schedules for notes and contracts, book accounts (Civil Code section 1717.5: $960 or $1200, or 25%), foreclosures and assessment liens, and unlawful detainer defaults (not to exceed $300.00) (3-111); orders shortening time (3-112); civil law and motion - hearings scheduled at filing, heard Tuesdays through Fridays at 9:00 a.m., at least three (3) dates offered to the clerk, matters of fifteen (15) minutes on the 9:00 a.m. calendar, evidence by declarations, tentative rulings posted from 1:30 p.m. on the first court day before and contested by email to civilcourtclerks@sjcourts.org no later than 4:00 PM, stipulated continuances up to five court days before, and the Lodi Branch's number (209) 992-5522 (3-113); chambers conferences and ex parte matters - informal notice, Department of Motor Vehicles stays with the driving record, bond declarations (3-114); jury fees and juror reimbursement (Code of Civil Procedure section 631) (3-116); courtesy copies of all substantive motions and trial documents, stamped and delivered to the Courtesy Copy Drop Box on the 10th or 11th floor (3-117); substitute service - one attempt outside 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (3-120); alternative dispute resolution - the options, the ADR Information packet served with the complaint (California Rule of Court 3.221), the Stipulation and Order (Sup. Ct. Form 441), the neutral panels and the Notice of Settlement (3-121); judicial arbitration - cases up to $25,000 (limited) or $50,000 (unlimited) for each plaintiff, continuances not exceeding ninety (90) days, trial de novo and the arbitrator's fee of $150 (3-122); the Civil Mediation Program - the stipulation (no filing fee) filed at least ten (10) days before the initial case management conference or within 21 days after one, mediator selection and qualifications (Tracks A to D), party-pay fees, confidentiality (Evidence Code sections 703.5 and 1115-1128), the post-mediation evaluations and Form ADR 100 within ten (10) days (3-123); binding arbitration (3-124), neutral evaluation (3-125), trial by reference (Code of Civil Procedure §§ 638 to 645.2) (3-126) and expedited jury trials (Code of Civil Procedure §§ 630.01 to 630.12) (3-127); and sister-state money judgments with the clerk's judgment form (CCP 1710.15) (3-128).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Eight: Minors Compromise, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-801 to 4-804: attorney fees in compromises for minors or disabled persons paid only after the receipt, declaration or other documentation confirming the deposit the order requires is filed (4-801); settlements with a single premium deferred annuity - an exemplar contract and payment schedule, the minor's or disabled person's estate as contingent beneficiary, and the issuer's rating (4-802); settlements creating a special needs or other trust (Probate Code § 3600 et seq.; §§ 3602, 3604 or 3611) - the trust petition filed under a separate case number for approval with or before the compromise, no payment to the trustee before the trust is approved, and the Acceptance of Trust and receipt of funds within 30 days (4-803); and attachment limits - 50 pages, or 100 pages for a special needs trust, without the Court's authorization, petitions over the limits rejected, and an ex parte application listing and justifying additional attachments (4-804).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Five: Conservatorship, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-501 to 4-510: the Court Investigator automatically appointed in petitions for temporary or general conservatorship, accountings and reviews (a petition to waive the appointment filed with the petition), and the Investigator's Copy of any petition requiring the investigator's report, within 5 court days of e-filing (4-501); the Confidential Conservatorship Questionnaire (local form SJPR-300), signed under penalty of perjury by each proposed conservator and submitted with every conservatorship petition, used for reports under Probate Code §2253 and released only by court order (4-502); temporary conservatorships before the noticed hearing by ex parte petition under the court's posted procedures (4-503); conservatorship reviews - the Conservatee Status Report-Person Only (SJPR-301) at least 30 days before the review hearing or by the ordered due date, and the Conservatee Status Report-Person & Estate (SJPR-302) (4-504); the fees of the attorney for a conservatee or minor - addressed in every account, ordinarily not to exceed $1,000.00 without itemization, or requested by ex parte application under local rule 4-106 (4-505); waivers of accounting by a minor who has attained majority or a competent conserved person (4-506); confirmation of a sale under independent powers (4-507); substituted judgment - documents with testamentary effect (sealed on request), the Community Resource Allowance or the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance only with points and authorities, the effect on the conservatee, and trusts created under PC §§ 2580 or 3100 opened as a separate proceeding within 30 days of the order (4-508); and all rules under Part One General Procedure Guide and Part Five applied to mental health cases regarding an estate (4-509).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Four: Trusts, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-401 to 4-403: fees in trusts under the court's continuing jurisdiction - none paid until an order fixes them (except advance payments), fee requests named in the caption and the notice of hearing, trustee compensation presumed reasonable up to 1% (one percent) per year of the asset value for a professional trustee or three-fourths of one percent for a non-professional, the attorney's fees presumed reasonable at one-third of a professional trustee's normal fee or one-half of a non-professional trustee's, or $1,000.00, whichever is greater, prorated for other periods, and a separate detailed declaration for greater compensation (California Rules of Court 7.776; CRC 7.702(1)-(6)) (4-401); and the trustee's report, a special needs trustee's included - the trust's purposes, the beneficiaries, the distributions, the investment objectives and results, the rate of return, and whether the corpus will last the beneficiary's lifetime (4-402).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Nine: Civil Mental Health, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-901 to 4-905: the Civil Mental Health Division in the Probate Department - filings in LPS conservatorships, writs of habeas corpus for release from a facility and Riese hearings on involuntary medication with the clerk in the Probate Division, the other probate rules not applying unless specified (4-901); the latest Judicial Council forms, especially a "Mandatory Use Form" (4-902); LPS conservatorships - the Public Guardian's personal service of a proposed ex parte application for a temporary LPS conservator on the Public Defender's Office not less than five (5) days before the appointment, the order terminating a conservatorship prepared and filed by the conservator, the level of placement stated in the order, and hearings scheduled at filing and heard Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:45a.m. or 9:00a.m., with at least three (3) dates offered (4-903); writs of habeas corpus and Riese petitions - calendared on receipt, heard within two court days (filed by 11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, heard Wednesdays; on Wednesdays and Thursdays, heard Fridays; on Fridays, heard Mondays; at 8:45 a.m. or 9:00 a.m.), later filings treated as filed the next day, the Riese petition filed with a proposed order, and the facility's notice of the hearing to family members unless the patient requests otherwise (Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5276) (4-904); and the facility's notice of a needed interpreter (4-905).

