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California Rules of Court — Trial Court Rules – 2026

Title 2 of the California Rules of Court governs practice in California trial courts, covering court administration, case management, electronic filing, remote appearances, and records.

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Title and Application Definitions and Scope of Rules Timing Sanctions Accommodations Papers General Rules on Forms Other Forms General Provisions Filing and Service by Electronic Means Filing and Service by Fax General Provisions Access to Electronic Trial Court Records Sealed Records Records in False Claims Act Cases Name Change Proceedings Under Address Confidentiality Program Other Sealed or Closed Records Venue [Reserved] Court-Appointed Temporary Judges Temporary Judges Requested by the Parties Language Access General Provisions Records of Proceedings Jury Service Conduct of Trial Testimony and Evidence Jury Instructions Judgments

Title and Application

Rule 2.1 Title Rule 2.2 Application

Definitions and Scope of Rules

Rule 2.3 Definitions Rule 2.10 Scope of rules

Timing

Rule 2.20 Application for an order extending time

Sanctions

Rule 2.30 Sanctions for rules violations in civil cases

Accommodations

Rule 2.40 Requests for accommodations to pump or express breast milk

Papers

Rule 2.100 Form and format of papers presented for filing in the trial courts Rule 2.102 One-sided paper Rule 2.103 Size, quality, and color of papers Rule 2.104 Font size; printing Rule 2.105 Font style Rule 2.106 Font color Rule 2.107 Margins Rule 2.108 Spacing and numbering of lines Rule 2.109 Page numbering Rule 2.110 Footer Rule 2.111 Format of first page Rule 2.112 Separate causes of action, counts, and defenses Rule 2.113 Binding Rule 2.114 Exhibits Rule 2.115 Hole punching Rule 2.116 Changes on face of paper Rule 2.117 Conformed copies of papers Rule 2.118 Acceptance of papers for filing Rule 2.119 Exceptions for forms

General Rules on Forms

Rule 2.130 Application Rule 2.131 Recycled paper [Repealed] Rule 2.132 True copy certified Rule 2.133 Hole punching Rule 2.134 Forms longer than one page Rule 2.135 Filing of handwritten or hand-printed forms Rule 2.140 Judicial Council forms Rule 2.141 Local court forms

Other Forms

Rule 2.150 Authorization for computer-generated or typewritten forms for proof of service of summons and complaint

General Provisions

Rule 2.200 Service and filing of notice of change of address or other contact information Rule 2.210 Drop box for filing documents

Filing and Service by Electronic Means

Rule 2.250 Construction and definitions Rule 2.251 Electronic service Rule 2.252 General rules on electronic filing of documents Rule 2.253 Permissive electronic filing, mandatory electronic filing, and electronic filing by court order Rule 2.254 Responsibilities of court Rule 2.255 Contracts with and responsibilities of electronic filing service providers and electronic filing managers Rule 2.256 Responsibilities of electronic filer Rule 2.257 Requirements for signatures on documents Rule 2.258 Payment of filing fees in civil actions Rule 2.259 Actions by court on receipt of electronic filing Rule 2.261 Authorization for courts to continue modifying forms for the purpose of electronic filing and forms generation

Filing and Service by Fax

Rule 2.300 Application Rule 2.301 Definitions Rule 2.302 Compliance with the rules on the form and format of papers Rule 2.303 Filing through fax filing agency Rule 2.304 Direct filing Rule 2.305 Requirements for signatures on documents Rule 2.306 Service of papers by fax transmission

