The Contra Costa local rules of court are the county-specific supplement to California’s statewide Rules of Court, setting the deadlines, filing procedures, and department protocols that apply to every case in Contra Costa Superior Court. The current edition took effect January 1, 2026, adopted under California Rule of Court 10.613, which authorizes each superior court to adopt rules addressing its own operations.1Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Local Rules of Court Learn where to find them, which local procedures carry hard deadlines, and which forms the court expects, and your filings move forward instead of coming back from the clerk.
Where to Find the Rules
The full text is published as a downloadable PDF on the Contra Costa Superior Court website. The court updates its rules twice a year, on January 1 and July 1, to reflect new legislation, statewide rule changes, or internal policy updates.1Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Local Rules of Court Paper copies are available at the clerk’s office in Martinez, Richmond, Pittsburg, or Walnut Creek.2Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Locations
Judicial Council Forms vs. Local Forms
You will encounter two types of forms. Judicial Council forms are standardized across California and carry designations like CM-110 or FL-150. Local forms are unique to Contra Costa and use county-specific caption blocks and formatting. Both are available through the court’s online portal or at the clerk’s window. Using the wrong version, or filling out captions incorrectly, is one of the fastest ways to have a filing rejected, so check which form the local rules require for your particular motion or petition before you file.
Tentative Rulings: The Deadline That Decides Your Motion
This is the local procedure most worth memorizing, because missing the deadline means you lose your chance to argue. Contra Costa judges post tentative rulings on the court’s website by 1:30 PM on the court day before a scheduled law and motion hearing. You can also check by phone at (925) 608-1000.3Contra Costa Superior Court. Tentative Rulings Information
The tentative ruling sets out the judge’s anticipated decision and reasoning. If you agree, do nothing. If you want to argue, you must call the department that issued the ruling by 4:00 PM that same day to request oral argument, identify the issues you intend to address, and notify every other affected party by that same 4:00 PM deadline.3Contra Costa Superior Court. Tentative Rulings Information If no one calls, the tentative ruling becomes the final order. There is no grace period.
Civil Fast Track and the Case Management Statement
Civil cases follow the “Fast Track” system under the statewide Trial Court Delay Reduction Act. Judges take active control of timelines from the moment a complaint is filed, and the court enforces deadlines aggressively.
Before your first case management conference, every party must file a Case Management Statement on Judicial Council Form CM-110 and serve it on all other parties at least 15 calendar days in advance.4Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court – Rule 3.725 The form covers status of service, discovery plans, settlement discussions, and estimated trial length. Filing it late, or not at all, invites sanctions or a continuance that pushes your entire timeline back. Before any scheduling or procedural appearance, the parties are expected to meet and confer in good faith about settlement and narrowing disputes. Judges will ask whether that happened.
Discovery Facilitator Program
When discovery disputes come up, Local Rule 3.300 offers a Discovery Facilitator Program. A volunteer facilitator reviews the dispute and gives a non-binding recommendation, previewing how a judge might rule. The program is no longer mandatory, but the court encourages parties to use it before filing a formal discovery motion.5Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Discovery Facilitator Program Judges look favorably on parties who tried the facilitator route first, and some departments still expect it.
Electronic Filing
Local Rule 2.87 requires attorneys in civil cases to file documents electronically through an approved E-Filing Service Provider. Self-represented litigants may e-file but are not required to.6Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Court E-Filing Services Documents must be uploaded in searchable PDF format through the provider’s portal, where you select the case type, pay the filing fee, and receive a file-stamped copy once the submission is accepted.
Budget for provider fees on top of the court’s filing fees. E-filing providers charge their own transaction or convenience fees, which vary by provider and payment method, from a few dollars per filing to a percentage-based charge on credit card payments. Compare providers before you commit, because those fees add up across a case with many filings.
Filing Fees and Fee Waivers
California uses a statewide civil fee schedule. For an unlimited civil case (claims over $35,000), the initial filing fee is $435. Limited civil cases cost $225 to $370 depending on the amount at stake, with unlawful detainer filings running slightly higher.7Superior Court of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule If you cannot afford the fees, request a waiver on Form FW-001. You automatically qualify if you receive certain public benefits like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, or CalWORKs. Even without those programs, the court will consider a waiver when your income is too low to cover basic household needs and court costs.8Judicial Branch of California. Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs
Family Law
Contra Costa family law cases are heard primarily at the Spinetta Family Law Center on Pine Street in Martinez.2Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Locations The local rules build on the California Family Code and add county-specific steps that catch even experienced litigants.
