California Judicial Branch - Statewide Rules and Forms Document Format Requirements

Electronically submitted or filed papers must meet the requirements in rule 2.256(b).

Source text: Papers that are submitted or filed electronically must meet the requirements in rule 2.256(b).

Judicial Council preempts local trial court rules on form and format of papers filed in trial courts.

Source text: The Judicial Council has preempted local rules relating to the form and format of papers to be filed in the trial courts. No trial court, or any division or branch of a trial court, may enact or enforce any local rule concerning the form or format of papers.

Electronically filed documents must be in a court-specified format meeting requirements for software availability, printing integrity, and text searchability; this chapter's rules prevail over conflicting formatting rules.

Source text: A document that is filed electronically with the court must be in a format specified by the court unless it cannot be created in that format. The format adopted by a court must meet the following requirements: (1) The software for creating and reading documents must be in the public domain or generally available at a reasonable cost. (2) The printing of documents must not result in the loss of document text, format, or appearance. (3) The document must be text searchable when technologically feasible without impairment of the document's image. If a document is filed electronically under the rules in this chapter and cannot be formatted to be consistent with a formatting rule elsewhere in the California Rules of Court, the rules in this chapter prevail.

Motion papers must be consecutively paginated with Arabic numerals starting at the first page; page numbers may be suppressed on the first page.

Source text: Documents must be consecutively paginated. The page numbering must begin with the first page and use only Arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3). The page number may be suppressed and need not appear on the first page.

Paper-filed motions must have all pages and exhibits attached at the top with a method allowing easy page turning and full content visibility.

Source text: For motions filed on paper, all pages of each document and exhibit must be attached together at the top by a method that permits pages to be easily turned and the entire content of each page to be read.

All pages from a single deposition must be filed as a single exhibit.

Source text: Pages from a single deposition must be designated as a single exhibit.

Paper exhibits must be separated by 8.5x11 sheets with tabs bearing the exhibit designation.

Source text: Each paper exhibit must be separated by a hard 81/2 x 11 sheet with hard paper or plastic tabs extending below the bottom of the page, bearing the exhibit designation.

Electronic exhibits must comply with rule 2.256(b) and include bookmarks unless submitted by a self-represented party.

Source text: Electronic exhibits must meet the requirements in rule 2.256(b). Unless they are submitted by a self-represented party, electronic exhibits must include electronic bookmarks with links to the first page of each exhibit and with bookmark titles that identify the exhibit number or letter and briefly describe the exhibit.

OSC and TRO must be separate (OSC first), restraining language separately stated in each, OSC describes injunction sought, TRO describes activities enjoined.

Source text: The OSC and TRO must be stated separately, with the OSC stated first. The restraining language sought in an OSC and a TRO must be separately stated in the OSC and the TRO and may not be incorporated by reference. The OSC must describe the injunction to be sought at the hearing. The TRO must describe the activities to be enjoined pending the hearing.

Proposed OSC must include blank spaces for service details, proof of service delivery date, briefing schedule, and TRO expiration if applicable.

Source text: A proposed OSC must contain blank spaces for the time and manner of service on responding parties, the date on which the proof of service must be delivered to the court hearing the OSC, a briefing schedule, and, if applicable, the expiration date of the TRO.

TRO and OSC applications must state previous applications for similar relief and results.

Source text: An application for a TRO or an OSC must state whether there has been any previous application for similar relief and, if so, the result of the application.

Electronically submitted proposed orders must be in PDF (with EFS-020) and editable word-processing format.

Source text: If a proposed order is submitted to the court electronically in a case in which the parties are electronically filing documents under rules 2.250-2.261, two versions of the proposed order must be submitted: (1) A version of the proposed order must be attached to a completed Proposed Order (Cover Sheet) (form EFS-020), and the combined document in Portable Document Format (PDF) must be filed electronically; and (2) A version of the proposed order in an editable word-processing format must also be sent electronically to the court, with a copy of the e-mail and proposed order also being sent to all parties in the action.

Amendments to pleadings cannot be made via alterations on the pleading's face without court permission, and all alterations must be initialed by the court or clerk.

Source text: (d) Requirements for amendment to a pleading An amendment to a pleading must not be made by alterations on the face of a pleading except by permission of the court. All alterations must be initialed by the court or the clerk.

Mandatory Judicial Council forms must be used for petitions, orders, and other documents where adopted.

Source text: If a petition, an order, or another document to be submitted to the court is one for which the Judicial Council has adopted a mandatory form, that form must be used. Except as provided in this rule, if the Judicial Council has adopted a mandatory form in more than one alternative version, one of the alternative versions must be used. If that form is inadequate in a particular situation, an addendum may be attached to it.

Creditor claim allowances or rejections must be in writing.

Source text: Allow or reject in whole or in part the claim in writing;

The Summary of Account form GC-400(SUM)/GC-405(SUM) must be used in all accountings.

Source text: The Summary of Account—Standard and Simplified Accounts (form GC-400(SUM)/GC-405(SUM)) must be used in all accountings.

Fiduciaries filing standard accountings without Judicial Council forms must follow specified formatting and content requirements.

Source text: Except for the Summary of Account, all standard accounting forms are optional. A fiduciary who files a standard accounting and elects not to use the Judicial Council forms must: (A) Report receipts and disbursements in the subject-matter categories specified on the Judicial Council standard accounting forms for receipts and disbursements schedules; (B) Provide the same information about any asset, property, transaction, receipt, disbursement, or other matter that is required on the applicable Judicial Council standard accounting form; and (C) Provide the information in the same general format as that of the applicable Judicial Council standard accounting form, except that instructional material and material contained or requested in the form’s header and footer may be omitted.

