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Rules 920 to 938: custody evaluations under rule 5.220, the parties nominating three qualified professionals and the court choosing, and complaints about an evaluator in writing to the Supervising Family Law Judge, a response within seven (7) days (920); custody agreements and orders carrying the move notice language - notice to the other parent by mail, return receipt requested, to the extent feasible at least 45 days before a change of residence for more than thirty (30) days (921); a mandatory settlement conference before trial, a Settlement Conference Statement submitted and served at least ten days before, marked "Received" and not filed, listing community and separate property with values, support data with form FL-157, appraisals of real property and pensions, a furniture inventory, Kelly Blue Book vehicle values and community obligations (922); dismissals without prejudice under the delay reduction statutes (923); default mailing envelopes bearing the superior court clerk's return address (924); the advisement language for a marital settlement agreement where only one party has counsel (926); early disposition conferences on a date agreed and requested of the courtroom clerk (927); child support orders with form FL-192 and the child-care and health-care cost language, below-guideline stipulations reciting Family Code section 4065(a) with the guideline calculation, and Form FS01 attached to orders enforced by TCDCSS (928); family and juvenile court management of child abuse cases - reports under Penal Code section 11166, CWS investigation immediately or within 10 days, section 329 applications on Appendix 4 or form JV-212, family court custody proceedings suspended on a section 300 petition, review within 30 days under section 331, and counsel for the children under Family Code section 3150 (929); the Family Law Facilitator's services and offices in Room 203 of the Visalia courthouse and at the Self Help Resource Center of the South County Justice Center, (559) 737-5500 (930); the Domestic Violence Coordination Rules - a database search under Family Code section 6306 before a judge reviews a request, criminal protective orders having priority, coexisting orders specifying the safe exchange of the children, and a file-endorsed copy conveyed within 24 hours to the Tulare County Sheriff's Department for CLETS (931); minor's counsel appointed by rotation from the court's list (form FL-322), and complaints in writing filed, served and delivered to the courtroom clerk for the Presiding Family Law Judge, a response within 30 days (932); an elisor appointed by a Request for Order with a declaration listing the exact documents, copies filed with it, and "The Clerk of the Court or Clerk's Designee" designated as elisor (933); initial family law pleadings filed at the Visalia Courthouse or the South County Justice Center, Hague Convention petitions in the Visalia Division, and venue transferred by stipulation, Request for Order or the court's motion (934); supervised visitation providers' declarations (FL-324(P), FAM-013) and reports copied to the Director of Family Court Services (935); domestic violence restraining order petitions submitted electronically during and after normal business hours, the clerk's office at (559) 730-5000, option 4, responding within one business day (936); remote appearance by a party or witness at all hearings on a petition for a domestic violence restraining order under Family Code section 6308, remote appearances in other non-evidentiary family law hearings without a Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010), and assistance at (559) 738-2330 (937); and evidentiary hearings - witness lists and exhibit lists, or exhibits uploaded and served through the Omnigo Digital Portal, filed and served at least 10 calendar days before, exhibits not filed with the Clerk's Office, recordings brought on a storage device with a device to play them, and certified transcriptions of sound recordings (938)
Rule 920 - Custody Evaluations (a) California Rules of Court 5.220 is implemented. (b) In all cases referred for evaluation or limited investigation for which there is no previous stipulation as to the evaluator or the process for selection of an evaluator, the parties will nominate three qualified professionals, and the court will choose from that list. No peremptory challenge will be allowed onc
