Santa Cruz Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

Contact

Email

For a video-shared exhibit, the video link must be emailed to all parties and the court before the hearing, with the case number and hearing date in the subject line, using civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org for civil matters.

Once the video has been uploaded a link to the video shall be submitted as follows: o Emailed to all parties and the court prior to the hearing. Make sure to include in the subject line your case number and hearing date. Court email addresses by case type:  Family Law and ALL restraining orders familylawinfo@santacruzcourt.org  Small Claims smallclaimsinfo@santacruzcourt.org  Civil, Unlawful Detainers, and Probate civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2200

A party seeking a civil ex parte determination must telephone the civil clerk at (831) 420-2200 before 11:00 AM on the preceding court day.

You must contact the civil clerk’s office by telephone at (831) 420-2200 before 11:00 am the COURT day before you would like an ex parte determination.

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2204

The hearing date for any law and motion or default matter must be cleared with the Clerk's Office by telephone or email.

Before any law and motion or default matter is set, the hearing date must be cleared with the Clerk's Office by calling (831) 420-2204 or emailing civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2204

The moving party may request a stipulated continuance by telephone to the Clerk's Office.

Requests for continuances based on stipulation by the parties must be made by the moving party by calling the Clerk's Office (831) 420-2204 or emailing civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2200

A party seeking ex parte relief must notify the Clerk’s Office of the intended submission by 11:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, either in person or by telephone.

Notice to Court: The party seeking ex parte relief must notify the court of their intent to submit an ex parte application either in-person or by calling the Clerk’s Office at (831) 420-2200 by 11:00 a.m. on the court day before the ex parte determination.

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2204

A party seeking ex parte relief must notify the court in person or by calling the Clerk’s Office at (831) 420-2204 by 11:00 a.m. on the court day before determination.

The party seeking ex parte relief must notify the court of their intent to submit an ex parte application in-person or by calling the Clerk’s Office at (831) 420-2204 no later than 11:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte determination.

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2483

A party seeking oral argument must notify the court and all opposing parties by 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing.

If a party wants to present oral argument, pursuant to Rule 3.1308, the party must contact the court at (831) 420-2483 and all opposing parties by 4:00 p.m. of the court day preceding the scheduled hearing.

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2204

Before setting any law-and-motion or default matter, counsel must clear the hearing date with the Clerk's Office by telephone at (831) 420-2204 or by email at civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org.

Before any law and motion or default matter is set, the hearing date must be cleared with the Clerk's Office by calling (831) 420-2204 or emailing civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2204

A stipulated continuance request must be submitted by the moving party by telephone or email to the Clerk's Office.

Requests for continuances based on stipulation by the parties must be made by the moving party by calling the Clerk's Office (831) 420-2204 or emailing civilinfo@santacruzcourt.org

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2204

The party seeking ex parte relief must notify the court in person or by calling the Clerk’s Office at (831) 420-2204 by 11:00 a.m. on the court day before determination.

The party seeking ex parte relief must notify the court of their intent to submit an ex parte application in-person or by calling the Clerk’s Office at (831) 420-2204 no later than 11:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte determination.

Investigators and custody counselors may not accept ex parte communications from counsel or any party.

No investigator or custody counselor may accept ex parte communication from counsel or any party.

An attorney or party may contact an investigator or custody counselor only in the presence of the opposing counsel or party, or in writing.

No attorney or party shall contact the investigator or custody counselor unless in the presence of the opposing counsel or party or in writing.

Writings submitted to an investigator or custody counselor must also be provided to the opposing counsel or party in a timely manner.

All writings provided to the investigator or custody counselor by one attorney or party shall be provided to the opposing counsel or party in a timely fashion.

Attorneys and parties may not seek an investigator's or custody counselor's final recommendations before the final report is released.

No attorney or party shall request information regarding final recommendations from any investigator or custody counselor prior to the release of the final report.

An investigator or custody counselor may not disclose final recommendations separately to either party or the party's attorney.

No investigator or custody counselor shall divulge final recommendations to either party or their attorney, separately.

Final recommendations must be provided in writing to all parties and their attorneys at the same time.

Final recommendations shall be made available in written form to all parties and their attorneys simultaneously.

Documents and pleadings may be sent or provided to an evaluator only if the evaluator requests them.

No documents or pleadings shall be sent or provided to any evaluator unless requested by the evaluator.

Contact

Email

Questions about video evidence for an upcoming trial or evidentiary hearing should be submitted to the appropriate court department by email before the hearing.

If you have questions regarding video evidence submission for your upcoming trial or evidentiary hearing please reach out to the appropriate department prior to your hearing. You can contact the correct department using the email addresses listed above.

A party with an item that cannot be converted to electronic form should contact the clerk's office for filing instructions.

If you have an item that is cannot be converted, please contact the clerk’s office for direction.

If the normal ex parte timeline cannot be met before the lockout date, the party may notify the court by 11:00 a.m. on the day of the ex parte determination.

If the normal ex parte timelines cannot be met before the scheduled lockout date listed on the Sheriff’s Notice, you may notify the court of your intent to submit an ex parte application no later than 11:00 a.m. the day of the ex parte determination.

Contact

Email

Counsel or a self-represented petitioner seeking a temporary-conservator or guardian appointment must email or call the Probate Attorney to schedule the ex parte determination, based on required notice and investigation.

Counsel or the self-represented petitioner shall email the Court’s Probate Attorney at probate@santacruzcourt.org or call 831-420-2200 to schedule a date for the ex parte determination, which date will be based on notice and any court investigation required for the ex parte determination.

Contact

Phone

Phone

831-420-2200

Counsel or a self-represented petitioner seeking a temporary-conservator or guardian appointment, or a temporary conservatee's residence change, must email or call the Probate Attorney to schedule the determination.

Counsel or the self-represented petitioner seeking to file an ex parte petition for appointment of temporary conservator/guardian or an ex parte petition to change the residence of a temporary conservatee shall email the Court’s Probate Attorney at probate@santacruzcourt.org or call 831-420-2200 to schedule a date for the ex parte determination, which date will be based on notice and any court investigation required for the ex parte determination.

Contact

Email

Counsel or a self-represented petitioner may schedule an ex parte determination other than a temporary conservator or guardian appointment by emailing probate@santacruzcourt.org or calling 831-420-2200.

For all ex parte applications other than petitions for appointment of temporary conservators/guardians: Counsel or the self-represented petitioner shall email the Court’s Probate Attorney at probate@santacruzcourt.org or call 831-420-2200 to schedule a date for the ex parte to be determined and submit the paperwork by 10 a.m. the court day before the intended ex parte determination.

Counsel should avoid communications with the judge about a pending case unless the other party or opposing counsel is present, court rules permit the communication, or law otherwise authorizes it.

12. To avoid any communications with the judge concerning a pending case unless the opposing party or lawyer is present, or unless permitted by Court rules or otherwise authorized by law;

Contact

Phone to clerk

The clerk's office answers phones from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Phones are answered from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Monday - Friday.

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(831) 420-2300

A tentative ruling may be obtained by telephoning the court during the stated hours on the preceding court day or by accessing the court’s website.

A tentative ruling on civil law and motion matter may be obtained by: Telephoning the court at (831) 420-2300 between 3:00 and 4:00 pm of the court day preceding the scheduled hearing; or Accessing tentative rulings on the court’s website, at www.santacruzcourt.org.