Simplified accountings must use GC-405(A) and GC-405(C) schedules unless standard forms are required.

Source text: Schedule A, Receipts—Simplified Account (form GC-405(A)) and Schedule C, Disbursements—Simplified Account (form GC-405(C)) must be used in all simplified accountings unless (d)(2) requires use of the standard forms for Schedule A or Schedule C.

Requests for SIJ findings must be verified petitions with separate petitions for each minor.

Source text: A request for findings under this rule must be made by verified petition. A separate request must be filed for each minor seeking SIJ findings.

Pre-move notice of residence change must use Judicial Council form GC-079; emergency short notice must state basis.

Source text: (1) The Pre-Move Notice of Proposed Change of Personal Residence of Conservatee or Ward (form GC-079) must be used for the pre-move notice required under (a) and Probate Code section 2352(e)(3). The guardian, the guardian’s attorney, or an employee of the attorney may complete the mailing and sign the proof of mailing on page 2 of the form. If the notice is mailed less than 15 days before the date of the move because an emergency requires a shorter period of notice, the basis for the emergency must be stated in the notice.

Post-move notice of residence change must use Judicial Council form GC-080.

Source text: (2) The Post-Move Notice of Change of Residence of Conservatee or Ward (form GC-080) must be used for the post-move notice required under (c) and Probate Code section 2352(e)(1) and (2). The guardian, the guardian’s attorney, or an employee of the attorney may complete the mailing and sign the proof of mailing on page 2 of the form.

Concurrent requests for findings and guardianship petitions must be separate, not attachments.

Source text: A request for findings under this rule by or on behalf of a minor filed concurrently with a petition for the appointment of a guardian of the person or for extension of a guardianship of the person past the 18th birthday of the minor must be prepared and filed as a separate petition, not as an attachment to the petition for appointment.

Conservator appointment petitioners (except banks) must submit GC-312; proposed conservators (except banks/public guardians) must submit GC-314.

Source text: Each petitioner, unless the petitioner is a bank or other entity entitled to conduct the business of a trust company, must submit to the court with the petition for appointment of conservator a completed Confidential Supplemental Information statement (form GC-312). In addition, each proposed conservator, except a bank or other entity entitled to conduct the business of a trust company, or a public guardian, must submit a completed Confidential Conservator Screening Form (form GC-314).

Pre-move notices must use form GC-079; post-move notices must use form GC-080.

Source text: (1) The Pre-Move Notice of Proposed Change of Personal Residence of Conservatee or Ward (form GC-079) must be used for the pre-move notice required under (a) and Probate Code section 2352(e)(3). The conservator, the conservator’s attorney, or an employee of the attorney may complete the mailing and sign the Proof of Mailing on page 2 of the form. If the notice is mailed less than 15 days before the date of the move because an emergency requires a shorter period of notice, the basis for the emergency must be stated in the notice. (2) The Post-Move Notice of Change of Residence of Conservatee or Ward (form GC-080) must be used for the post-move notice required under (c) and Probate Code section 2352(e)(1) and (2). The conservator, the conservator’s attorney, or an employee of the attorney may complete the mailing and sign the Proof of Mailing on page 2 of the form.

Judicial Council forms are exempt from California Rules of Court Rule 2.100 format requirements for superior court filings.

Source text: Judicial Council forms are not subject to the requirements of rules 2.100, which specify the format of papers filed in the superior courts.

Forms filled by pen must use blue or black ink and be printed clearly.

Source text: If you use a pen, use blue or black ink and print clearly.

Electronically transmitted summons must include court seal image and assigned case number.

Source text: The electronically transmitted summons must contain an image of the court's seal and the assigned case number.

Rules in this chapter prescribe the form and format of papers filed in trial courts.

Source text: The rules in this chapter prescribe the form and format of papers to be filed in the trial courts.

Form GC-330 is optional unless local rule requires it; must be prepared only by court.

Source text: Order Appointing Court Investigator (form GC-330) is an optional form within the meaning of rule 1.35 of these rules, except as follows: (1) A court may, by local rule, require that form GC-330 be used for orders appointing court investigators and directing them to conduct all or any of the investigations described in the form and to prepare, file, and deliver copies of reports concerning those investigations. Form GC-330 must be prepared only by the court. (2) A court may, by local rule, require that a general order, a court-prepared order, or a local form order instead of form GC-330 be used to appoint and direct the actions of court investigators concerning all or any of the investigations and reports described in form GC-330.

Form GC-331 is optional unless local rule requires it; must be prepared only by court.

Source text: Order Appointing Court Investigator (Review and Successor Conservator Investigations) (form GC-331) is an optional form within the meaning of rule 1.35 of these rules, except as follows: (1) A court may, by local rule, require that form GC-331 be used for orders appointing court investigators and directing them to conduct all or any of the review investigations under Probate Code sections 1850 or 1850.5 and 1851 or investigations concerning the appointment of successor conservators under Probate Code sections 2684 and 2686 described in the form and to prepare, file, and deliver copies of reports concerning those investigations. Form GC-331 must be prepared only by the court. (2) A court may, by local rule, require that a general order, a court-prepared order, or a local form order instead of form GC-331 be used to appoint and direct the actions of court investigators concerning all or any of the investigations and reports described in form GC-331.

Parties may file computer-produced duplicates of Judicial Council forms.

Source text: A party may file a "duplicate" of a council form produced entirely by computer (rule 1.44).

Electronic endorsement of e-filed documents has same force as manual clerk endorsement stamp.

Source text: The endorsement required under (1) has the same force and effect as a manually affixed endorsement stamp with the signature and initials of the court clerk.