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-14 (California T4 Tulare build 2026-10-14) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-tulare/docs/local-rules/remediated-local-rules-effective-70126.pdf (the court's rule book, its first page “(Revised 07/01/2026) TULARE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT LOCAL RULES”, as fetched 2026-10-14; 1062132 bytes, sha256 be58dbaab3a00c40a0d8449761c1841880e50c19a0a04177d0200d6d3115984d; 138 pages; this part PDF pages 58 to 67, printed pages 58 to 67) with the shared verbatim composer (v2 reflow): the rules (PDF pages 25 to 104) composed as one text and cut at the chapter headings (“CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURT” to “CHAPTER 12 - PROCEEDINGS FOR COMMITMENT OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ...”, Chapters 1 to 3, 4 and 5, and 6 and 7 joined) and, in Chapters 9, 10 and 11, at a rule or part heading (“Rule 920 - Custody Evaluations”; “PART THREE. Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) Conservatorships”, “PART FOUR. Compensation of Fiduciaries and Attorneys”; “Rule 1114 - Inspection and Disclosure of Juvenile Court Records (Omitted 07/01/26)”), each matched once as a whole line; every page's footer (“(Revised 07/01/2026)”, named, and its printed page number, “25” to “104”) removed as chrome - 160 chrome lines; lines reflowed into the rules' paragraphs, each chapter heading, rule heading and lettered or numbered subdivision starting a line; the strike report (review/strike-report-2026-10-14.txt) finds one struck run in the book, a single space on PDF page 131 (the standing orders), no character; 1 whitespace-only fix (build/book-fixes.json: Rule 1059(h)(1)'s inline list of the factors for fiduciary fees, broken at the foot of PDF page 86, rejoined); the vertical-gap, short-line, page-break, false-break, structural-break and row-join audits (review/book-gap-audit-2026-10-14.txt, review/book-short-lines-2026-10-14.txt, review/book-extra-audits-2026-10-14.txt) list candidates read one by one (build/book_fixes.py) - the rest kept as printed; proof 1 (whitespace-only) and proof 2 (same character multiset as the text layer minus chrome) pass. The cover (PDF page 1), the contents (2 to 8), the list of local forms (9 to 15), the table of rule modifications (16 to 24), the appendices that are forms (105 to 115, Appendix 8 apart) and the subject matter index (133 to 138) belong to no card. Review note: Rule 938(c)(1)(b) lets each party to a family law evidentiary hearing upload and serve exhibits through “the Omnigo Digital Portal”; the Electronic Evidence Portal page (carded) says “Family Law matters set in Department 11 allow evidence to be submitted electronically” - a review task on that card. Rule 937(a) lets a party or witness appear remotely “at all hearings on a petition for a domestic violence restraining order”; the Request Remote Hearings page (carded) lists restraining orders among the civil, family law and probate hearings requiring a personal appearance - a review task on that card. Rule 932 closes with “(Cross reference Local Rule 1007(q).)”; Rule 1007 prints subdivisions (a) and (b) only.
Division XI: information forms for data processing (Rule 11.2); required action - action taken on all calendared cases and a future date always set (Rule 11.19); and pro tem judges - an attorney named as a plaintiff in a civil or small claims case may not sit as a judge pro-tem during the case or within six months following its resolution, nor one named as a defendant in two or more such cases (Rule 11.22). Rules 11.1, 11.3 to 11.5, 11.7 to 11.18, 11.20 and 11.21 are repealed, and Rule 11.6 (voluntary arbitration; see Local Rule 10.2) was repealed and renumbered.
California > Fifth Appellate District > Tulare County > Superior Court of California, County of Tulare
Rule 920 - Custody Evaluations (a) California Rules of Court 5.220 is implemented. (b) In all cases referred for evaluation or limited investigation for which there is no previous stipulation as to the evaluator or the process for selection of an evaluator, the parties will nominate three qualified professionals, and the court will choose from that list. No peremptory challenge will be allowed once the name of the evaluator is so chosen. (c) A court-appointed evaluator may petition the court to withdraw from a case. (d) Ex parte communication between the parties, counsel, and the court shall be governed by applicable statutes and Rules of Court. (e) A party may obtain information about finding a qualified evaluator by consulting directories in the local area. (f) A party to the action may present a complaint about the performance of a child custody evaluator to the Supervising Family Law Judge. Said complaint shall be in writing and copies of the complaint shall be served on all parties. A proof of service evidencing service of the complaint on all parties is required. A response to the complaint, if any, shall be presented to the Supervising Family Law Judge within seven (7) days of service of the complaint. Said response shall be in writing and copies of the response shall be served on all parties. A proof of service evidencing service of the response on all parties is required. Upon receipt of the complaint and the response, if any, the Supervising Family Law Judge may respond to the complaint as the Supervising Family Law Judge deems appropriate. