The world of California courts is constantly shifting, now more than ever before. In an effort to highlight significant updates, One Legal will be compiling the biggest changes in court operations and messaging from the past week to help us all keep up.
For a full list of all 58 California courts and more information about their known status, visit our California courts updates page on the Support Center>>
Please note: All resources shared by One Legal are intended as high-level summaries only. For a full picture of each court’s response to the challenges of COVID-19, please visit the individual court website.
Service of process
You can continue to request service of process through One Legal and our network of process servers continue to make attempts throughout the U.S. California’s shelter-in-place order specifically exempts “Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities and critical sector services,” which includes process serving.
Court updates this week
As courts work hard to determine a way to bring the full justice system back online, here are the courts that have updated their messaging in a significant way, shared plans to increase access, or established new protocols for filing and beyond.
Alameda County
The court has announced that, beginning Monday May 11, it will resume accepting nearly all civil, family, and probate filings—including filings initiating new cases. The filing expansion is detailed in newly adopted amendments to emergency Local Rule 1.8a and Local Rule 3.30, as well as in a revised FAQ on the court’s website.
Contra Costa County
The Court posted a press release announcing that:
- Hearing dates between May 18 and May 27 will be heard before the Court if fully briefed.
- Beginning May 28, all Civil matters will proceed as scheduled.
Fresno County
The Court issued a General Order that:
- Extended the court closure until May 29 and listed matters that would be excepted
- Extended some time periods where the statutory deadline would have otherwise expired
Additional court holidays were not included in the order and eFilings continue to be accepted, although filers should expect delays in processing and receipt of returned documents.
Placer County
The court has announced that, beginning Monday May 11, it will begin to increases its operations. Modifications include mandataing eDelivery of court filings. Accordingly, all Placer County filing orders placed through One Legal will be eDelivered on your behalf.Read the public notice>>
Sacramento County
Starting May 6, the Court began accepting additional Civil filings, including the filing of new cases, by dropbox.
Note: If you have already submitted a document through One Legal for Sacramento County Superior Court, we have already begun delivering to the court in the order in which they were received. Expect delays as the Court deals with the influx of filings and keep in mind that the Order from April 16 designated court holidays from April 17 through May 15.
San Mateo County
The court has announced plans to make eFiling mandatory in Civil Limited and Civil Unlimited case types from June 1, 2020 (eFiling is already mandatory for Family and Probate matters).
Shasta County
As of May 5, the Court has resumed limited operations in a “soft” courthouse reopening. The Court continues to recommend the use of the dropbox.
Sierra County
The Court announced on May 4 via an announcement on their website that it will be holding all court matters remotely until further notice.
Trinity County
The Court is currently open to the public, requesting that personal appearance be restricted solely for critical and necessary reasons.
Yuba County
The Court reopened on May 1 with strict social distancing in place, limited courtroom seating, and other changes to operations.
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