Rule 4: Probate, Part One: General Procedure Guide, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-101 to 4-122: the probate department's local policies and procedures, binding though the Court may depart from them; the court's website for tentative rulings and the online probate calendars, and the Probate Clerk at 315 W. Elm Street, Lodi, CA 95240; petitions with their supporting papers on file thirty (30) calendar days before the hearing, the notice of hearing and proofs of service for the initial petition at least ten (10) court days before, other proofs of service filed with their papers (or the papers rejected), proofs of publication at least five (5) court days before, and matters of the Public Defender or the Public Conservator heard Tuesdays or Thursdays only (4-101); no oral testimony on verified petitions (4-102); contested matters - on the pleadings at the end of the calendar, two hours or less on a date certain, longer ones as scheduling permits, and no mailed notices of continued hearings (4-103); personal appearances on guardianship and conservatorship petitions and confirmations of sale (4-104); consolidation under the lowest number (4-105); ex parte applications - non-appearance matters decided on written submissions under the specific procedures on the Court's website, the Notice of Ex Parte Request (Local Form SJPR/MH-008), the exempt applications, California Rules of Court 3.1200 through 3.1206 and the showing of California Rule of Court 3.1202(c), and the Mandatory Local Form SJPR-006 declaration on notice (4-106); lineal charts (SJPR-203, SJPR-204, SJPR- 205) and proof of death (4-107); orders complete without the petition, attachments, the signature page, and proposed orders presented with the petition (4-108); petitions served with the notice of hearing when they contain an accounting or request extraordinary fees, and the accounting's Examiner's Copy within 5 court days of e-filing (4-109); tentative rulings posted the first court day before, contested by notice no later than 4:00 p.m. (4-110); continuances - of the initial hearing, of later hearings by declaration or appearance, contested hearings by Stipulation and Order with a new date from the courtroom clerk, trials under California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1332 - and dropped or dismissed matters (4-111); captions with the hearing's date, time and department (4-112); court created trusts filed as new cases (4-113); petitions concerning title (Probate Code 850, §§13150 and §§13650) with the deeds, the persons to be served under Probate Code §851 and the record title (4-114); costs not allowed (4-115); meeting and conferring on contested petitions within 30 days and the joint Meet and Confer Statement (local form SJPR-002) within 45 days (4-116); remote appearances (Civil Code of Procedure section 367.75; California Rule of Court, rule 3.672) - general hearings, law and motion, ex parte hearings and orders to show cause by Zoom without notice, the Instructions and Requirements for Remote Appearance (SJPR-001) served with every notice of hearing, no recording; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials in person unless authorized - RA-010 and RA-020 no later than ten (10) court days before with a declaration, RA-015 no later than five (5) court days before, courtesy copies to Department 11A (4-117); notice information (4-118); motions to withdraw (Probate Code §1220) (4-119); sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5 (4-120); original financial documents lodged as confidential under the mandated local form SJPR-007, loosely bound, with return postage (4-121); and the declarations on assets received, filed with the Inventory and Appraisal (Probate Code 3600, 2610(a), 8901(c) and (d), 2620(c)(1)) (4-122).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Seven: Guardianship, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-701 to 4-704: the rules for conservatorship applied to guardianship insofar as applicable (4-701); the Confidential Guardianship Questionnaire (SJPR-400), signed under penalty of perjury by each proposed guardian and submitted with every probate guardianship petition, used for reports under Probate Code §1513 and released only by court order (4-702); temporary guardians of the person - a declaration explaining the emergency, the petition treated as an ex parte request, the court's order or notice of a hearing served by the petitioner with a proof of service, a reconsideration hearing when the hearing on the permanent guardianship is more than 30 days away, and no routine grant of temporary guardianships that change custody (Child Protective Services of the San Joaquin County Human Services Agency and peace officers remove children in an emergency) (4-703); and guardianships of particular property, identified in the proposed orders and letters (4-704).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Six: Particular Transactions, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rule 4-601: proceedings for particular transactions under Chapter Three of Part Six of the Probate Code (commencing with §3100) conform, insofar as possible, to the requirements of Article 10 (commencing at § 2580), the California Rules of Court and the court's local rules, and the rules for substituted judgment in conservatorship apply to them.

