Orange /self-help/civil/index.html

Orange /self-help/civil/index.html¶

Source: https://www.occourts.org/self-help/civil/index.html

Self-Help Information for Civil Court Cases

Civil General Information

For Self-Help Services’ hours of operation and services, please click here.

This page contains information concerning:

What is Civil Action?

Assistance by Phone, In-Person, or Online

Civil Courthouse Locations, Hours, and Venue

Civil Forms and Law

eFiling

Asking for a Jury Trial

Copy and Record Search Requests

What if I Have a Disability and Need Special Accommodations?

What if I Need to Request a Lactation Accommodation?

What if I Need an Interpreter?

Will I have a Court Reporter for my hearing?

Can I Bring Children to Court?

Legal Help

Additional Resources

Self-Help Civil Quick Links

Self-Help Civil

Filing a Lawsuit

I Have Been Sued

Motions

Before Trial

The Trial

Paying / Failure to Pay the Judgement

Collecting the Judgement

What is a Civil Action?

This section is about general civil cases which typically involve disputes about contracts, damage to property or someone getting hurt. For cases involving an eviction, see the section for Landlord/Tenant actions.

Civil cases are divided into types, depending on how much money is owed:

A lawsuit for more than $35,000.00 is called an "unlimited" civil action.

A lawsuit for $35,000.00 or less is called a "limited" civil action.

You can also file in Small Claims Court for $12,500.00 or less. You can read about this in the Self-Help Small Claims section of this website. If you are owed more than $12,500.00, you can waive the difference and file in Small Claims Court.

A lawsuit that requires exceptional Judicial Management (see Rule 3.400 of the California Rules of Court) is called a "complex" civil action.

Assistance by Phone, In-person, or Online

Superior Court of Orange County Assistance Online:

Inquiries regarding civil and small claims can be submitted electronically, here.

Self-Help Services Hours of Operation:

Review Hours

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Central Justice Center

700 Civic Center Drive West

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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In-person Self-Help

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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In-person Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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Lamoreaux Justice Center

341 The City Drive South

Orange, CA 92868-3205

Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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In-person Self-Help

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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In-person Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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Costa Mesa Justice Complex

3390 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1554

Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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West Justice Center (Westminster)

8141 13th Street

Westminster, CA 92683

Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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North Justice Center (Fullerton)

| 1275 N Berkeley Ave

Fullerton, CA 92832

Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach)

| 4601 Jamboree Rd

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Superior Court of Orange County Website:

The court provides a variety of online services. You may view your case, purchase documents, access and fill out forms, check the court’s calendar, and eFile your documents.

Drop Box Information:

Drop boxes or door slots are located at each of the courthouses below, with 24/7 access. Properly completed documents along with the fees for filing (if any) placed in these drop boxes before 4:00pm on an open court day will be considered received on the same date.

Civil Courthouse Locations and Hours

You can go to any of the courts below for procedural assistance between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. Limited civil actions are heard at the Central Justice Center. Unlimited civil actions are heard at one of three justice centers as specified below depending on which Judicial Officer is assigned to the case for all purposes. Recorded general information is available at the phone numbers listed below. However, due to fiscal constraints, no call agents are available by phone.

Limited Civil Justice Centers (actions $35,000 and under)

Phone Number

| | Central Justice Center

700 Civic Center Drive West

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Civil Division - 1st Floor, Room K-100

Self-Help Center - 1st Floor, Room G-100

(657) 622-6878

Orange County – all cities

Civil Complex Center

Department CX-104

751 West Santa Ana Blvd

Santa Ana, CA

| (657) 622-6878 | Orange County – all cities | Unlimited Civil Justice Center (actions over $35,000) |

Phone Number

For Property Located In:

| Central Justice Center

700 Civic Center Dr.

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Civil Division - 1st Floor, Room K-100

Self-Help Center - 1st Floor, Room G-100

(657) 622-6878

Orange County - all cities

Civil Complex Center

Complex Civil Litigation

751 West Santa Ana Blvd

Santa Ana, CA

| (657) 622-6878 | All of California |

North Justice Center

1275 N Berkley Ave

Fullerton, CA 92832

| (657) 622-6878 | Orange County - all cities |

West Justice Center

8141 13th Street

Westminster, CA 92683

| (657) 622-6878 | Orange County - all cities

Civil Forms and Law

Forms:

The Create Court Forms page is available online, or at one of the Justice Centers above. Read more about court forms on the Find and fill out court forms page.

If you do not find the correct form to file, you will have to formally prepare the document on pleading paper in accordance with the California Rules of Court, rules 2.100 to 2.119.

Laws:

Law Libraries

California Rules of Court, Title 3-Civil Rules

California Courts website

Civil Code

Code of Civil Procedure

Evidence Code

Superior Court of Orange County Local Rules of Court (Division 3)

Other statutes

eFiling

Documents may be electronically filed (eFiled).

Pursuant to section 1010.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, rule 2.253(b)(2) of the California Rules of Court, Orange County Superior Court Rule 352, and Administrative Order 13/03, all documents filed by attorneys in limited, unlimited, and complex civil actions must be filed electronically unless exempt by court order. Self-represented parties are exempt from the mandatory electronic filing requirement set forth in Orange County Superior Court Local Rules 352 but are strongly encouraged to participate voluntarily in electronic filing and service.