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/11, 01/01/18, 07/01/24) Rule 921 - Custody Orders and Agreements As allowed by Family Code section 3024, all custody agreements and orders shall contain language that is in substantial conformity to the following: “If either parent plans to change the residence of a child, subject to this order, for more than thirty (30) days, and that change will affect the ability of either parent to fulfill this parenting plan, the parent contemplating the move shall notify the other parent of said move by mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, to the last known address of the parent to be notified. A copy of the notice shall also be sent to that parent’s attorney of record. To the extent feasible, the notice shall be provided within a minimum of 45 days prior to the proposed change of residence so as to allow time for child custody recommending counseling of a new agreement concerning custody and visitation. It is the policy of this court that the parent contemplating the move is responsible for obtaining a modified parenting plan by either written agreement or order of the court.” Compliance with this notice requirement is not sufficient to change an existing order of custody and visitation. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/11) Rule 922 - Settlement Conference Statement All parties and attorneys must attend a mandatory settlement conference prior to trial on a date designated by the court, unless exempted from compliance with this rule. An exemption will be granted only upon a showing of good cause and leave granted by the court. A motion for leave to dispense with any mandatory settlement conference requirement must be filed, calendared, and heard on or before the date of the settlement conference. At least ten days before the settlement conference, each party must submit to the court and serve on the opposing party a Settlement Conference Statement. These Statements will be marked as “Received” by the clerk, but will not be filed. The Statement must contain the following: (a) A list of all community assets and encumbrances, including the date of acquisition, purchase price, and present fair market value. If there is a dispute as to whether the asset is, in fact, community property, a tracing of the funds should be included. (b) A list of all property that the party claims is separate property, including the date and method of acquisition. The fair market value of separate assets should also be included. (c) Factual data upon which the parties rely in support of (or in opposition to) a claim for child support, and/or spousal support, and attorney fees. Any request for spousal support must be supported by a completed FL-157 form or other statement addressing all relevant facts as listed in Family Code section 4320. An updated Income and Expense Declaration must be filed concurrently with the Settlement Conference Statement if child or spousal support is to be addressed. (d) Where the parties possess real property, the same must have been appraised before the date of the settlement conference, and a copy of the appraisal must be attached to the statement. (e) Where the furniture has not been divided, a complete inventory of the furniture must be attached along with an appraisal or other reliable evidence of the fair market value of each item. (f) Motor vehicles listed must be accompanied by the Kelly Blue Book private party sale valuations. (g) When the asset is a pension or retirement plan, unless the parties have agreed regarding the pension division, or anticipate it will be an in-kind division, an appraisal of the same must be attached to the statement; provided however, that if a party is willing to accept the “vested cash value,” such party may furnish a certified statement by the holder of the pension giving the “vested cash value” of the pension. (h) A list of the community obligations existing at time of separation. If a spouse is claiming credit for payment after separation, an itemized list, with proof of payment, must be attached. (i) Any party contending that community property or quasi-community property of the parties should be valued at a date after separation and before the trial must comply strictly with the provisions of Family Code sections 2550-2552 with respect to notice to the other party. Such motion must have been made and heard before the date of the settlement conference. (j) A statement that the value of an asset or liability is unknown (without a showing that a good faith appraisal thereof could not be made), or that a valuation of the asset is not made because a party seeks a sale, a deferred sale of home order, or equal division of the asset, will be deemed a material failure to comply with these rules. (k) Where it is urged that the family home be retained pursuant to Family Code section 3800, all facts relevant to this issue must be included in the statement. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/24, 07/01/25) Rule 923 - Court’s Dismissal Pursuant to Delay Reduction Guidelines Dismissals of Family Law matters shall be made without prejudice and in accordance with the mandates of Code of Civil Procedure sections 581, 583.161, 583.250, 583.310, 583.360, 583.410, 583.420, and California Rules of Court 3.1340 and 3.1342, as applicable. