Santa Clara Superior Court Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICALCriminal cases

The written notice of a sealing order must be filed before arraignment or within 2 court days after the sealing order if arraignment has already occurred.

In every matter in which a record has been ordered sealed, the requesting party shall file in the Clerk’s Office a written notice of the sealing order prior to the date of arraignment, or if arraignment has already taken place, no later than 5 p.m. of the second Court day after the sealing order.

CRITICALCivil cases

The petition for appointment of a temporary conservator may be filed only with or after the filing of a petition for a permanent conservator.

The petition for appointment of a temporary conservator may be filed only with or after the filing of a petition for appointment of a permanent conservator.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Matters are placed on the Felony After Arraignment Calendar by noon the Thursday before the calendar is called (Wednesday if Thursday is a court holiday), except for Penal Code § 1050 motions.

The filing deadline to place matters on the Felony After Arraignment Calendar is noon on the Thursday immediately before the calendar is called, except for motions pursuant to Penal Code § 1050. If Thursday is a court holiday, the deadline for placing matters on the Felony After Arraignment Calendar is on the Wednesday immediately before the calendar is called.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of intention to appear to the other side and the Court by 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing, or the tentative ruling automatically becomes the order.

If the Court has not directed oral argument, a party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of the party’s intention to appear to the other side and the Court no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the scheduled hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

All temporary guardianship petitions must be presented to the Probate Examiner's office for review before presentation to the Court.

All petitions for a temporary guardianship must be presented to the Probate Examiner's office for review before presentation to the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Penal Code § 1050 motions must be placed on the After Arraignment Calendar by noon on the court day immediately preceding the calendar, absent a showing of good cause.

Unless good cause is shown, the deadline for placing Penal Code § 1050 motions on the After Arraignment calendar is noon on the court day immediately preceding the calling of that After Arraignment Calendar.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Filings placed in the clerk's office drop box are deemed filed and received at 4:00 p.m. on the court day they are retrieved.

A drop box is available outside of the clerk's office to receive filings in all matters. The drop box will be checked one time per court day at 4:00 p.m. All pleadings placed in the drop box will be filed and deemed received at 4:00 p.m. the day they are retrieved from the drop box.

CRITICALCivil cases

Tentative rulings are posted online by 2:00 p.m. the day before the hearing; objections must be properly raised by 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing or the tentative ruling automatically becomes the Court's order the next day.

Tentative rulings on motions of all types are posted online by 2:00 p.m. the day before the hearing, and, unless an objection is properly raised by 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing, the ruling will automatically become the Court's order the next day.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of intention to appear by 4:00 PM on the court day before the hearing.

If the Court has not directed oral argument, a party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of its intention to appear to the other side and the Court no later than 4:00 P.M. on the court day preceding the scheduled hearing.

CRITICAL

If a contempt citee is taken into custody, the order must be filed by 4 p.m. on the next court day.

If the citee is taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing, the order shall be filed before 4 p.m. the next court day.

CRITICALCivil cases

Opposition to an ex parte application must be submitted by the end of the day the application is filed.

Any written opposition to the ex parte application or request for hearing must be submitted no later than the end of the day that the application was filed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Specified pretrial documents must be filed by noon on the Friday before the date set for trial.

Unless the case settled at the Mandatory Settlement Conference or dismissed in full prior thereto, or unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the following items must be filed, with courtesy paper copies delivered to the department of the trial judge or with Court Services if no trial judge has yet been assigned, and served on all other parties by noon on the Friday before the date set for trial:

CRITICAL

Written opposition to an ex parte application or request for hearing must be submitted no later than the end of the day the application was filed.

Any written opposition to the ex parte application or request for hearing must be submitted no later than the end of the day that the application was filed.

CRITICAL

Materials received directly from a subpoenaed party in a criminal case must be immediately lodged with the clerk and must not be opened, reviewed, or copied without a prior court order.

In the event materials that are the subject of a subpoena are received by a party, an attorney, or an attorney’s agent or investigator directly from the subpoenaed party, the person receiving such materials must immediately lodge such materials with the clerk of the court. The materials must not be opened, reviewed, or copied by the recipient without a prior court order.

CRITICAL

A temporary guardianship petition must be filed with or after the general guardianship petition.

The petition for appointment of a temporary guardian must be filed with or after the filing of a petition for appointment of a general guardian.

CRITICAL

The deadline to place matters on the Felony After Arraignment Calendar is noon on the Thursday before the calendar is called, or Wednesday if Thursday is a court holiday, except for Penal Code § 1050 motions.

The filing deadline to place matters on the Felony After Arraignment Calendar is noon on the Thursday immediately before the calendar is called, except for motions pursuant to Penal Code § 1050. If Thursday is a court holiday, the deadline for placing matters on the Felony After Arraignment Calendar is on the Wednesday immediately before the calendar is called.

CRITICAL

The court must set a compliance date for the first account on the Friday calendar at 10:00 a.m., no later than 60 days after the first year anniversary of appointment; if filed, it is a nonappearance matter.

