Ventura Superior Court Service and Proof of Service Rules

Applies to

Notice of case assignment and mandatory appearance

The filing party must serve a copy of the Notice of Case Assignment and Mandatory Appearance on all named defendants or respondents with the complaint or petition, and with any cross-complaint or complaint in intervention naming a new party.

A copy of the Notice of Case Assignment and Mandatory Appearance shall be served by the filing party on all named Defendants/Respondents with the Complaint or Petition, and with any Cross- Complaint or Complaint in Intervention that names a new party to the underlying action.

Applies to

Civil case cover sheet addendum

A copy of the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum must be served with the summons and complaint or petition.

A copy of the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum must be served with the Summons and Complaint or Petition.

Applies to

Mediators notice of acceptance or recusal

The assigned mediator must serve the Mediator’s Notice of Acceptance or Recusal within 10 days after receiving the Notice of Assignment of Mediator.

(b) The assigned mediator shall file and serve the “Mediator’s Notice of Acceptance or Recusal” local form (VN-274) within ten (10) days of receiving the “Notice of Assignment of Mediator” local form (VN-271).

Applies to

Stipulation to mediator and mediation date

When the mediator is jointly selected, the plaintiff must serve the Stipulation to Mediator and Mediation Date on all other litigants and the mediator within 15 days after being ordered to mediate.

Within fifteen (15) days of being ordered to mediate, plaintiff shall file the “Stipulation to Mediator and Mediation Date” local form (VN-272) and shall serve a copy on all other litigants and the mediator.

Applies to

Stipulation to mediator and mediation date

For an assigned mediator, the plaintiff must serve the Stipulation to Mediator and Mediation Date on all other litigants and the mediator.

The plaintiff shall serve a copy on all other litigants and the mediator.

Applies to

Mediation statement

Each party must serve the mediator and all counsel or self-represented litigants with a short mediation statement no later than five days before mediation.

No later than five (5) days before the date set for mediation, each party shall serve on the mediator and all counsel and/or self- represented litigants, a short mediation statement which shall set forth: (1) the nature of the case and causes of action, (2) the factual and legal issues to be resolved, (3) the parties’ objectives at mediation, and (4) other information that may be helpful in resolving the dispute, including case valuations, if appropriate.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Applies to

Complaint in intervention

A complaint-in-intervention must be served under Code of Civil Procedure section 387(a), with proof of service returned within 30 days after filing.

The complaint-in-intervention shall be served in accord with Code of Civil Procedure §387(a), and proof of service shall be returned to the court no later than thirty (30) days after filing of the complaint-in-intervention.

Service

Mail

When a pleading is mailed to an attorney for service, the proof of service must identify the represented party or parties in the specified form.

In all cases where proof of service is made on any party by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint, cross complaint or other pleading to the party’s attorney, the proof of service shall identify the party or parties whom counsel represents as indicated below: John Jones, Esq. 123 Main Street Ventura, CA 93003 Attorney for Defendant Mary Smith

Applies to

Appellate brief

Service

Electronic service to clerk

An appellate brief served on the Superior Court Clerk for delivery to the trial judge must be submitted electronically to the specified email address.

Service of an appellate brief filed in the Court of Appeal on the Superior Court Clerk for delivery to the Trial Judge as provided by the California Rules of Court shall be submitted through electronic delivery and sent to admin-vsc@ventura.courts.ca.gov.

Service

Court service

The court must notify the plaintiff of the defendant’s/respondent’s communication by serving the plaintiff with a copy.

The court shall notify the plaintiff of the defendant’s/respondent’s communication by serving a copy upon plaintiff.

The plaintiff must serve any notice under subdivisions B or C.1 on the defendant or respondent using a manner authorized for service of summons under the Code of Civil Procedure.

Any notice given pursuant to subdivision B or C.1 of this rule shall be served on the defendant/respondent by the plaintiff in any manner provided in the Code of Civil Procedure for service of summons.

Service

Mail to all parties

The requesting party must mail a copy of the continuance request to all parties.

The requesting party shall mail or personally deliver a copy to all parties in the action.

Applies to

Jury verdict form

Absent a contrary court order, plaintiff's counsel must prepare the jury verdict form and serve it on the other parties before the first witness is sworn.