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/18) Rule 924 - Entry of Default Envelopes provided to the superior court clerk for mailing to parties in default in a dissolution matter must contain the return address of the superior court clerk, not the address of the moving party. The court’s address for cases assigned to the Visalia Court is: Clerk of the Superior Court, County Civic Center, Room 201, Visalia, CA 93291, Case No.: ___________________ ; the court’s address for cases assigned to the Porterville Court is: Clerk of the Superior Court, 300 E. Olive Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257, Case No.: ___________________ (07/01/00) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/18) Rule 925 - Omitted 01/01/10 Rule 926 - Parties Not Represented Any proposed Marital Settlement Agreement in which only one party has legal counsel should contain language which is in substantial conformity with the following: “Petitioner/Respondent acknowledges by the initials at the end of this paragraph that she/he has been advised to obtain independent legal counsel and that she/he has voluntarily chosen not to do so; that she/he has read and understands the contents and legal effect of this agreement and has entered into it and signed it freely and voluntarily. (initials of party)” (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/18) Rule 927 - Early Disposition Conferences The purpose of an early disposition conference (EDC) is to expedite and simplify family law litigation. Participation in an EDC is not in lieu of a mandatory settlement conference and will not relieve either party of the duty to participate in a regularly scheduled settlement conference. Parties and counsel must mutually agree on an EDC date and must contact the appropriate family law courtroom clerk with the requested date. (07/01/97) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/11, 01/01/18) Rule 928 - Procedures for Entry of Judgment and Common Child Support Orders (a) All proposed judgments or findings and orders after hearing in which child support is ordered shall include a copy of Judicial Council Form FL-192 entitled “Notice of Rights and Responsibilities Regarding Child Support,” and shall contain the following language: (1) “The parent ordered to pay support must pay additional monthly support for reasonable child-care costs, as follows: ___one-half or __% (specify amount) per month of the costs. Payments must be made to the __ other parent __State Disbursement Unit __ child-care provider (select one).” (2) “The parent ordered to pay support must pay reasonable uninsured health-care costs for the children as follows: ___one-half or __% (specify amount) per month of the costs. Payments must be made to the __ other parent __State Disbursement Unit __ healthcare provider (select one).” (b) All proposed judgments or findings and orders after hearings containing a stipulation to set child support below the guideline amount of child support shall contain the following: (1) A clear recitation of the provisions of Family Code section 4065(a), and the parties’ understanding of and agreement to each of those provisions. (2) A copy of the guideline calculation of child support. (c) All judgments or findings and orders after hearings containing a child support order that is being enforced by Tulare County Department of Child Support Services (TCDCSS) shall have attached to it Form FS01, “Standard Orders Attachment.” A supply of forms as mentioned above in this rule shall be maintained and distributed by the courtroom clerks as well as be available on the court’s web site (https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov) and for purchase from room 201 of the Visalia courthouse and from the Counter Clerk of the Porterville Courthouse. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/18, 01/01/20, 07/01/24, 07/01/25) Rule 929 - Family and Juvenile Court Management of Child Abuse Cases It is the policy of this court to identify and coordinate custody proceedings involving the same child, which may appear in multiple legal settings. It is further the policy of the court to coordinate the efforts of the different court systems so that the child/ren’s and family’s needs are served and the resources of the family and the court are not wasted. To these ends the court and the agencies serving the court must cooperate to increase the exchange of information and to determine the most appropriate forum for the resolution of the issues relating to the child/ren. (Pursuant to Welfare & Institutions Code section 827.10.) (a) Report Pursuant to Penal Code section 11166 - If, during the pendency of a family law proceeding, a child abuse allegation against one of the child’s parents comes to the attention of a Family Court Services staff member or other evaluator, that person must first determine whether the allegation must be reported to a child protection agency, pursuant to Penal Code section 11166. If that person determines the allegation does not fall within the description of section 11166, he/she need not make a report. However, any other person may report the allegation to a child protection agency. (b) Child Abuse