Accurate as of November 2026
Here's what's on the books October-December 2026 in the California courts you file in most: filing procedures, service-of-process rules, and clerk's-office hours across roughly 20 counties. We update this page quarterly. Every entry below is dated and links back to the court's own notice, order, or local rules page. Check the source before you rely on it, since court notices can be revised after they're posted.
If a county isn't listed, we didn't find a verified change announced for this quarter yet.
- Entries marked "Still worth noting" are earlier changes that still affect how you file or serve.
- Most counties' local-rule cycles turn over January 1, 2027 rather than this quarter. We'll cover that wave in our next update.
- Several courts have proposed rules open for comment now, so check your court's local rules page for pending changes.
For California's statewide service-of-process reform, see our SPARE Act Guide for Paralegals.
Fresno County
Clerk's-office counter consolidation, November and December 2026. On November 23–25, December 21–24, and December 31, 2026, the B.F. Sisk Courthouse (civil and family) will be closed and the clerk's offices will be consolidated into the Main Courthouse, 1100 Van Ness Ave. Learn more →
San Francisco County
Reduced clerk's-office hours, effective October 19, 2026. The Civil and Unified Family Court Clerk's Offices are open to the public 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, due to ongoing budget and staffing constraints. Drop boxes remain available outside the main entrance from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., and documents received by 4:00 p.m. receive a same-day submission date. Learn more →
San Joaquin County
Reduced clerk's-office hours ran through October 30, 2026. Due to the court's new case management system rollout, public counter hours at Stockton, Lodi, and Manteca were limited to 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. from September 7 through October 30. Courtrooms, drop boxes, and eFiling remained open throughout. The court hasn't posted counter hours for after October 30, so confirm hours with the court before you head to a counter. Learn more →
Orange County
Proposed local rule changes, comment period closed October 5, 2026. Orange County Superior Court invited comment on revisions to Local Rule 700.7 (electronic filing in family law cases, including default judgments and electronically signed stipulations) and Local Rule 710.1 (default judgment procedures). The notice doesn't state an effective date, so check the court's local rules page for adoption before you rely on the changes. Learn more →
San Diego County
Mandatory motion hearing reservations and a three-court-day filing deadline for civil motions, effective December 14, 2026. Parties represented by counsel must use the Motion Appearance Reservation System (MARS) to reserve hearing dates for demurrers and other noticed motions in civil cases assigned to Independent Calendar Departments, and a motion filed without a reservation will not be heard. Moving papers must be filed within three court days after the hearing date is reserved, or the hearing date will be vacated. Self-represented litigants are encouraged, but not required, to use MARS. Learn more →
Alameda County
Proposed amended Local Rule 3.50, comments due October 30, 2026. The rule sets the reasonable-diligence standard for substituted service under Code of Civil Procedure § 415.20(b), including the number, days, and times of attempts at personal delivery. The amendment would take effect on approval by the Chair of the Judicial Council or January 1, 2027, whichever is sooner. Learn more →
San Bernardino County
Family Law Clerk's Office relocation, effective November 9, 2026. The Family Law Clerk's Office will serve the public from the second floor of the Historic Courthouse Annex, 351 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino. Family law courtrooms and scheduled proceedings stay in their current locations. Learn more →
Still worth noting: FileSubmit has been discontinued for family law cases, effective August 6, 2026. Family law filings and payments must go through eFile, or be submitted in person, by drop box, or by mail. Learn more →
Marin County
Still worth noting: Administrative Order 26-01, effective February 23, 2026. In non-criminal existing cases, each document that needs its own file stamp and docket entry (motions, declarations, notices, oppositions) must be uploaded as its own standalone PDF rather than bundled. Case-initiating documents and grouped exhibits remain exempt. Learn more →
Riverside County
Still worth noting: Civil filing location reassignments, effective August 1, 2026. Unlimited civil cases from Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Winchester, Homeland, Wildomar, and Murrieta go to the Historic Courthouse in Riverside. Limited civil, small claims, and unlawful detainer cases from Lake Elsinore and Wildomar go to the Corona Courthouse, and small claims and unlawful detainer cases previously filed at Banning Justice Center go to Moreno Valley Courthouse. Confirm the correct location before you file. Learn more →
Solano County
Still worth noting: Solano renumbered several local forms in July 2026. The court's July 2026 forms index lists the new numbers, including 3014-CV and 3015-CV (civil requests for extension of time), 3703-SC and 3705-SC (small claims), 1020-AD and 1030-AD, and 7014-PR (probate investigator fees). The older numbers (910, 920, 7000, 7090, 4020, SCLF 1940, and 3500) no longer appear in the index, so use the new numbering. Learn more →
Sonoma County
Still worth noting: The court is moving into its new courthouse at 625 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa, in phases beginning July 20, 2026. Civil and Family Law matters remain at the Civil and Family Law Building, 3055 Cleveland Avenue. Confirm which building handles your case type before appearing in person. Learn more →
Still worth noting: Since August 10, 2026, public counter hours at the Sonoma County Courthouse and the Civil and Family Courthouse are 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Learn more →
Ventura County
Still worth noting: Since July 1, 2026, family law non-restraining-order ex parte filings are accepted through the court's eDelivery system, and the court's previous email address for these filings is disabled. Learn more →
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