Rule 8.488. Certificate of Interested Entities or Persons
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.488
Current text effective January 1, 2016.
#(a) Application
This rule applies in writ proceedings in criminal cases in which an entity is the defendant and in civil cases other than family, juvenile, guardianship, and conservatorship cases.
#(b) Compliance with rule 8.208
Each party in a civil case and any entity that is a defendant in a criminal case must comply with the requirements of rule 8.208 concerning serving and filing a certificate of interested entities or persons.
#(c) Placement of certificates
#(1) The petitioner's certificate must be included in the petition.
#(2) The certificates of the respondent and real party in interest must be included in their preliminary opposition or, if no such opposition is filed, in their return, if any.
#(3) The certificate must appear after the cover and before the tables.
#(4) If the identity of any party has not been publicly disclosed in the proceedings, the party may file an application for permission to file its certificate under seal separately from the petition, preliminary opposition, or return.
#(d) Failure to file a certificate
#(1) If a party fails to file a certificate as required under (b) and (c), the clerk must notify the party in writing that the party must file the certificate within 10 days after the clerk's notice is sent and that if the party fails to comply, the court may impose one of the following sanctions:
#(2) If the party fails to file the certificate as specified in the notice under (1), the court may impose the sanctions specified in the notice.
(Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2016.)
#History
Rule 8.488 amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted effective January 1, 2009.
What this rule requires
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
If a party fails to file a certificate as required under (b) and (c), the clerk must notify the party in writing that the party must file the certificate within 10 days after the clerk's notice is sent and that if the party fails to comply, the court may impose one of the following sanctions:
If the party fails to file the certificate as specified in the notice under (1), the court may impose the sanctions specified in the notice.
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Each party in a civil case and any entity that is a defendant in a criminal case must comply with the requirements of rule 8.208 concerning serving and filing a certificate of interested entities or persons.
Document Format Requirements
The certificate must appear after the cover and before the tables.
Document Filing Requirements
The petitioner's certificate must be included in the petition.
The certificates of the respondent and real party in interest must be included in their preliminary opposition or, if no such opposition is filed, in their return, if any.
If a party fails to file a certificate as required under (b) and (c), the clerk must notify the party in writing that the party must file the certificate within 10 days after the clerk's notice is sent and that if the party fails to comply, the court may impose one of the following sanctions:
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
If the identity of any party has not been publicly disclosed in the proceedings, the party may file an application for permission to file its certificate under seal separately from the petition, preliminary opposition, or return.
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.
#Advisory Committee Comment
The Judicial Council has adopted an optional form, Certificate of Interested Entities or Persons (form APP-008), that can be used to file the certificate required by this provision.
Subdivision (a). Under rule 8.208(c), for purposes of certificates of interested entities or persons, an "entity" means a corporation, a partnership, a firm, or any other association, but does not include a governmental entity or its agencies or a natural person.