Rule 4: Probate, Part Three: Spousal Property and Small Estate Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-301 to 4-304: no preliminary or final distribution heard until a Will's survival period has expired (4-301); the ultimate facts establishing the community character of property in a petition confirming its passage to the surviving spouse without administration (Probate Code §§ 13650, et seq.) - the dates the asset was acquired and of the marriage and the manner of acquisition (4-302); the Will or codicil deposited with the Court before or with a small estate petition or affidavit (Probate Code §§13150, §§13500, §13200 and § 8200), an authenticated copy where it is deposited in a foreign jurisdiction, and a lost Will's copy with a declaration on the presumption of revocation (Probate Code § 6124) (4-303); and the mandatory local form Declaration in Support of Affidavit re Real Property of Small Value (SJPR-206) attached to an Affidavit for Real Property of Small Value under Probate Code § 13200, with the Will (a typed copy of a holographic one) or the heirs' relationship (4-304).

Rule 4: Probate, Part Two: Decedent Estates, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 4-201 to 4-218: notice to the contingent devisees and beneficiaries named in the Will besides the notice of Probate Code §§ 8110-8113 (4-201); the trust of a pour-over will filed separately as a confidential document (Probate Code §1208(b)) under the mandatory local form Confidential - Trust Documents Coversheet (SJPR-100), released only by order (4-202); a rejected will or codicil served with the local form Notice of Refusal to Petition for Probate of Will or Codicil (SJPR-202) on the heirs and potential beneficiaries at least 15 days before the hearing (4-203); voluntary court confirmation of a sale by a representative with full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates (4-204); listing agreements submitted with the proposed listing, and justification for any commission over six percent (4-205); applications for family allowance (4-206); petitions for preliminary distribution only after the inventory and appraisal, with the remaining value, the outstanding liabilities and the allegations for a bond waiver (4-207); partial allowances of statutory compensation before final distribution - the allegations, ordinarily not the last 30 percent before the final accounting is approved, and the attorney's declaration (4-208); status reports under Probate Code §12200 on the local form Status Report of Administration (SJPR-201) (4-209); accounts allocating principal and income (4-210); spousal property elections under Probate Code § 13502 with the declaration on the alternative procedures (4-211); the death certificate, its social security number redacted, filed with the petition or the lodged will (4-212); extraordinary attorney fees - named in the caption, the prayer and the notice of hearing, notice with a copy of the petition, and a separate declaration under California Rule of Court 7.702 itemizing the services, rates and hours (rule 7.703(c) for paralegals) (4-213); fees where the personal representative and the attorney are associated - the statutory commissions only, unless the Will provides otherwise or an order is made on fifteen (15) days notice (4-214); petitions for final distribution on the mandatory local form SJPR-208 - each heir's entitlement, the source of funds, proration (Probate Code § 20111), distributions to minors (Probate Code §§ 3400 through 3402 or § 3410), conservatees, trusts, assignees and by agreement - with the order on the Mandatory Local Form SJPR-208A (4-215); an accounting of a reserve of more than $1,500.00 attached to the Ex Parte Petition for Final Discharge (Judicial Council form DE-295/GC-395) (4-216); and waivers of account under Probate Code §10954 on the mandatory local form SJPR- 207 (4-217).

