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Court Rules

California Rules of Court

Rule 2.118. Acceptance of papers for filing

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.118

Current text effective January 1, 2017.

#(a) Papers not in compliance

The clerk of the court must not accept for filing or file any papers that do not comply with the rules in this chapter, except the clerk must not reject a paper for filing solely on the ground that:

#(1) It is handwritten or hand-printed;

#(2) The handwriting or hand printing on the paper is in a color other than black or blue-black; or

#(3) The font size is not exactly the point size required by rules 2.104 and 2.110(c) on papers submitted electronically in portable document format (PDF). Minimal variation in font size may result from converting a document created using word processing software to PDF.

#

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2017.)

#(b) Absence of fax number or e-mail address

The clerk must not reject a paper for filing solely on the ground that it does not contain an attorney's or a party's fax number or e-mail address on the first page.

#(c) Filing of papers for good cause

For good cause shown, the court may permit the filing of papers that do not comply with the rules in this chapter.

#History

Rule 2.118 amended effective January 1, 2017; adopted effective January 1, 2007.

What this rule requires

Document Format Requirements

  • The clerk of the court must not accept for filing or file any papers that do not comply with the rules in this chapter, except the clerk must not reject a paper for filing solely on the ground that:

  • (1) It is handwritten or hand-printed;

  • (2) The handwriting or hand printing on the paper is in a color other than black or blue-black; or

  • (3) The font size is not exactly the point size required by rules 2.104 and 2.110(c) on papers submitted electronically in portable document format (PDF). Minimal variation in font size may result from converting a document created using word processing software to PDF.

  • (b) Absence of fax number or e-mail address The clerk must not reject a paper for filing solely on the ground that it does not contain an attorney's or a party's fax number or e-mail address on the first page.

  • (c) Filing of papers for good cause For good cause shown, the court may permit the filing of papers that do not comply with the rules in this chapter.

Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.