Investigation - When the Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services Branch (CWS), receives a report of suspected child abuse during the pendency of a family law proceeding, it must investigate the matter immediately, or within 10 days, unless the judicial officer from family court requests an earlier investigation. CWS, and the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, must coordinate their investigative efforts. If CWS becomes aware that a family law case is ongoing concerning a child who is the subject of a suspected child abuse investigation, CWS must inform Family Court Services of the pending investigation and any decisions it makes concerning the child abuse investigation. If CWS, or the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, determines that further investigation is necessary, the agency making that determination must contact the other agency immediately so that all investigative efforts may be coordinated. (c) Welfare and Institutions Code section 329 Application - If CWS decides not to intervene, or fails to report to the reporting party within 10 days, any person may apply to the social worker pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 329. In that application, the affiant must give notice and identifying information of any pending family law proceeding. A copy of the application must be sent to Family Court Services by the moving party. The social worker must respond to the application as soon as possible, or within three weeks after submission of the application (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 329). (See Appendix 4 for application and order form or use Judicial Council form JV-212, Application to Review Decision by Social Worker Not to Commence Proceedings.) (d) Suspension of Family Court Proceedings Pursuant To Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 Petition Filed In Juvenile Court - Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 in the juvenile court, all custody and visitation proceedings in the family court are suspended. The juvenile court clerk will determine whether there is a family law court file concerning the child/ren named in the petition. If there is a family law court file, the juvenile clerk will send a copy of the notice required under Welfare and Institutions Code section 335 to the family law court. Upon receipt of such notice, the family law clerk will place such notice in the family law file. Thereafter, custody and visitation issues will be determined by the juvenile court. The family court will resume jurisdiction over custody and visitation issues only after termination of jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Upon termination of jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the clerk of the juvenile court will lodge a copy of the order terminating jurisdiction and any juvenile court custody order in the family court file. (e) Review of Dependency Decision - If CWS decides to initiate dependency proceedings after reviewing the application under Welfare and Institutions Code section 329, any person may apply to the juvenile court to review that decision pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 331. The application for court review must include a copy of the application made pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 329. The juvenile court will rule on the application as soon as possible, and in no event later than 30 days after receipt of the application. (f) Informal Supervision Agreement - If, during the CWS worker’s investigation, one or both parents reach an informal supervision agreement pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 331, a copy of that agreement must be sent immediately to CWS, to Family Court Services, to family court, and to each parent. (g) Family Code section 3150 Appointment of Counsel - During family court proceedings in which allegations of child abuse have been made, the family court judge may appoint counsel for the child/ren (Fam. Code, § 3150) to protect the child/ren’s interests and/or to expedite the policy stated herein and carry out the terms of this protocol. (h) Coordination of Cases - At any time during the process described herein, the supervising judges and bench officers of the family and juvenile courts are encouraged to discuss, generally, problems relating to the coordination of cases involving child abuse allegations. Nothing in this section will be construed to permit judicial officers to discuss the specific facts of any certain case. (07/01/00) (Revised 01/01/07, 07/01/11, 01/01/20, 07/01/24) Rule 930 - Self Help Resource Center/Family Law Facilitator - Resource for People Who Represent Themselves (a) The services provided by the Family Law Facilitator are pursuant to the Family Law Facilitator Act, Family Code section 10000 et seq., including the additional duties set forth in Family Code section 10005. (b) To the extent adequate funding is provided, the duties set forth in Family Code section 10005, in addition to those mandated by Family Code section 10004, are adopted as a local rule