Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 616 rules apply across San Mateo Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

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  • Applies to
    Special needs trust

    A court-created special needs trust will ordinarily provide for appointment of a successor trustee subject to court approval.

  • Applies to
    Stipulation consenting to temporary judge

    When a case is assigned to a temporary judge, litigants are asked to sign a consent stipulation; without consent, the case must be reassigned that day or continued.

  • Applies to
    Short cause trial preparation

    Counsel must meet and confer in person or by telephone at least seven calendar days before trial, and noncompliance may result in monetary sanctions.

Service

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  • Fax service must comply with California Rules of Court rule 2.306.

  • Service
    Mail

    A proof of service for mail service must use the language prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure section 1013(a).

  • Service
    Personal service

    For personal service, the person who actually accomplished service must sign the declaration of service.

Filing Timing

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  • The parties must wait for transmission of the appellate record and the Appellate Division’s notice, then file briefs within the periods specified in CRC rule 8.882(a).

  • The oral-argument date is set after briefing is completed, with written notice generally due at least 20 days before the hearing unless the Presiding Judge shortens the period for good cause.

  • An application to extend time to prepare the appellate record must be made to the trial court.

E-Filing

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  • Applies to
    Clerks transcript

    The court electronically transmits the completed clerk’s transcript by PDF or document link and does not produce a paper copy.

  • The Court does not permit optional electronic filing in case types not covered by the mandatory rule.

  • Documents may not be transmitted directly to the Court and must be electronically filed through an authorized Electronic Filing Service Provider.

About Judge Michael L. Mau

- Civil Judge, Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo. - The court does not publish an appointment date or biography for this judge.

- Department 20, Courtroom L. - Northern Branch, 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080. - Phone: (650) 261-5120. - Email: Dept20@sanmateocourt.org - Law and motion in non-complex cases is heard Fridays at 9:00 a.m., and in complex cases on Friday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. - Ex parte hearings are held Mondays and Thursdays at 1:30 p.m., with a stated preference for Thursday. - Courtesy copy documents of more than five pages must be sent in hardcopy to Department 20, Courtroom L, 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Documents of five pages or less may be sent by email to Dept20@sanmateocourt.org - Judge Mau published dates on which he is unavailable for ex parte matters and Department 20 is dark: September 24, 2026 (available at 2:30 p.m.), October 19 to 23, 2026, and December 24 and 31, 2026.

Common questions about Judge Michael L. Mau's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Michael L. Mau?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for covered motions. Details: 1 copy, delivery within two court days, by mail. For every motion, the moving party must deliver to Department 20 within two court days one complete binder of courtesy copies of all parties' motions and related papers, marked “Judge’s Copy,” with exhibits separated by tabs.

Does Judge Michael L. Mau require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Michael L. Mau's rules set a pre-motion procedure for discovery. Parties must conduct an in-person or video discovery meet and confer, and any unresolved discovery dispute must be addressed in an informal discovery conference before a discovery motion is filed or heard unless the Court orders otherwise or authorizes an exception.

View ruleSource: page 7

What page or word limits apply to informal conference brief before Judge Michael L. Mau?

Judge Michael L. Mau's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Informal conference briefs must be on court pleading paper, must not exceed five pages, must be served, and may be submitted by email to the Court.

View ruleSource: page 4, section FILINGS AND CORRESPONDENCE

What page or word limits apply to discovery conference brief before Judge Michael L. Mau?

Judge Michael L. Mau's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Each side must serve and email an IDC brief no longer than five pages to both listed court email addresses at least three court days before the conference.

View ruleSource: page 7

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Michael L. Mau?

Judge Michael L. Mau's formatting rule includes file format docx, the emailed version must be editable., and the emailed version may not be submitted in pdf format.. An editable Word-format proposed order, rather than a PDF, must also be emailed to both Department 20 addresses for possible modification before signing.

View ruleSource: page 9, section Complex Case Management Order No. 1

What must be included with opposition filings before Judge Michael L. Mau?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. When an amended pleading is filed after leave to amend, the plaintiff or cross-complainant must include a redline comparison with its opposition to a successive demurrer or motion to strike unless the Court orders otherwise.

View ruleSource: page 9, section Complex Case Management Order No. 1

What must be included with discovery motion filings before Judge Michael L. Mau?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Discovery motions need no separate Rule 3.1345 statement, but the supporting declaration must include the discovery requests or deposition questions and any written responses, together with a concise outline of the request and disputed responses.

View ruleSource: page 9, section Complex Case Management Order No. 1

How may parties contact Judge Michael L. Mau's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Michael L. Mau's clerk. The rule lists email dept20@sanmateocourt.org; complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org. Ex parte hearing dates must be coordinated by email with the Department 20 Clerk at either listed email address.

View ruleSource: page 6, section EX PARTE APPLICATIONS

How does Judge Michael L. Mau handle sealed or redacted filings?

Judge Michael L. Mau's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. A motion or application to seal must be decided before any motion relying on the materials sought to be sealed.

