The Contra Costa local rules of court are the county-specific procedures the Contra Costa County Superior Court adds on top of California’s statewide Rules of Court, and the current edition took effect January 1, 2026 under the authority of California Rule of Court 10.613.1Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Local Rules of Court They govern filing formats, case management deadlines, department protocols, and several steps that do not exist in every California county. Miss one and the clerk bounces your filing or the judge continues your hearing.
Where to Find the Rules and Forms
The full rule set is a downloadable PDF on the court’s website, updated twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.1Superior 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
Two kinds of forms come up in almost every case. Judicial Council forms are standardized statewide and carry designations like CM-110 or FL-150. Local forms are unique to Contra Costa and have 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 the caption incorrectly, is one of the most common reasons a filing gets rejected, so check which one the local rule for your motion or petition calls for.
Civil Fast Track and the Case Management Statement
Civil cases here run on the “Fast Track” system, which comes out of the statewide Trial Court Delay Reduction Act. Judges take active control of the schedule from the moment the complaint is filed instead of letting the parties set the pace. Deadlines are enforced.
Before your first case management conference, every party has to file Judicial Council Form CM-110 and serve it on all other parties at least 15 calendar days before the conference.3Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court – Rule 3.725 The form covers service status, discovery plans, settlement discussions, and estimated trial length. Skipping it or filing it late invites sanctions or a continuance that pushes your entire timeline back. Parties are also expected to meet and confer in good faith about settlement and narrowing disputes before any scheduling or procedural appearance, and judges will ask whether that happened.
Discovery Facilitator Program
When a discovery dispute arises, Local Rule 3.300 offers a Discovery Facilitator Program. A volunteer facilitator reviews the disagreement and issues a non-binding recommendation. The program is no longer mandatory, but the court encourages parties to try it before filing a formal discovery motion, and some departments still expect it.4Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Discovery Facilitator Program
Filing Fees and Waivers
California uses a statewide civil fee schedule. Unlimited civil filings (claims over $35,000) cost $435. Limited civil cases run $225 to $370 depending on the amount in controversy, with unlawful detainers slightly higher.5Superior Court of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule If you cannot afford the fees, submit Form FW-001 for a waiver. Recipients of Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, or CalWORKs qualify automatically, and the court will also consider a waiver if your income is too low to cover basic household needs and court costs.6Judicial Branch of California. Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs
The Tentative Ruling System
This is the local procedure most likely to cost you if you don’t know it. 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 hear them by phone at (925) 608-1000.7Contra Costa Superior Court. Tentative Rulings Information
The tentative lays 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 the same day to request oral argument, state which issues you plan to address, and notify all other affected parties by that same 4:00 PM cutoff.7Contra Costa Superior Court. Tentative Rulings Information If no one calls, the tentative becomes the final order. There is no grace period.
Electronic Filing
Under Local Rule 2.87, attorneys in civil cases must file electronically through an approved E-Filing Service Provider. Self-represented litigants may e-file but are not required to.8Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. Court E-Filing Services Documents go up as searchable PDFs through the provider’s portal, where you pick the case type, pay the filing fee, and get a file-stamped copy once accepted.
Providers charge their own transaction or convenience fees on top of the court’s filing fee. Those charges vary by provider and payment method, and they add up over the life of a case, so compare providers before you commit.
Family Law
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 layer several county-specific steps onto the Family Code requirements.
Mandatory Mediation for Custody Disputes
If parents disagree about custody or visitation, the court will not enter permanent orders until they attend mediation through Family Court Services, as required by California law and enforced strictly here.9California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 3170 Before the appointment, you complete an online orientation and submit the intake form at least five days in advance. Appointments are typically set at least two weeks before the court hearing. Only the parents attend unless a judge or Family Court Services 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 Requests
Both parties exchange comprehensive financial disclosures early, including Income and Expense Declarations and a Schedule of Assets and Debts. Incomplete or late disclosures can significantly delay support calculations and property division.
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 the ex parte appearance.11Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court – Rule 3.1203 Time of Notice to Other Parties Ex parte family law applications are filed at the Spinetta Family Law Center, Window #10.12Superior Court of California. Ex-Parte Motions
Probate Examiner Notes
Probate cases go through a review layer that not every county uses. Before your hearing, a Probate Examiner reviews the filed petition and issues “probate notes” identifying deficiencies, missing documents, or legal issues. Treat those notes as a checklist. File supplemental documents or corrections to clear each item before the hearing date. If unresolved notes remain, expect the court to continue the matter, adding weeks or months.
Remote Hearings
Many departments allow or require remote appearances through Zoom or CourtCall, depending on case type and department. The online calendar carries the meeting ID or call-in information for each hearing, and you are placed in a virtual waiting room until your case is called.
Treat a remote hearing like an in-person appearance. Keep your microphone muted until the judge addresses you, set your display name to match the name on the case, and use a quiet location with a stable connection. Judges have broad discretion to require in-person attendance for certain matters, so check the department’s requirements before assuming you can appear remotely.
Small Claims
Small claims is faster and cheaper for straightforward disputes within the jurisdictional limit. Individuals can sue for up to $12,500 in California small claims court.13California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure CCP 116.221 Businesses and other entities are capped at $6,250.14California Courts. Small Claims in California Attorneys cannot represent parties at the hearing; you present your own evidence to the judge. Filing fees are much lower than regular civil cases, but the local rules still govern service requirements and hearing conduct.
Traffic Court
Traffic matters 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, California allows a trial by written declaration. Submit Form TR-205 with a written statement of facts and pay the full bail amount before the due date on your notice.15California Courts. Trial by Written Declaration Photos, diagrams, and witness statements can be attached.
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 boundary: if you filed the written declaration through the court’s “MyCitations” online tool, you are not eligible for a trial de novo.
Traffic school is a separate option. You’re generally eligible if you hold a valid license, the ticket involved a noncommercial vehicle, and you have not attended traffic school in the past 18 months. Tickets involving alcohol, drugs, or equipment violations do not qualify.16California Courts. Traffic School
Self-Help Resources
The court’s Self-Help Resource Center assists people without attorneys.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 describe what to expect at a hearing. For family law, the court also offers an online divorce workshop that walks self-represented litigants through the petition process step by step.