of court. These duties include that the Family Law Facilitator’s office may meet with litigants to draft stipulations to include all issues agreed to by the parties, which may include issues other than those specified in Family Code section 10003; and may prepare formal orders consistent with the court’s announced order in cases where both parties are unrepresented. (c) The Family Law Facilitator has offices located at Room 203 of the Visalia courthouse located at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93291, and at the Self Help Resource Center of the South County Justice Center located at 300 E. Olive Avenue, Porterville, California 93257. Parties may call (559) 737-5500 or email selfhelp@tulare.courts.ca.gov for information regarding the services of the Family Law Facilitator and the Self-Help Resource Center. (01/01/03) (Revised 01/01/07, 01/01/09, 01/01/10, 01/01/18, 01/01/23, 07/01/24, 07/01/25) Rule 931 - Domestic Violence Coordination Rules (a) Prior to a judge reviewing a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order, a designated court employee shall, in conformity with Family Code section 6306, conduct a search on the databases available to the employee to determine if the subject of the proposed order has a prior criminal conviction for a violent felony specified in Penal Code section 667.5 or a serious felony specified in Penal Code section 1192.7; has a misdemeanor conviction involving domestic violence, weapons, or other violence; has an outstanding warrant; is currently on parole or probation; owns or possesses a firearm as reflected in the Department of Justice Automated Firearms System; or has a prior restraining order or a violation of a prior restraining order. The search will include a search of the databases set forth in subdivision (a)(1) of Family Code section 6306. The employee conducting the search will submit to the judicial officer hearing the matter a written memorandum containing only the information reportable pursuant to Family Code section 6306. All additional provisions of Family Code section 6306 will apply, including but not limited to the provisions regarding judicial use of the information, confidentiality and destruction of information, and the parties’ access to the information. (b) The court’s criminal, family, and juvenile law departments shall use all reasonable efforts to communicate and exchange information with each other regarding any domestic violence orders. (c) No department of the family or juvenile court shall knowingly issue a protective order or custody order in conflict with an order of the criminal court. If such an order issues inadvertently, the orders of the criminal law proceeding shall have priority. A court issuing a criminal protective order may, after review of any existing family or juvenile court orders, modify the criminal protective order to allow or restrict contact between the restrained person and his or her children, spouse, or other protected person. (d) A family or juvenile court order may coexist with a criminal court protective order, subject to the following: (1) Any order that permits contact between the restrained person and his or her children shall provide for the safe exchange of the children and shall not contain either printed or handwritten language that violates a “no contact order” issued by a criminal court. (2) Safety of all parties shall be the courts’ paramount concern. The family or juvenile court order shall specify the time, day, place, and manner of transfer of the child, as provided in Family Code section 3100. (e) Upon granting of relief (through initial petition, modification, or termination), the clerk shall convey within 24 hours a file-endorsed copy of the order to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department (TCSO) for input into CLETS (a statewide computerized registration system for restraining orders), or to the court CLETS administrator upon that program becoming operational. (01/01/07) (Revised 07/01/11, 01/01/18, 07/01/24, 07/01/25, 07/01/26) Rule 932 - Complaints Regarding Minor’s Counsel in Family Law The court maintains a list of attorneys who may be appointed counsel for children in family law matters. These attorneys must sign the Judicial Council Form FL-322 stating they have completed the required training outlined in California Rules of Court, rule 5.240. The court uses a rotation system to appoint the attorneys. If an attorney is appointed who is not on the list, the court will state on the record the reason for the appointment (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.240(d)(3)). In a family law proceeding in which the court has appointed counsel for minor children, any party or counsel or minor child may present a written complaint about the performance of appointed counsel pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 5.240(e). The complaint must be filed and served on all counsel and self-represented parties, and a copy must be delivered to the courtroom clerk for the Presiding Family Law Judge. The court will respond to the complaint