Unless otherwise ordered by the trial court, jury verdict forms will be prepared by plaintiff's counsel and served on other parties before the first witness is sworn.

Unless previously completed, opposing counsel must exchange in limine motions at or immediately after announcing ready at the trial call, subject to individual trial-court rules.

Subject to the trial courts’ individual rules and procedures, opposing counsel who have not already done so shall exchange motions at or immediately after announcing ready at the trial call.

Service

Personal service

When personal service is required, it may be completed by any manner authorized for service of process in civil actions.

In all cases wherein personal service is required, service may be accomplished in any manner provided for service of process in civil actions, generally, Code of Civil Procedure §415.10 et seq.

Service

Personal service

When the respondent’s whereabouts are unknown despite reasonable diligence, an indigent petitioner who cannot afford publication may accomplish service by posting under Code of Civil Procedure §413.30.

In addition, where the respondent’s whereabouts are unknown, and the petitioner has used reasonable diligence to attempt to locate respondent, service may be accomplished by posting, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §413.30, if the petitioner is indigent and therefore has no ability to serve by publication.

Applies to

Income and expense declaration

Service

Mail

When the trial Income and Expense Declaration is served by mail, the five-day mailing allowance does not apply.

Service by mail under this rule does not require the addition of five (5) days for mailing.

Applies to

Final declaration of disclosure

Final Declarations of Disclosure must be served no later than 45 days before the first assigned trial date unless the parties mutually waive the requirement.

Final Declarations of Disclosure shall be served no later than forty-five (45) days before the first assigned trial date unless mutually waived by the parties.

The requesting party must schedule the CCRC appointment and give the other party or counsel at least 10 days' notice before the appointment.

It shall be the responsibility of the requesting party to schedule the appointment, and to give notice to the other party or their counsel at least ten (10) days before the appointment.

Applies to

Signed order and petition

Service

Court service to agency

The Court clerk must deliver the signed order’s conformed copy and a copy of the petition to the Ventura County Human Services Agency.

The clerk of the Court shall deliver a conformed copy of the signed order and a copy of the petition to the Ventura County Human Services Agency.

Applies to

Citation and petition

The proofs of service for the citation and petition must state the hearing date within the body of each proof.

The proofs of service of the citation and petition shall state within the body of the proofs of service the date of the hearing.

Applies to

Amended pleading

Service

Publication

An amended pleading requires the same notice, including publication, as the pleading it amends and must be filed and set for hearing like an original petition.

An amended pleading requires the same notice (including publication) as the pleading it amends and must be filed and set for hearing as though an original petition.

Deadline

5 court days

Applies to

Ex parte petition

Service

Mail

For a probate ex parte petition, mailed notice of its nature and proposed hearing time and place must be given at least five court days in advance to counsel, other interested parties, and special-notice recipients.

1. The court will require the moving party to give at least twenty-four (24) hours telephone or facsimile notice or five (5) court days mailing notice of the nature of the petition to counsel (or in the absence thereof to the other interested parties themselves) and those who request special notice, together with the proposed time and place of the hearing.

Applies to

Ex parte guardianship application

An appearing party must serve the application, supporting documents, or written opposition on every other appearing party at the first reasonable opportunity.

7. A party appearing at the ex parte hearing must serve the ex parte application and supporting documents or any written opposition on all other appearing parties at the first reasonable opportunity.

Applies to

Temporary guardianship hearing notice

If an ex parte temporary-guardianship hearing is denied and the matter proceeds to a hearing, the petitioner must give notice as required by Probate Code § 2250(e).

9. If the ex parte application hearing is denied, the matter may be set for hearing on the petition for appointment of a temporary guardianship. The petitioner must give notice of the hearing as set out in Probate Code §2250(e).

Applies to

Reconsideration hearing notice

The petitioner must give notice of a temporary-guardianship reconsideration hearing as required by Probate Code § 2250(f).

The petitioner must give notice of the hearing for reconsideration as set out in Probate Code §2250(f).

Applies to

Preliminary interim financial declaration

At the required time, the petitioner must serve form VN-262 on the Public Defender's office and the Family Court Services probate court investigator's office.

Further, the petitioner is to serve said form, at that time, upon the offices of the Public Defender and the Family Court Services probate court investigator.

Applies to

Citation

Incomplete citation service on the return date cannot be cured by a continuance; the court must issue an amended citation, and the original citation must show no service.