View ruleSource: page 9, section Complex Case Management Order No. 1

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Michael L. Mau?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include proposed rescheduled date. Continuances are discouraged and require prior court approval; stipulations are not permitted without approval or use of a pre-approved date.

View ruleSource: page 2, section GENERAL MATTERS

Does Judge Michael L. Mau require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Michael L. Mau requires bundling for covered papers. The required pretrial binder must contain the listed proposed instructions, forms, statements, witness and exhibit lists, and deposition designations and objections.

View ruleSource: page 2, section INTRODUCTION — SUMMARY TABLE OF DEADLINES

Is electronic filing required before Judge Michael L. Mau?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. After preliminary approval, the written stipulation must be e-filed before the hearing or trial date, and electronic signatures are permitted.

View ruleSource: page 2, section GENERAL MATTERS

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Michael L. Mau?

A fee is required for covered filings. The ex parte application fee must be paid when the papers are electronically filed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Payment of Fees

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Michael L. Mau?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. The joint case management conference statement must be filed no later than ten calendar days before the applicable hearing.

View ruleSource: page 5, section CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES

What rule applies to service for all documents before Judge Michael L. Mau?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: e-service. Unless another method is required by statute or rule, all parties and counsel must serve and accept service of all documents electronically.

View ruleSource: page 3, section FILINGS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Does Judge Michael L. Mau encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Michael L. Mau's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. Parties and senior attorneys are encouraged to allow junior lawyers to participate in court proceedings, especially by arguing motions they drafted or substantially contributed to.

View ruleSource: page 10, section Complex Case Management Order No. 1
Complete rules summary for Judge Michael L. Mau

Continuances are discouraged and require prior court approval; stipulations are not permitted without approval or use of a pre-approved date.

Email Department 20 to obtain available dates before contacting opposing counsel.

After preliminary approval, the written stipulation must be e-filed before the hearing or trial date, and electronic signatures are permitted.

Correspondence to Department 20 may be submitted by email to the listed Department 20 email addresses instead of by paper or telephone.

All papers, including pleadings, motions, applications, and briefs, must be filed in compliance with the cited local rules unless exempted by statute or rule.

Unless another method is required by statute or rule, all parties and counsel must serve and accept service of all documents electronically.

Electronically served documents other than exhibits must be text searchable.

Exhibits to electronically filed briefs, declarations, and other documents must be electronically bookmarked.

Copies of all pleadings, motions, and briefs must be emailed to the complex civil email address, which must also be included on the proof of service.

Department 20 emails must use at least 12-point type and be copied to all parties or their counsel of record.

Department 20 communications must include the department number, case name, case number, and a brief email description in the subject line.

Informal conference briefs must be on court pleading paper, must not exceed five pages, must be served, and may be submitted by email to the Court.

At or before the initial case management conference, the parties must provide the clerk with an email service list and indicate whether they agree to court email service.

Plaintiff’s counsel must maintain and update the email service list and proof of service and notify the Department 20 clerk of changes.

For every motion, the moving party must deliver to Department 20 within two court days one complete binder of courtesy copies of all parties' motions and related papers, marked “Judge’s Copy,” with exhibits separated by tabs.

The parties must electronically file a joint case management conference statement for each conference.

The joint case management conference statement must be filed no later than ten calendar days before the applicable hearing.

Ex parte hearing dates must be coordinated by email with the Department 20 Clerk at either listed email address.

Courtesy copies of papers necessary for an ex parte application must reach Department 20 by noon at least one court day before the hearing, preferably by the listed email addresses.

All discovery requests covered by the Code of Civil Procedure must be served electronically on counsel for the parties.

Discovery responses must be provided electronically unless all parties agree in writing to another method.

Parties must conduct an in-person or video discovery meet and confer, and any unresolved discovery dispute must be addressed in an informal discovery conference before a discovery motion is filed or heard unless the Court orders otherwise or authorizes an exception.

After a meaningful discovery meet and confer, an IDC request must be emailed to both listed Department 20 addresses with all counsel copied, after which the parties must confer about the Court's proposed dates.

Each side must serve and email an IDC brief no longer than five pages to both listed court email addresses at least three court days before the conference.

If any reply is filed at least two weeks before the hearing, the parties may agree to a custom briefing schedule and submit a stipulation and proposed order for the Court's signature.

Each side's IDC brief must be served and emailed to the court at least three court days before the conference.

Discovery requests and responses may not be attached to an IDC brief without leave of court.

IDC requests must be made well before the statutory deadline for a discovery motion, and the parties are strongly encouraged to stipulate to extend that deadline.

Except for pro hac vice applications and motions to withdraw counsel, counsel must hold a good-faith conference at least three calendar days before the hearing and submit a declaration describing the conference and agreements at least one day before the hearing.

After clearing proposed hearing dates with the other parties, the moving party must email the Department 20 clerk at both listed addresses with specified case, hearing, date, and attorney information to obtain a hearing date.

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