Rule 1.31. Mandatory forms
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.31
Current text effective January 1, 2026.
#(a) Use of mandatory forms and acceptance for filing
Forms adopted by the Judicial Council for mandatory use are forms prescribed under Government Code section 68511. Wherever applicable, they must be used by all parties and must be accepted for filing by all courts. In some areas, alternative mandatory forms have been adopted.
#(b) List of mandatory forms
Each mandatory Judicial Council form is identified as mandatory by an asterisk (*) on the list of Judicial Council forms in Appendix A to the California Rules of Court. The list is available on the California Courts website at www.courts.ca.gov/forms.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2015.)
#(c) Identification of mandatory forms
Forms adopted by the Judicial Council for mandatory use bear the words “Form Adopted for Mandatory Use,” “Mandatory Form,” “Form Adopted for Alternative Mandatory Use,” or “Alternative Mandatory Form” in the lower left corner of the first page.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2026)
#(d) Words on forms
Publishers and courts reprinting a mandatory Judicial Council form in effect before July 1, 1999, must add the words "Mandatory Form" to the bottom of the first page.
#(e) No alteration of forms
Except as provided in rule 3.52(6), concerning court fee waiver orders, and rule 5.504, concerning court orders in juvenile court proceedings, courts may not require the use of an altered mandatory Judicial Council form in place of the Judicial Council form. However, a judicial officer may modify a Judicial Council form order as necessary or appropriate to adjudicate a particular case.
(Subd (e) amended effective September 1, 2017; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, January 1, 2009, and July 1, 2009.)
#(f) No colored forms
Courts may not require that any mandatory Judicial Council form be submitted on any color of paper other than white.
#(g) Orders not on mandatory forms
An otherwise legally sufficient court order for which there is a mandatory Judicial Council form is not invalid or unenforceable because the order is not prepared on a Judicial Council form or the correct Judicial Council form.
#History
Rule 1.31 amended effective January 1, 2026; adopted effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, January 1, 2009, July 1, 2009, January 1, 2015, and September 1, 2017.
What this rule requires
Document Format Requirements
Except as provided in rule 3.52(6), concerning court fee waiver orders, and rule 5.504, concerning court orders in juvenile court proceedings, courts may not require the use of an altered mandatory Judicial Council form in place of the Judicial Council form.
However, a judicial officer may modify a Judicial Council form order as necessary or appropriate to adjudicate a particular case.
Courts may not require that any mandatory Judicial Council form be submitted on any color of paper other than white.
An otherwise legally sufficient court order for which there is a mandatory Judicial Council form is not invalid or unenforceable because the order is not prepared on a Judicial Council form or the correct Judicial Council form.
Document Filing Requirements
Wherever applicable, they must be used by all parties and must be accepted for filing by all courts.
Judicial Council forms adopted for mandatory use must bear one of the specified labels in the lower left corner of the first page.
The rule's wording
Forms adopted by the Judicial Council for mandatory use bear the words “Form Adopted for Mandatory Use,” “Mandatory Form,” “Form Adopted for Alternative Mandatory Use,” or “Alternative Mandatory Form” in the lower left corner of the first page.
Publishers and courts reprinting a mandatory Judicial Council form in effect before July 1, 1999, must add the words "Mandatory Form" to the bottom of the first page.
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.