Sonoma Superior Court Document Format Requirements

When required, parties should email proposed orders in word processing format to ProposedCivilOrders@sonomacourt.org and include the case number in the subject line.

When required, proposed orders in word processing format should be emailed directly to the department using the following email address: ProposedCivilOrders@sonomacourt.org. Please note the case number in the subject line of your email. Note that this email is only for proposed orders in word processing format pursuant to Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1312(c)(2) and Local Rule 17.26. All other emails sent to these addresses will not be read and will be deleted.

Each proposed jury instruction must be printed in black ink on a separate piece of paper and must not identify the requesting party, any party, or counsel.

Each proposed jury instructions must be printed in black ink on a separate piece of paper. Proposed instructions must not identify the requesting party or any party or counsel in the case.

The entire administrative record shall be lodged electronically under California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2206, which authorizes the court to order the entire record filed electronically.

The entire administrative record shall be lodged in electronic format, pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2206, giving the court authority to order the entire record to be filed in electronic format.

Unless the court orders otherwise, specified administrative-record documents must also be lodged and served in paper, while the chronological remainder is electronic-only unless the court orders or a party properly requests paper copies.

Unless the Court orders otherwise, the party preparing the record shall also lodge and serve documents identified in California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2205(a)(1)(A)-(G) in paper format. The paper portion of the record may be bound or submitted in binders. The remainder of the record, in chronological order as identified in Rule 3.2205(a)(1)(H), shall be provided solely in electronic format, unless this court orders otherwise or a party requests a paper copy in accordance with California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2206.

A party citing an electronic-only record portion must lodge and serve the cited pages as a paper appendix of excerpts, using the record's binding, binder, or another court-approved format.

Should any party cite to a portion of the record that is otherwise lodged and served only in electronic format, the party must also lodge and serve a paper copy of cited pages by providing them together as an appendix of excerpts as noted in Rule 2.2205(c). These shall be bound either as the record is bound or in binders or in other format approved by the Court.

The relevant testimony in an attached deposition or other testimony transcript must be highlighted.

Whenever any transcript of a deposition or other testimony is an attachment, the relevant part must be highlighted in such manner that calls attention to the relevant testimony.

An administrative record filed with a special proceeding must be separately thermal-bound along the left margin in volumes of at most 300 pages.

Any administrative record filed in conjunction with a special proceeding as described in Code of Civil Procedure, Part 3, Title 1, must be thermal bound separately, along the left margin, in volumes of not more than 300 pages.

Each requested independent power must be specifically described in detail rather than incorporated only by reference to Probate Code § 2591; quoting the relevant statutory subsection is preferred.

Each power must be described in detail. Quoting the specific language of the subsection enumerating the requested power is preferred. It is not sufficient to incorporate by reference Probate Code § 2591 in the petition.

Lodged paper documents must be unbound, placed in a 9-by-12-inch or larger envelope, prominently marked CONFIDENTIAL, and labeled with the case title, number, and contents.

When paper documents are lodged, the documents must not be bound and must be contained in a 9” x 12” (or larger, if necessary) envelope. The envelop shall be prominently marked as “CONFIDENTIAL” and display the case title, number, and a brief description of the contents.

A materially modified Stipulation and Order must be submitted with a redline version showing the changes.

If the parties enter into a Stipulation and Order which modifies in any material way the aforementioned form, a redline version of the modified Stipulation and Order must be presented to the Court with the signed Stipulation and Order so that all of the modifications are readily discernable.

Original documents submitted for filing may not be stapled or two-hole punched, while all multi-page copies must be stapled.

Original documents presented to the clerk for filing shall be submitted without staples and shall not be two-hole punched. All multi-paged copies of documents shall be stapled.

Exhibit attachments must be separated by labeled standard-size sheets, and original documents submitted for filing may not contain tabs.

Exhibit attachments to pleadings shall be separated by a standard 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with a title identifying the sequence of the exhibit. No tabs shall be included in any original document submitted for filing.

Format

PDF

When a proposed order is required, the court directs preparation of one, or an order is made after hearing, it must be filed electronically as a Proposed Order in PDF format attached to Judicial Council Form EFS-020.

If required to include a proposed order, or instructed to prepare a proposed order, or order after hearing, orders shall be filed as Proposed Orders with the court electronically in PDF format attached to Judicial Council Form EFS-020.

Format

DOCX

A proposed order must also be submitted electronically by email in a fully editable word-processing format, preferably MS Word, and not as a PDF or PDF converted to a word format.

same time as the EFS-020 and the PDF proposed order are lodged with the court electronically, a version of the proposed order in a fully editable word processing format (preferably in MS Word format, and not PDF or PDF converted to a word format) shall be submitted to the Court by electronic mail using an address identified on the Court’s website.

In trial-by-declaration or in-court trials, each exhibit must be no larger than 8½ by 11 inches.

Whether in a trial by declaration or a live in court trial exhibits such as: diagrams, pictures, charts, graphs, maps, images, or similar type evidence shall be limited to no larger than a standard sheet of paper 8 ½ by 11 inches for each separate item of evidence.

Each proposed jury instruction must be printed in black ink on a separate piece of paper.

Each proposed jury instructions must be printed in black ink on a separate piece of paper.

Proposed jury instructions must not identify the requesting party or any party or counsel in the case.

Proposed instructions must not identify the requesting party or any party or counsel in the case.

The jury instructions must be assembled in a packet with a face sheet listing all requested instructions and the requesting parties.

The jury instructions must be assembled in a packet with a face sheet that lists all requested instructions and the requesting parties.

A submitted proposed order or judgment must be lodged and served with the moving papers but must not be attached to them.

If a proposed order or judgment is submitted, it must be lodged and served with the moving papers but must not be attached to them.

Any electronically lodged record material must be clearly labeled, placed in a labeled envelope, and attached to the portion containing the paper index.

Any record or portion thereof that is lodged in electronic format shall be clearly labeled on the medium itself and presented in a labeled envelope and shall be attached to the portion of the record containing the paper index.

Proposed jury instructions must be assembled in a packet with a face sheet that lists the instructions.

The jury instructions must be assembled in a packet with a face sheet that lists

An electronic administrative record need not be created for a portion when an electronic version is not feasible under the cited rule.

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SONOMA _____________________________________________________________________________________ requirement that the entire record be provided in electronic format is for any portion for which, as set forth with California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2207(b), it is not feasible to create an electronic version.

The electronic administrative-record index must hyperlink to the indexed documents.

The electronic version of the index required under California Rules of Court, Rule 3.2205(b) shall include hyperlinks to the indexed documents.

A standard accounting organizes receipts and disbursements by subject-matter category and subtotals each category.

A standard accounting lists receipts and disbursements in subject-matter categories, with each receipt and disbursement category subtotaled.

Lodged financial statements must have a pleading caption as page one, with the first chronological statement from each financial institution separately bookmarked; the source continues with a multiple-envelope condition not included in the quoted text.

A pleading caption page must be page one, and the first chronological statement of each financial institution shall be bookmarked separately. If multiple e-filing envelopes are required,

Submitted documents must be organized by account and chronologically, and an index should be included when the document exceeds 100 pages.

However the documents are submitted, the documents shall be organized by account and then chronologically for each account. If the document exceeds a hundred pages, an index should be included.

Handwritten pleadings are permitted if written neatly and legibly in blue or black ink, but the court or clerk may reject pleadings that are not.

Parties may submit handwritten pleadings in blue or black ink that are neat and legible. The judicial officer and/or Clerk’s Office have the discretion to reject handwritten pleadings that are not neat or legible.