Mandatory Custody Mediation
If you and the other parent disagree about custody or visitation, the court will not make permanent orders until you attend mediation through Family Court Services. This is required by California law and enforced strictly here.9California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 3170 Before your appointment, complete the online orientation and submit the intake form at least five days in advance.10Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Family Court Services
Mediation is usually scheduled at least two weeks before the court hearing. Only the parents attend unless a judge or Family Court Services staff directs otherwise. If a domestic violence restraining order is in place, or if either parent declares under penalty of perjury that there is a history of domestic violence, that parent can request a separate appointment and bring a support person.10Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Family Court Services
Financial Disclosures and Ex Parte
Both parties must exchange comprehensive financial disclosures early in the case, including Income and Expense Declarations and a Schedule of Assets and Debts. These drive support calculations and property division, so incomplete or late disclosures delay the case.
If you need emergency orders before a regular hearing, California Rule of Court 3.1203 requires notice to all other parties no later than 10:00 AM on the court day before your ex parte appearance.11Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court – Rule 3.1203 Time of Notice to Other Parties In Contra Costa, ex parte family law applications are filed at the Spinetta Family Law Center at Window #10.12Superior Court of California. Ex-Parte Motions
Probate Examiner Notes
Probate cases go through a review layer that does not exist in every county. Before your hearing, a Probate Examiner reviews your filed petition and issues “probate notes” identifying deficiencies, missing documents, or legal issues. These notes are your roadmap. File supplemental documents or corrections to clear every concern before the hearing. If unresolved notes remain, expect the court to continue your matter, adding weeks or months.
Treat the notes as a checklist. Address every item, file corrections well ahead of the hearing, and you give yourself a strong chance of approval on the first appearance.
Remote Hearings
Many departments allow or require remote appearances via Zoom or CourtCall, depending on the case type and department. The court’s online calendar provides the meeting ID or call-in information for each hearing. When you log in, you will wait in a virtual waiting room until your case is called.
Treat a remote hearing exactly like an in-person appearance. Keep your microphone muted until the judge addresses you, set your display name to match your name on the case, and find a quiet location with a stable connection. Judges have broad discretion to require in-person attendance, so check the department’s specific requirements before assuming you can appear remotely.
Small Claims
If your dispute is straightforward and within the jurisdictional limit, small claims is faster and cheaper than a regular civil case. In California, individuals can sue for up to $12,500 in small claims court.13California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure CCP 116.221 Businesses and other entities are limited to $6,250.14California Courts. Small Claims in California Attorneys cannot represent parties at the hearing, so you present your own evidence to the judge. Filing fees are significantly lower than regular civil cases, but the local rules still govern procedural details like service requirements and hearing conduct.
Traffic Matters
Traffic cases are handled at the Walnut Creek Juvenile and Traffic Center.2Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Locations To contest a ticket without appearing in court, California allows a trial by written declaration. Submit Form TR-205 with your written statement of facts and pay the full bail amount before the due date on your notice.15California Courts. Trial by Written Declaration You can attach photos, diagrams, and witness statements.
If you lose the written declaration, you have 20 calendar days from the date the court mails its decision to request a trial de novo using Form TR-220, which gives you a fresh in-person hearing.15California Courts. Trial by Written Declaration One catch: if you used the court’s MyCitations online tool to submit your written declaration, you are not eligible for a trial de novo.
Traffic school is another option. You are generally eligible if you hold a valid license, your ticket involved a noncommercial vehicle, and you have not attended traffic school in the past 18 months. Tickets involving alcohol, drugs, or equipment violations like a broken taillight do not qualify.16California Courts. Traffic School Completing traffic school keeps the point off your driving record.
Self-Help Resources
The court operates a Self-Help Resource Center for people without attorneys, providing legal information, help with forms, and guidance on court procedures.17Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Home Staff cannot give legal advice or represent you, but they can point you to the right forms, explain what a local rule requires, and help you understand what to expect at a hearing. For family law matters, the court also offers an online divorce workshop that walks self-represented litigants through the petition process.