Filing Court Papers (General Information)

All documents are filed at the Clerks Office, located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  Papers filed with the Clerks Office can be submitted in person between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays or left at the security station with the Court Bailiff up to 5:00 p.m.  Papers being filed on the day of the hearing must be filed in the courtroom.

When filing papers with the Court, please use the following guidelines:

• Pleadings will not be filed unless they comply with California Rules of Court, Rule 2.100 et seq.  Exhibits must be as legible as original typing or printing.
  
• No conformed copies of documents filed with the Clerks Office will be returned by mail unless a self-addressed stamped envelope, with sufficient postage is provided.
  
• All papers presented for filing must be pre-punched in the standard two-hole position to comply with California Rules of Court, rule 2.115.
  
• An original and one copy must be submitted, and only two copies of each document will be conformed.
  
• Advanced reservations are required for all Unlimited and Limited Civil Motions
  
• Documents submitted without appropriate filing fees according to the court's fee schedule will be returned un-filed.
  
• A copy of the judgment is required for issuance of Writ of Execution or Abstract of Judgment

Petition to Change a Name

To petition the Court to change a name of an adult or a minor, please review the information contained in our Local Forms page.

New Complaint, Petition or Appeal of the Labor Commissioner

Complaints, petitions or appeals of the Labor Commissioner for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases excluding Small Claims cases are filed with the Clerks Office located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  Complaints may be submitted on pleading paper and must be in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 2.100 et seq., or on Judicial Council forms.  Petitions must be submitted on pleading paper.  New complaints and petitions must be submitted with a Judicial Council Civil Case Cover Sheet form and appropriate filing fees or fee waiver.  In addition, an appeal of the Labor Commissioner must include a copy of the order, decision, or award, a copy of the complaint and any answer filed with the Labor Commissioner, and a declaration of proof of service of the notice of appeal being sent to the Labor Commissioner.  If the statute of limitations is approaching, it is recommended that the complaint or petition be filed in person or sent priority mail to ensure it is file in a timely manner.

Answers and Responses

Answers and responses for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases are filed with the Clerks office located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  Answers can be submitted on pleading paper and must be in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 201, or on a Judicial Council form.  Defendants and respondents in Unlimited or Limited Civil cases have 30 days from the date of service of the summons and complaint to file an answer or response,  along with appropriate filing fees or fee waiver, and proof of service pursuant to Code of Civil ProcedureSection 465, or a default judgment may be entered.  If the defendant or respondent is approaching the last day to file their answer or response, it is recommended that the answer or response be filed in person or sent priority mail to ensure it is filed in a timely manner.

Motions

Motions for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases are filed with the Clerks Office located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  Motions are submitted on pleading paper and must be in conformance with California Rules of Court, rule 2.100 et seq., and must include appropriate filing fees or fee waiver.

Hearing dates for all motions, and demurrers must be reserved in advance by telephoning 209-57-2603.

Writ of Execution or Abstract of Judgment

Writs of execution or abstracts of judgment for Unlimited and Limited Civil cases or Small Claims are issued by the Clerks Office located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  Writs and abstracts must be submitted on the Judicial Council form, with a file-endorsed copy of the judgment(s) and cost bill, and must include the appropriate filing fees or fee waiver.  If a writ or abstract is mailed to the Court, it takes approximately 2 weeks to process.

Request for Entry of Default/Default Judgment by Court or Clerk

Requests for entry of default or judgment by clerk are filed with the Clerks Office located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  Requests for entry of default must be submitted on the Judicial Council form, and clerk's judgments must be submitted in the proper format.  If a default or clerk's judgment is mailed to the Court, it takes approximately three weeks to process.

Requests for entry of default judgment by Court are submitted to the Clerks Office located at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA.  They may be submitted on the Judicial Council form JUD-100, or on pleading paper.  If a default judgment by court is submitted, it takes approximately three weeks to process.