within 30 days, either by setting the matter for hearing or by issuing a written response. (Cross reference Local Rule 1007(q).) (01/01/10) (Revised 07/01/11, 07/01/25) Rule 933 - Appointment of Elisor (a) A court order for the appointment of an elisor must be made by a Request for Order. (b) The Request For Order must include at least one supporting declaration with a list of the exact documents the elisor is being asked to sign. (c) Copies of the documents to be signed must be filed with the Request for Order. The original documents presented to the elisor for signature must be identical to the copies of documents attached to the Request for Order. (d) An order appointing an elisor must designate “The Clerk of the Court or Clerk’s Designee” as the elisor. (01/01/18) (Revised 07/01/24, 07/01/25) Rule 934 - Venue (a) Initial pleadings in a family law matter may be filed either at the Visalia Courthouse or the South County Justice Center in Porterville, except as provided for at section (b). (b) Petitions for Return of Minor Children made in accordance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction shall filed be in the Visalia Division. (c) Venue may be transferred in the following circumstances, and consistent with Code of Civil Procedure section 397: (1) The parties may stipulate to transfer venue. (2) A party may file a Request for Order to Transfer Venue, and if granted venue will be transferred. (3) The court on its own motion and in its discretion may transfer venue in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 397. (01/01/18) (Revised 07/01/24, 07/01/25) Rule 935 – Processing and Maintaining Reports and Declarations from Supervised Visitation Providers Supervised visitation providers have a number of legal responsibilities and duties under Family Code section 3200.5 and Standard 5.20 of the California Standards of Judicial Administration (Uniform Standards of Practice for Providers of Supervised Visitation). Providers should be familiar with all requirements. In addition, the following obligations must be satisfied. (a) Professional Supervised Visitation Providers’ Obligations - The professional supervised visitation provider must sign a Declaration of Supervised Visitation Provider (Professional) (Judicial Council Form FL-324(P)) stating that all training and qualification requirements to be a professional provider have been met, both: (1) Before providing initial supervised visitation in a case; and (2) When updating the form and attaching an original report of the supervised visitation monitored by the visitation provider. See Cal. Rules of Court, subds. (e) & (r) of Standard 5.20. When the Declaration is submitted before provision of initial supervised visitation in a case, a copy of the form must be submitted to the Director of Family Court Services. Every time the professional visitation provider submits a report to the court required by Standard 5.20(j)(3), a separate copy of the report must be submitted to the Director of Family Court Services. (b) Nonprofessional Supervised Visitation Providers’ Obligations – If ordered by the court, the nonprofessional supervised visitation provider must sign the local court form Declaration of Supervised Visitation Provider (Nonprofessional) (FAM-013) stating that all requirements to be a nonprofessional provider have been met and that the provider has read the Judicial Council publication entitled “Supervised Visitation A Guide for Non-Professional Providers” or will have read it prior to visits beginning. See Cal. Rules of Court, subd. (d) of Standard 5.20. (01/01/22) (Revised 01/01/23, 07/01/24, 07/01/26) Rule 936 – Electronic Submission of Petitions for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in these rules, petitions for domestic violence restraining orders and any filings related to those petitions may be submitted electronically during and after normal business hours. The deadlines applicable to any action taken by the court with respect to a petition filed directly with the court shall apply to any action taken with respect to a petition submitted electronically. Instructions for electronic filings permitted under this rule are available on the court’s website at https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling. Members of the public may contact the clerk’s office at (559) 730-5000, option 4, to obtain information about electronic filing permitted under this rule. The telephone number shall be staffed during regular business hours. Court staff shall respond to all telephonic inquiries within one business day. (07/01/2022) Rule 937 – Remote Appearances at Family Law Hearings, Including Petitions for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (a) In accordance with Family Code section 6308, a party or witness may appear remotely at all hearings on a petition for a domestic violence restraining order. (b) In family law hearings other than evidentiary hearings and trials (as defined by California Rule of Court 3.672(c)(2)), parties and attorneys are authorized to appear remotely by video or telephone using the