If service of the citation is incomplete on the return date, it cannot be perfected by continuance and completion of service except by issuance of an amended citation. In such circumstances, the original citation shall be filed showing no service.

Applies to

Citation

Service of a citation ordinarily cannot be waived.

Service of a citation cannot ordinarily be waived.

Applies to

Care plan

The conservator must serve a copy of the Care Plan as required by Probate Code §2351.2 and file proof of that service.

The conservator must serve a copy of the Conservatorship Care Plan as provided in Probate Code §2351.2 and file a proof of service.

Applies to

Status report

The conservator must serve the status report on the individuals identified in Probate Code §2351.2(a)(2)(A) and file proof of service.

The conservator must serve a copy of the status report to the individuals identified in Probate Code §2351.2(a)(2)(A) and file a proof of service.

Counsel representing a conservatee, ward, or proposed conservatee or ward must be served with every filed document, including confidential documents, on or about the filing date.

If the conservatee, ward or proposed conservatee or ward is represented by counsel that counsel must be served with all documents filed with the court, including the confidential documents, on or about the time of filing.

For specified disability allegations or limited conservatorship petitions, the petition and related filings must also be served on the Public Defender's Office on or about the filing date.

If the conservatee or proposed conservatee is alleged to suffer from a major neurocognitive disorder or a developmental disability, or if the petition is for a limited conservatorship, the petition and related court filings shall also be served on the Public Defender’s Office on or about the time of filing.

Deadline

48 hours

Applies to

Temporary conservator petition

If the permanent-conservator petition will be contested, all known potential objectors must be notified at least 48 hours before the temporary-conservator petition is presented.

However, if the attorney is informed that the petition for appointment of a permanent conservator will be contested, all known potential objectors shall be notified at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time and place the petition for appointment of the temporary conservator will be presented;

Applies to

Blocked account informal accounting

The blocked-account form and attachments must be served on court-appointed counsel and the Court Investigator’s Office 30 days before the informal-accounting hearing.

The form and attachments are to be filed with the court and served on the court-appointed counsel for the conservatee/ward, as well as the Court Investigator’s Offices, thirty (30) days prior to when the hearing of the informal accounting would otherwise be heard.

Applies to

Psychological evaluation report

A copy of the psychological evaluation report must be given to each party’s attorney before the hearing, and those attorneys are responsible for disclosing the information to their clients.

A copy of the report shall be given to the attorneys for each party before the time of the hearing and the attorneys shall be responsible for the manner of disclosing the information to her or his client.

Applies to

Proposed findings conclusions

A party ordered to prepare findings and orders must serve the proposed findings and orders on every other party before submitting them to the court.

If the court orders a party to prepare findings and orders, the party shall serve a copy of the proposed findings and orders on all other parties prior to the time they are submitted to the court.

Applies to

Calendaring request

An ex parte Calendaring Request must include advance notice to all other parties and proof of that notice filed when the request is submitted to the clerk.

Advance notice to all other parties of the purpose for seeking an ex parte hearing shall be given and proof of such notice shall be filed at the time the Calendaring Request is submitted to the clerk.

Applies to

Request to change court order

For a court-order change request set for hearing, the requesting party serves all parties if the party filed the request; otherwise, the clerk gives notice and serves the JV-180 request on all parties.

If the request to change a court order is set for a hearing, and if a party to the dependency case has filed the request, he or she shall be responsible to give notice to all other parties and to serve a copy of the JV-180 request on all parties. In all other cases, the clerk of the court shall give notice of the hearing and serve all parties with a copy of the JV-180 request.

Deadline

2 court days

Applies to

Casa report

CASA reports must be served on the parties no later than two court days before the relevant hearing.

Reports are to be submitted to the court and served on the parties no later than two (2) court days prior to the hearing for which the report was prepared.

Applies to

Casa report

CASAVC must serve a copy of its report on each attorney of record, any self-represented party, and the assigned social worker.

CASAVC shall be responsible to serve a copy of the report on each party’s attorney, to any self-represented party and to the assigned social worker.

The requested-instructions document must be served on every other counsel in the case.

A copy of the document shall be served upon each of the other counsel in the case.

Applies to

Notice of election

The notice of election in a civil limited appeal must be served within the same time limits applicable to designation of the record.