At the time the Court appoints a conservator or guardian, and unless the court waives the requirement of the conservator or guardian to file periodic accountings with the Court, the court must set a compliance date for the conservator or guardian to file his or her first account and report, which must be on the Friday calendar at 10:00 a.m. no later than 60 days after the first year anniversary of the appointment of the conservator or guardian. If the conservator or guardian has filed the accounting, this will be a nonappearance matter.

CRITICAL

Temporary conservatorship petitions must be reviewed by the Probate Examiner before presentation to the Court.

All petitions for a temporary conservatorship must be presented to the Probate Examiner's office for review before presentation to the Court.

CRITICAL

Unless the case settled at the Mandatory Settlement Conference or dismissed in full prior thereto, or unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the following items must be filed, with courtesy paper copies delivered to the department of the trial judge or with Court Services if no trial judge has yet been assigned, and served on all other parties by noon on the Friday before the date set for trial: (Effective 1/1/2026) (1) all in limine motions; (2) exhibit lists, except impeachment exhibits; (3) witness lists, except impeachment witnesses, and unusual scheduling problems; (4) jury instruction requests, except for instructions that cannot reasonably be anticipated prior to trial; (5) proposed special verdicts; (6) any stipulations on factual or legal issues; (7) a copy of the operative pleadings (complaint, cross-complaint(s), answer(s)); (8) a concise, non-argumentative statement of the case to be read to the jury in jury trials; (9) trial briefs (including an explanation of whether any causes of action have been dismissed or limited, as well as whether any parties have been dismissed); (10) trial exhibits may not be filed.

the case settled at the Mandatory Settlement Conference or dismissed in full prior thereto, or unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the following items must be filed, with courtesy paper copies delivered to the department of the trial judge or with Court Services if no trial judge has yet been assigned, and served on all other parties by noon on the Friday before the date set for trial: (Effective 1/1/2026) (1) all in limine motions; (2) exhibit lists, except impeachment exhibits; (3) witness lists, except impeachment witnesses, and unusual scheduling problems; (4) jury instruction requests, except for instructions that cannot reasonably be anticipated prior to trial; (5) proposed special verdicts; (6) any stipulations on factual or legal issues; ===== PAGE 18 ===== 8 Santa Clara County Court Rules (7) a copy of the operative pleadings (complaint, cross-complaint(s), answer(s)); (8) a concise, non-argumentative statement of the case to be read to the jury in jury trials; (9) trial briefs (including an explanation of whether any causes of action have been dismissed or limited, as well as whether any parties have been dismissed); (10) trial exhibits may not be filed, but

CRITICAL

A party contesting a tentative ruling must notice its intention to appear to the other side and the Court by 4:00 P.M. on the court day before the hearing.

If the Court has not directed oral argument, a party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of its intention to appear to the other side and the Court no later than 4:00 P.M. on the court day preceding the scheduled hearing.

CRITICAL

Notice given after 10:00 a.m. or submission after 4:00 p.m. is deemed given at 9:00 a.m. the next court day.

Except where otherwise specifically ordered by the Court, if the requesting party gives notice of the application after 10:00 a.m. or submits the application to the Court Specialist after 4:00 p.m., then notice will be deemed to have been given at 9:00 a.m. the next court day, and the application will be submitted to the judicial officer after 9:00 a.m. on the first court day after that.

CRITICAL

The deadline for placing Penal Code § 1050 motions on the After Arraignment calendar is noon on the court day immediately preceding the calendar, unless good cause is shown.

Unless good cause is shown, the deadline for placing Penal Code § 1050 motions on the After Arraignment calendar is noon on the court day immediately preceding the calling of that After Arraignment Calendar.

CRITICAL

A party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of intent to appear to the other side and the Court by 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing.

If the Court has not directed oral argument, a party contesting a tentative ruling must give notice of the party’s intention to appear to the other side and the Court no later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the scheduled hearing.

CRITICAL

If the citee is taken into custody, the contempt order must be filed before 4 p.m. the next court day.

If the citee is taken into custody at the conclusion of the hearing, the order shall be filed before 4 p.m. the next court day.

CRITICAL

When the residence of a temporary conservatee is proposed to be changed, the hearing must be calendared for the first Tuesday afternoon conservatorship appointment calendar following the date of filing of the petition.

When the residence of a temporary conservatee is proposed to be changed, the hearing must be calendared for the first Tuesday afternoon conservatorship appointment calendar following the date of filing of the petition.

CRITICAL

At each account hearing, the court must set a compliance date for the next account on the Friday calendar at 10:00 a.m., no later than 60 days after each subsequent biennial anniversary.

At the time the court hears an account and report, it must set a compliance date for the next account and report, which must be on the Friday calendar at 10:00 a.m. no later than 60 days after each subsequent biennial anniversary of the conservatorship or guardianship.

CRITICAL

Applications are held 24 hours before submission to the judicial officer (with exceptions), and notice must be given before 10:00 a.m. on the court day before consideration.

The Court Specialist will hold all applications (except requests for domestic violence restraining orders, gun violence restraining orders, matters identified in Cal. Rules, Rule 5.170, or properly supported requests not to give notice) for 24 hours before submission to the judicial officer. Notice of the application must be given to the opposing attorney or self-represented party before 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the matter is to be considered by the court.