Court’s designated remote appearance platform, unless the court requires an in-person appearance. If remote appearances are allowed under these rules, it is not necessary for a party or attorney to file a Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010) before making the remote appearance. (c) Instructions for remote appearances permitted under this rule are available at the court’s website at: https://www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/online-services/request-remote-hearings. (d) California Rule of Court 3.672(h) shall govern remote appearance requests for evidentiary hearings and trials. (e) Members of the public may obtain assistance regarding remote appearances by calling (559) 738-2330. This telephone number shall be staffed 30 minutes before the start of the court session at which the hearing will take place, and during the court session. (07/01/2022) (Revised 07/01/24, 07/01/25) Rule 938 – Evidentiary Hearings (a) The term “evidentiary hearing” shall include trials and contested hearings. (b) The following rules shall apply to the calling of witnesses: 1. Unless otherwise ordered by the judicial officer scheduled to hear the evidentiary hearing, Witness Lists shall be filed with the court and served to the opposing party or their attorney of record at least 10 calendar days prior to the date the evidentiary hearing is set to begin. A proof of service shall be filed confirming timely service of the Witness List. 2. Each party is responsible for having all witnesses available at the time their testimony is required. No trial will be delayed because of incorrect scheduling of witnesses unless the party can show the court that (1) due diligence was exercised in attempting to secure the witness’s presence, and (2) the witness’s presence is necessary to ensure a fair trial. If a problem arises because of incorrect scheduling of witnesses, the court will usually permit the calling of witnesses out of order. (c) The following rules shall apply to presentation of evidence with exhibits: 1. Unless otherwise ordered by the judicial officer scheduled to hear the evidentiary hearing, at least 10 calendar days prior to the date the evidentiary hearing is set to begin each party must either: a. File an Exhibit List with the court and serve a copy to the opposing party or their attorney of record; file and serve a proof of service confirming timely service of the Exhibit List; serve a copy of each exhibit listed in the Exhibit List to the opposing party or their attorney of record; and file a proof of service confirming timely service of the exhibits; or b. Upload the party’s exhibits to the Omnigo Digital Portal, and serve the exhibits through the Digital Portal. If all exhibits are uploaded and served through the Digital Portal, the party must only print an exhibit list from the Digital Portal and file it with the court. 2. Exhibits shall not be filed with the Clerk’s Office. 3. Each party shall be responsible for bringing their exhibits to the evidentiary hearing to be marked as evidence. (d) Audio and video recording evidence: 1. Any party who has not uploaded their exhibits to the Omnigo Digital Portal and intends to introduce video or audio recording evidence must bring that evidence to court preserved on a thumbdrive, compact disc (CD), or other similar storage device that can be marked as evidence. The party shall also bring a device to play the recordings on during the hearing that can be viewed by all parties and the judicial officer. 2. Transcription of Recorded Documents - Prior to the commencement of any trial, a typed transcription of any sound recording which a party expects to offer into evidence must be prepared and must be certified by the preparer as containing a true transcription of such recorded statement. Failure to prepare such transcription may be presumptive cause for exclusion of such statement from evidence. (07/01/25)
Duval County's indigent-defense and magistration rules under the Texas Fair Defense Act (S.B. 7): who may be booked into the county jail and on what paper; arrest-case numbering; presentment to a magistrate within 48 hours (art. 15.16); the magistrate's warnings, counsel inquiry, interpreter duty, indigence determination and appointment of counsel within 24 hours of a request; the alternative appointment plan under art. 26.04(g)-(h) with annual applications, seven attorney categories (capital, first and second degree, third degree/state jail/misdemeanor, competency, appeals, post-conviction, extradition), CLE and experience standards, random rotation within each category, written acceptance within 48 hours, first contact by the end of the next working day, replacement and suspension of counsel, fee applications within five days of completing services and the compensation attachment ($500 pleas; $175/$150 hourly; $1,400 per jury-trial day; appellate caps); bail schedules by offense class with a personal bond office (fee $20 or 3%), pre-trial supervision and revocation hearings within two working days; arraignment settings and notice; repeal of conflicting rules.