Electronically filed documents subject to the mandatory electronic filing requirements in probate, limited civil, unlimited civil, and complex civil actions can be filed until midnight on the day that the filing is due, and will be considered timely pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6(b)(3). The document is “filed” at the date and time it is received by the court and the confirmation of receipt is created. See Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 2.259(a)(1). Any electronically filed document received by the Court on or after midnight will be file stamped on the next court day.

In addition to the Self-Help Centers, if you need access to a computer to eFile, you can find public computers at most public libraries and at the Public Law Library.

Orange County Public Libraries

Orange County Public Law Library

Asking for a Jury Trial

At least one party demanding a jury on each side of a civil case shall pay a nonrefundable fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), unless the fee has been paid by another party on the same side of the case. The parties demanding a jury trial shall deposit with the court, at the beginning of the second and each succeeding day’s session, a sum equal to that day’s fees and mileage of the jury, as determined by the court. For more information about jury trials, please follow this link to The Trial page and select Choosing a Jury from the accordion list. Also, read this Frequently Asked Questions document related to jury fees for court users.

Copy and Record Search Requests

Find information on how to:

View records

Request copies of documents

What if I Have a Disability and Need Special Accommodations?

If you have a disability and need help, fill out a Request for Accommodations By Persons With Disabilities (MC-410) and file it with the court as soon as possible, but at least five days before the trial date.

What if I Need to Request a Lactation Accommodation?

If you are a court user who may need to express breast milk and you are participating in an ongoing court proceeding, you will need to fill out a Request for Accommodation to Pump or Express Breast Milk (MC-420) form and file it with the court as soon as possible, but at least five days before the hearing date.

What if I Need an Interpreter?

Selecting an Interpreter

By law, in California all official court business must be conducted in English. When one of the parties or witnesses in a case does not speak English well, that person will need a court interpreter (who speaks English and the non-English speaker’s first language) so he or she can understand what is going on and talk to the judge.

For more information on how to request a free interpreter, please click here for the Court’s Language Access page.

If you chose to hire your own interpreter, make sure you get an experienced court interpreter, you should consider a professional interpreter who has passed the required examinations and has officially registered and been approved as a court interpreter by the Judicial Council of California.

There are 2 types of officially-approved court interpreters in California:

Certified court interpreters: Only interpreters who pass the Court Interpreter Certification Examination and register with the Judicial Council are referred to as “certified" in these 13 languages:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Cantonese, Eastern Armenian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Western Armenian.

Registered court interpreters: Interpreters of spoken languages for which there is no state certifying examination are called “registered interpreters of non-designated languages.” They must pass an English proficiency examination, and register with the state’s Judicial Council.

Translation of Documents

The California Courts website has a list of certified and registered interpreters for oral interpretation. Certified and registered interpreters may also translate documents, however, the California Courts does not test or certify an interpreter's written translation skills. The American Translators Association can also interpret documents.

Tips For Using an Interpreter

Using a court interpreter can be awkward because you have to go through another person to get your information or talk to the judge. Follow these tips when using an interpreter in a courtroom:

Listen carefully to the interpreter.

Wait for the interpreter to finish talking before you answer.

Speak slowly so the interpreter can hear everything you say.

Do not interrupt, even if someone in court says something bad about you. You will get a chance to speak.

Interpreters For the Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Note: There are also American Sign Language interpreters and real time captioning for parties and witnesses that are deaf or hard-of-hearing (or have another disability). The court will provide a sign language interpreter or court reporter for you or other accommodation you may need. You can read more about this in the For Persons With Disabilities Requesting Accommodations section of this website to learn about the court's policy for accommodating persons with disabilities. Make your request as soon as possible, but at least 5 days prior to the hearing.

Can I Bring Children to Court?

Children may be brought to the court and may stay in "Children’s Chambers" while their caregivers are conducting business with the court. Children’s Chambers is a safe drop-in center for children that lets children be children instead of spending long sessions listening to adult interactions that could be painful or frightening.

You can read more about which courts offer a Children’s Chambers and the guidelines.

Legal Help

For legal advice, you may contact a lawyer referral service.

Lawyers can be expensive. A civil case can be complicated and difficult to navigate without legal advice. Unless you are familiar with the laws, policies, rules, forms, and protocol, you should consider hiring a lawyer.

You may wish to consider hiring a lawyer for a limited-scope representation. Limited-scope representation is when you and a lawyer agree that the lawyer will handle some parts of your case and you will handle others.

You can read more about whether you should represent yourself in the California Courts website.

Additional Resources

There are a variety of resources which provide you with information about Civil disputes.

These are just a few:

California Courts Self-Help website

California Department of Consumer Affairs

California Courts website-Court Basics

Law Help California

State Bar of California-Consumer Information

Orange County District Attorney Real Estate Fraud Report Form

Orange County District Attorney-Economic Crimes

Self-Help Services for Self-Represented Parties

Exceptions & meaning →