CRITICAL

Notice of intent to request an ex parte OST must be given by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the appearance.

Notice of intent to request an ex parte Order Shortening Time must be given to all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte appearance, absent a showing of exceptional circumstances that justify a shorter time for notice.

CRITICAL

Requesting party must file written notice of a sealing order before arraignment, or by 5 p.m. on the second Court day after the sealing order if arraignment already occurred.

In every matter in which a record has been ordered sealed, the requesting party shall file in the Clerk’s Office a written notice of the sealing order prior to the date of arraignment, or if arraignment has already taken place, no later than 5 p.m. of the second Court day after the sealing order.

CRITICAL

If the child/ren is/are represented by Minor's Counsel, Minor's Counsel will file the Request for Interim Orders as an ex parte request immediately. If child/ren is/are not represented, and the parties are represented by counsel, counsel will file the Request for Interim Orders as an ex parte request.

If the child/ren is/are represented by Minor’s Counsel, Minor’s Counsel will file the Request for Interim Orders as an ex parte request immediately. If child/ren is/are not represented, and the parties are represented by counsel, counsel will file the Request for Interim Orders as an ex parte request.

WARNINGCivil cases

Orders signed by a judge and given to counsel during a hearing must be filed before leaving the courthouse.

All orders signed by a judge that are provided to counsel during a hearing must be filed before leaving the courthouse.

WARNING

If notice is given after 10:00 a.m. or the application is submitted after 4:00 p.m., notice is deemed given at 9:00 a.m. the next court day and the application is submitted to the judicial officer after 9:00 a.m. on the first court day after that.

Except where otherwise specifically ordered by the Court, if the requesting party gives notice of the application after 10:00 a.m. or submits the application to the Court Specialist after 4:00 p.m., then notice will be deemed to have been given at 9:00 a.m. the next court day, and the application will be submitted to the judicial officer after 9:00 a.m. on the first court day after that.

WARNINGCivil cases

Deposited jury fees will not be refunded unless the Court is notified of the settlement by 2:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the trial date.

If a case settles after jury fees have been deposited, the jury fees will not be returned unless the Court is notified of the settlement by 2:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the trial date for which the deposit was made.

WARNING

The Clerk's Office will schedule the PMH before the APJ within 30 to 60 days of receipt of the Referral and serve written notice on the attorneys and self-represented parties.

The Clerk's Office will schedule the PMH to occur before the APJ within 30 to 60 days of the date of receipt of the Referral, and will serve written notice of the hearing date and time on the attorneys and self-represented parties.

WARNING

Drop box filings are checked once per court day at 4:00 p.m. and deemed received at that time on retrieval day.

A drop box is available outside of the clerk’s office to receive filings in all matters. The drop box will be checked one time per court day at 4:00 p.m. All pleadings placed in the drop box will be filed and deemed received at 4:00 p.m. the day they are retrieved from the drop box.

WARNING

Orders signed at a hearing and given to counsel must be filed before leaving the courthouse.

All orders signed by a judge that are provided to counsel during a hearing must be filed before leaving the courthouse.

INFOCriminal cases

Deadline

48 hours

The clerk must forward a recording request to the Court Services Manager within 48 hours of receipt.

Within 48 hours of receipt of the request, the clerk of the courthouse shall forward the request to the Court Services Manager or his/her designee.

INFOCivil cases

If a matter is not pre-approved, Probate Examiner notes in the ACSR list procedural deficiencies; parties may file additional submissions to correct them, which the court may consider.

If a matter is not pre-approved, the ACSRs will include Probate Examiner notes listing procedural deficiencies. Parties may file additional submissions to correct procedural deficiencies, and the Court, in its discretion, may consider such filings in making its order.

INFOCriminal cases

Deadline

10 calendar days

The Court Services Manager must prepare and label one copy of the original sound recording for each requesting party within 10 calendar days of receipt.

Within 10 calendar days of receipt of the request, the Court Services Manager or his/her designee shall prepare and label one copy of the original sound recording for each requesting party. The copies shall be playable at 1 7/8” per second.

INFOCivil cases

Briefs for evidentiary hearings should be filed and served three days before the hearing unless the court specifies otherwise.

Briefs for evidentiary hearings should be filed and served three days before the hearing unless otherwise specified by the Court.

INFO

The Clerk's Office must post sealing motions, attachments, case name and docket number on the Court website by 5 p.m. of the second Court day after filing.

The Clerk's Office shall post the motion or application and any attachments (except for attachments containing information sought to be sealed), case name and docket number on the Court website no later than 5 p.m. of the second Court day after filing.

INFO

For ex parte sealing orders, the Clerk's Office must post the motion, attachments, case name and docket number on the Court website by 5 p.m. of the second Court day after filing.

If a sealing order is issued pursuant to an ex parte application, the Clerk's Office shall post the motion or application and any attachments (except for attachments containing information sought to be sealed), case name and docket number on the Court website no later than 5 p.m. of the second Court day after filing.