Mendocino Superior Court Electronic Filing Rules

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Documents must be electronically filed through a court-authorized EFSP; direct electronic transmissions to the court are not authorized.

The court does not authorize any direct electronically filed transmissions to the court of any document. Electronic filing of documents must be done through one of the court’s authorized EFSPs.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Court document

Represented parties must electronically file court documents in the listed criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, appellate, and mental health case types, except pre-filing criminal documents.

Except for self- represented parties, the court requires electronic filing of court documents in the following case types: a. All documents in felony, misdemeanor, and infraction criminal actions for cases heard in criminal court, except pre-filing criminal documents (e.g. search warrants, affidavits, etc.) b. All civil limited actions c. All unlawful detainer actions d. All civil unlimited actions, including class actions, coordinated actions, and cases designated as complex pursuant to CRC 3.400 et seq. e. All family law actions f. All probate actions g. All juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency actions h. All appellate division matters i. All mental health actions

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Ex parte restraining order application

Ex parte restraining-order applications may be filed in person at the clerk’s office or by e-filing.

Applications for ex parte restraining orders must be filed in the branch of the court at which the ex parte has been reserved for review no later than 11:00 am on the day of the scheduled review either in person in the clerk’s office or by e-filing pursuant to local rule 1.8(a).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury service request

Jury-service deferment or excusal requests may be submitted in writing, through the court’s online jury system, or by email to the stated address.

Requests for deferment or excusal from jury service must be submitted in writing or electronically through the court’s on-line jury system or by email at juryservices@mendocino.courts.ca.gov.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Court ordered transcript

Staff reporters and pro tem court reporters must file transcripts electronically with the court.

Staff reporters and pro tem court reporters must file transcripts electronically with the court.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Supervised visitation report

Reports concerning ordered supervised visitation must be submitted through the Court’s Mendocino Court External Partners SharePoint or filed with the clerk’s office.

Any report from a professional visitation supervisor, agency, or program pertaining to ordered supervised visitation must be submitted to the court either via the Court’s Mendocino Court External Partners SharePoint or by filing a written report with the clerk’s office.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026WARNING

A party subject to mandatory e-filing may request an exemption using Judicial Council form EFS-007, but must obtain a court order granting the request.

A party that is subject to mandatory electronic filing may seek to be excused from such requirement by submitting Judicial Council form EFS- 007 Request for Exemption from Mandatory Electronic Filing and Service and obtaining a court order granting the request.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Tribal court protective order

Eligible Tribal Court Protective Orders may be filed directly with the clerk by email at the stated address.

Tribal Court Protective Orders that are entitled to be registered under Family Code § 6404 may be filed directly with the clerk’s office by email at tribal.orders@mendocino.courts.ca.gov pursuant to California Rules of Court rules 2.300 – 2.305, and 5.386.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Parties may submit exhibits they wish to present via e-filing, and the exhibits are to be served on other parties pursuant to local rule 1.8(a)(5).

Exhibits that parties wish to present may be submitted via e-filing and served on other parties pursuant to local rule 1.8(a)(5).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026INFO

Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory e-filing but may and are encouraged to e-file voluntarily.

Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 1010.6(d)(4) and California Rules of Court rule 2.253(b)(1), self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory electronic filing requirements but are permitted and encouraged to electronically file documents if they choose.

CRITICAL?

The filing party must create a separate .pdf document for every individual document that is to be file-stamped in an envelope submission. If a .pdf contains more than one document for filing, the court will reject the e-file envelope and return it to the filer for correction.

CRITICAL?

Applies to

Exhibits in other electronic formats

Exhibits in other electronic formats (i.e. USB flash drive, CD, DVD, etc.) must be filed in person, at the clerk’s window, with local form MEX-175 Electronic Media Exhibit Cover Sheet.

CRITICAL?

In all actions: • Ex parte applications and filings other than restraining order applications; • Administrative records: • Documents responsive to subpoena duces tecum; • Peremptory challenges pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 170.6; • Motions and/or declarations for disqualification of a judge pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §§ 170.1 or 170.3; • Documents and/or reports from health care providers and/or mental health professionals ordered by the court; • Documents submitted to the court by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) or the Department of State Hospitals (DSH).

Summary: The listed filings and documents are not authorized for electronic filing in any action, subject to the stated exception for restraining order applications.

CRITICAL?

In probate actions: • Original wills and/or original codicils; • Documents lodged pursuant to Probate Code § 2620; • Certified copies of death certificates.

CRITICAL?

In criminal actions: • The complaint and/or original charging documents; • All documents filed before the complaint or original charging documents; • Bonds and undertakings.

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In juvenile actions: • Order Shortening Time requests or motions; • Requests for Disclosure of Juvenile Records

CRITICAL?

In civil actions: • Bonds if money is to be held by the court; • All undertakings; • Order Shortening Time requests or motions.

CRITICAL?

Matters requiring judicial attention within one (1) business day must be filed in-person at the clerk’s office and must not be e-filed.

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Applies to

Opposition to non restraining order ex parte application ?

Ex Parte Applications other than Restraining Orders. Any opposition to an ex parte application must be served on the opposing party and filed in person with the clerk in the branch of the court where the ex parte request has been reserved no later than 11:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled review.

Summary: Opposition to a non-restraining-order ex parte application must be filed in person with the clerk in the branch where the request was reserved.

CRITICAL?

Applies to

Opposition to restraining order ex parte application ?

Restraining Order Ex Parte Applications. Any opposition to an ex parte application for restraining order must be served on the opposing party and submitted to the court by efiling, by e-mail at exparte@mendocino.courts.ca.gov, or filed in-person at the courthouse where the ex parte application review has been reserved no later than 11:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled review.

Summary: Opposition to a restraining-order ex parte application may be submitted by e-filing, email, or in person at the courthouse where review was reserved.

CRITICAL?

Applies to

Calendar request ?

All requests with an order shortening time will be filed at the clerk’s window.

WARNING?

Matters requiring immediate judicial attention (i.e. requests for temporary orders, requests for restraining orders based on domestic violence or civil harassment, ex parte filings, etc.) should not be deposited in the drop box.

WARNING?

Applies to

Claim form

Claim forms may be submitted by in person or via email to accounting@mendocino.courts.ca.gov.

INFO?

Applies to

Pleading

Self-represented litigants filing civil, family law, and probate pleadings in Ukiah may place their documents into a drop box in lieu of standing in line at the clerk’s window.