Rule 5: Juvenile, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 5-100 to 5-507: pre-hearing discovery in dependency actions by the State Rules of Court (Rule 1420), not the Code of Civil Procedure, except deposition subpoenas for health care providers' business records (§2020(d)) with notice under § 1985.3 to the Department of Child Protective Services of the Human Service Agency of San Joaquin County, and motions for discovery on five (5) judicial day notice heard on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday at 8:30 a.m. with the declaration of the request, the refusal and the conference (5-100); ex parte applications with notice shown by declaration, except protective custody warrants (5-200); petitions to modify (§388 W&I) - notice to counsel of record and parents in pro per, timely application, requests to return a minor not less than 20 judicial days before a §366.26 W&I hearing, evidence by declaration or report, hearsay declarants produced on notice, and service ten judicial days before the hearing in person or fifteen by mail, responses five or ten (5-300); dependency counsel - competency, screening and continuing education under the rules promulgated by the San Joaquin County Bar Association, and Rule of Court 1438 (5-400 to 5-404), the penalties (5-405), the Lawyer Referral Service panel (5-406), the contract holder (5-407), the attorney complaint process within 30 days of the first appearance (5-408) and a minor's interests in other proceedings (Rule of Court 1438(d)) (5-409, 5-410); child advocates - their functions, oath and specific duties, appointment in dependency cases (W & I §300) on request, reconsideration and termination, and grievances (5-411); the advocate's authority to review records and interview, access to records without a parent's consent, the duty to report child abuse (Section 11166 of the Penal Code) and communication (5-500); timely notice to the advocate (5-501); calendar priority (5-502); regular visits (5-503); continuation in family law proceedings (W & I Code Section 362.4) (5-504); the right to appear and amicus curiae status (5-505); direct calendaring of delinquency cases (Welfare & Institutions Codes section 602) - random assignment at filing to a delinquency department for all purposes, co-participants in the courtroom of first appearance, and the assignment notice stamped on the petition (5-506); and reciprocal discovery under Penal Code sections 1054, et. seq., and California Rule of Court 5.546 (5-507).

Rule 6: Electronic Filing, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rule 6 (Rules 6-100 and 6-101 repealed): electronic filing and service under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and California Rules of Court, rules 2.250-2.261 and 3.110(f)(4), through the court's electronic service provider - the case types and documents accepted or excluded, listed on the court's website (from January 1, 2020); text searchable PDF documents, exhibits bookmarked and separated by slip sheets; documents filed only when accepted by the reviewing clerk, the Notice of Rejection, and the filer's responsibility to confirm submission; motions to seal filed electronically, but documents lodged conditionally under seal and documents ordered sealed submitted in paper (CRC 2.551(d)); filings public unless sealed or confidential (CRC 2.254(c)) and redaction by the filer; the provider's fees, no court administrative fee, fee waivers, and 10 days to comply after a fee waiver is denied (GC 68634(g)).