B. An appellant in an appeal in a civil limited case, electing to use the original trial court file as set out in subsection A, must file and serve the notice of election within the same time limits for designation of record set out in California Rules of Court, rule 8.831.

Applies to

Ex parte order application

Absent good cause, ex parte applications must be served on every party and provided to the court before the hearing; when practicable, moving papers should be served by personal delivery, facsimile, email, or overnight delivery and preferably filed by noon the day before the hearing.

Absent good cause, ex parte applications must be served on each party and provided to the court prior to the hearing to allow adequate time for review. Therefore, whenever practicable, moving papers should be served on the other parties by personal delivery, facsimile, email or overnight delivery prior to the hearing and preferably filed by noon the day before the hearing.

Service

Electronic service

Electronic service is mandatory in Unlimited Civil, Limited Civil, and Probate cases, including the listed restraining-order case types.

For Unlimited Civil and Limited Civil, (including Civil Harassment, Elder Abuse, Gun Violence, Workplace Violence, Post Secondary School, and Retail Crime Restraining Orders) and Probate case types, electronic service is mandatory pursuant to Code

Service

Electronic service

Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory electronic service but must affirmatively consent by filing and serving the electronic-service consent and notice forms.

B. Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory electronic service and must affirmatively consent to electronic service by filing and serving a Consent to Electronic Service and Notice of Electronic Service.

Service

Electronic service

A party required to serve and accept service electronically must provide an email address when it first files any paper electronically.

Parties required to serve and accept service electronically must provide an email address for service on the first occasion that the party files any paper electronically pursuant to California Rule of Court, 2111(1).

Applies to

Notice of change of electronic service address

Service

Electronic service

A party must promptly electronically file a Notice of Change of Electronic Service Address with the court and all parties when its electronic-service address changes.

A party whose electronic service address changes must promptly notify the Court and all parties by electronically filing a Notice of Change of Electronic Service Address.

Applies to

Notice of change of electronic service address

Service

Electronic service

A consenting party whose electronic-service address changes must promptly electronically file a Notice of Change of Electronic Service Address with the court and all parties.

A party who consents to electronic service and whose electronic service address has changed must promptly notify the Court and all parties by electronically filing a Notice of Change of Electronic Service Address.

Applies to

Consent to electronic service and notice of electronic service

Service

Electronic service

A prior electronic-service consent filed before July 1, 2025 requires a new Consent to Electronic Service and Notice of Electronic Service form to consent to electronic service from the court.

Previous consent to electronic service filed before to July 1, 2025, must submit another Consent to Electronic Service and Notice of Electronic Service form in order to consent to electronic service from the Court.

Applies to

Jury verdict forms

Unless the trial court orders otherwise, plaintiff's counsel must prepare jury verdict forms and serve them on the other parties before the first witness is sworn.

Unless otherwise ordered by the trial court, jury verdict forms will be prepared by plaintiff's counsel and served on other parties before the first witness is sworn.

Deadline

10 calendar days

Applies to

Subpoena

Before serving an FCS counselor subpoena, the party must confirm the counselor’s availability, and the subpoena must be served on FCS at least 10 calendar days before the hearing with a $275 fee deposit.

Before serving the subpoena, the party must first contact FCS to confirm availability on the scheduled hearing date and time. After confirmation of the RC’s availability, FCS must be served with the subpoena at least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing along with the required fee deposit of $275.00 as indicated on the Fee Schedule.

A party subject to mandatory electronic service may request an exemption and serve conventionally if undue hardship or significant prejudice is shown.

Any party subject to mandatory electronic service may request to be excused from the requirement and may be permitted to serve documents by conventional means due to undue hardship or significant prejudice per Civil Code of Procedure section 1010.6 subdivision (g)(3).

Service

Electronic service

Electronic service is permissive in Family Law and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders cases, and represented or self-represented parties may consent by filing and serving the consent and notice forms.

C. Family Law and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders case types electronic service is permissive. Represented parties and self-represented litigants may consent to electronic service by filing and serving a Consent to Electronic Service and Notice of Electronic Service.

When time permits before the hearing, a party should report a CCRC grievance in a letter to the court and serve a copy on the other party.

If time permits before a scheduled hearing, the party should communicate the allegations in a letter to the court with a copy served on the other party.