Rule 7: Family Law, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 7-100 to 7-118: emergency (ex parte) requests under California Rules of Court, Rule 5.151 through Rule 5.170, in writing, with the notice of Rule 5.165 and form FL-305 (7-100); orders excluding a party from the home only on a detailed declaration of immediate and serious harm (7-101); notice of other proceedings involving the children or the parties, and of prior similar applications (7-102); declarations supporting and responding to a Request for Order, a DVRO or an EARO under Rule 5.111 - one (1) declaration and one reply, no surrebuttal until a review hearing 60 days or more later, attached evidentiary documents not exceeding 10 pages without an ex parte application for more (7-102.5); meeting and conferring before a case is heard on the family law calendar and before mediation, on the parenting plan, by attorneys and parties without attorneys alike, and the exchange of documentary evidence three days before the hearing (7-103); mediation (Family Code §3183) - recommendations and cross-examination, no peremptory challenge, motions to disqualify, no ex-parte communication with mediators, counsel in a support capacity, and the Family Court Services orientation required before the court date on any request placing custody or visitation at issue (7-104); support under the Santa Clara County guidelines and the Code, with each party's most recently filed tax return (7-105); a custody evaluator's testimony by videoconference (Evidence Code §730) - a written report, the proponent's arrangements and expense, notice at least 15 days before, objections 10 days and replies 5 days before, and an office 75 miles or more from the courthouse (7-106); no default without a Declaration of Disclosure served at least 30 days before or a Marital Settlement Agreement (7-107); at-issue memorandums after a good faith settlement proposal and a current Income and Expense Declaration and a completed Declaration of Disclosure (7-108); the results of failing to comply (Code of Civil Procedure section 128.5; Family Code sections 270 through 275) (7-109); mandatory settlement conferences on property or spousal support issues, statements filed and served ten days before, attorney's fees requested under Rule 5.427 (7-110); trial briefs filed and exchanged at least five court days before trial (Rule 5.394), with the document and witness lists (7-110.5); family law tentative rulings - the intent to appear and argue given by calling (209) 992-5690, and to the other side, by 4:00 p.m. the day before, and the matters subject to them (7-111); the duties of the Family Law Facilitator (Family Code section 10002 et seq.) (7-112); the judicial caveat preserving judicial discretion (7-113); communication between the courts on criminal protective orders and custody orders (Rule 5.445), the criminal order controlling, its modification, and exchanges under Section 3100 of the Family Code (7-114); videoconference appearances at trial - disfavored, requested by Ex Parte Application for Videoconference Appearance at Trial and Order (SJ-FL-004) at least twenty (20) days before, objections within five (5) days, documents five (5) court days before, evidence in Department #5A emailed at least five days before (Code of Civil Procedure section 135), no recording (7-115); remote appearances (Civil Code of Procedure section 367.75; California Rule of Court, rule 3.672) - law and motion and ex parte hearings by telephone, notice waived; evidentiary hearings, RFOs, mediations, settlement conferences, trials and orders to show cause in person unless authorized on an Ex Parte Application for Remote Appearance at Hearing and Order (Form SJ-FL-005) no later than 10 court days before, objections within five (5) days; the bridge line joined at least 10 minutes early, the roll call, documents 5 court days before, no recording (7-116); the Underage Marriage or Domestic Partnership Applicant Information form (SJ-FL-009) for the interview under CRC Rule 5.448(c) (7-117); and orders shortening time only on a written declaration or affidavit showing the necessity, through an ex parte request or by stipulation (7-118).

Rule 8: Adoption Proceedings, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 8-101 to 8-202: kinship agreements - no Petition for Adoption with Contact After Adoption filed without the signature of the minor's court-appointed counsel, and petitions to enforce, modify or terminate served on all parties, the Human Service Agency or placement agency and the minor's counsel, with evidence by written offers of proof or declarations, cross-examination on order, and a declaration of the good faith attempt to resolve the dispute (8-101); the code section in the caption of every petition to terminate parental rights in an adoption proceeding (8-201); and the hearings, on the regular adoption calendar, on whether a mother's or presumed father's consent is required (section 8604(b) or 8606(c) of the Family Code; the adoption report and the citation's proof of service) and on notice to an alleged father (sections 7666(b), 7665, 7663, 7662(b) and 7664(a)), with the record search and the contents of the notice (8-202).

Rule 9: Small Claims Actions, Unlawful Detainer Cases, and Civil Harrassment Restraining Orders, Local Rules of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (effective July 1, 2026); the court's Local Rules page (https://www.sjcourts.org/local-rules) links the book part by part under “Current Local Rules (Effective July 1, 2026)” (“General (PDF)” to “Adoption Proceedings (PDF)”) at https://www.sjcourts.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Local%20Rules%20eff.%207-1-26.pdf, fetched 2026-10-10.

Rules 9-100 (repealed) and 9-101: remote appearances in small claims actions, unlawful detainer cases, civil harassment restraining orders and other evidentiary hearings (Civil Code of Procedure section 367.75; California Rule of Court, rule 3.672) - in person unless the judicial officer who is to hear the matter authorizes a remote appearance in writing, a Notice of Remote Appearance Form RA-010 filed and served no later than 5 court days before, an Opposition to Remote Proceedings Form RA-015 no later than 3 court days before, copies delivered to the department, and the termination of a remote appearance for cause.