General Provisions

Rule 2.400 Court records

Access to Electronic Trial Court Records

Rule 2.500 Statement of purpose Rule 2.501 Application, scope, and information to the public Rule 2.502 Definitions Rule 2.503 Application and scope Rule 2.504 Limitations and conditions Rule 2.505 Contracts with vendors Rule 2.506 Fees for electronic access Rule 2.507 Electronic access to court calendars, indexes, and registers of actions Rule 2.515 Application and scope Rule 2.516 Remote access to extent feasible Rule 2.517 Remote access by a party Rule 2.518 Remote access by a party's designee Rule 2.519 Remote access by a party's attorney Rule 2.520 Remote access by persons working in the same legal organization as a party's attorney Rule 2.521 Remote access by a court-appointed person Rule 2.522 Remote access by persons working in a qualified legal services project providing brief legal services Rule 2.523 Identity verification, identity management, and user access Rule 2.524 Security of confidential information Rule 2.525 Searches; unauthorized access Rule 2.526 Audit trails Rule 2.527 Additional conditions of access Rule 2.528 Termination of remote access Rule 2.540 Application and scope Rule 2.541 Identity verification, identity management, and user access Rule 2.542 Security of confidential information Rule 2.543 Audit trails Rule 2.544 Additional conditions of access Rule 2.545 Termination of remote access

Sealed Records

Rule 2.550 Sealed records Rule 2.551 Procedures for filing records under seal

Records in False Claims Act Cases

Rule 2.570 Filing False Claims Act records under seal Rule 2.571 Procedures for filing records under seal in a False Claims Act case Rule 2.572 Ex parte application for an extension of time Rule 2.573 Unsealing of records and management of False Claims Act cases

Name Change Proceedings Under Address Confidentiality Program

Rule 2.575 Confidential information in name change proceedings under address confidentiality program Rule 2.576 Access to name of the petitioner Rule 2.577 Procedures for filing confidential name change records under seal

Other Sealed or Closed Records

Rule 2.580 Request for delayed public disclosure Rule 2.585 Confidential in-camera proceedings

Venue [Reserved]

Rule 2.700 Intracounty venue [Reserved]

Court-Appointed Temporary Judges

Rule 2.810 Temporary judges appointed by the trial courts Rule 2.811 Court appointment of temporary judges Rule 2.812 Requirements for court appointment of an attorney to serve as a temporary judge Rule 2.813 Contents of training programs Rule 2.814 Appointment of temporary judge Rule 2.815 Continuing education Rule 2.816 Stipulation to court-appointed temporary judge Rule 2.817 Disclosures to the parties Rule 2.818 Disqualifications and limitations Rule 2.819 Continuing duty to disclose and disqualify

Temporary Judges Requested by the Parties

Rule 2.830 Temporary judges requested by the parties Rule 2.831 Temporary judge-stipulation, order, oath, assignment, disclosure, and disqualification Rule 2.832 Compensation Rule 2.833 Documents and exhibits Rule 2.834 Open proceedings; notices of proceedings, use of court facilities, and order for hearing site Rule 2.835 Motions or applications to be heard by the court

Language Access

Rule 2.850 Language Access Representative Rule 2.851 Language access services complaints Rule 2.890 Professional conduct for interpreters Rule Former rule 2.891. Periodic review of court interpreter skills and professional conduct [Repealed] Rule 2.891 Request for court interpreter credential review Rule 2.892 Guidelines for approval of certification programs for interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons Rule 2.893 Appointment of interpreters in court proceedings Rule 2.894 Reports on appointments of certified and registered interpreters and noncertified and nonregistered interpreters Rule 2.895 Requests for interpreters

General Provisions

Rule 2.900 Submission of a cause in a trial court

Records of Proceedings

Rule 2.950 Sequential list of reporters Rule 2.952 Electronic recording as official record of proceedings Rule 2.954 Specifications for electronic recording equipment Rule 2.956 Court reporting services in civil cases Rule 2.958 Assessing fee for official reporter

Jury Service

Rule 2.1000 Jury service [Reserved] Rule 2.1002 Length of juror service Rule 2.1004 Scheduling accommodations for jurors Rule 2.1006 Deferral of jury service Rule 2.1008 Excuses from jury service Rule 2.1009 Permanent medical excuse from jury service Rule 2.1010 Juror motion to set aside sanctions imposed by default

Conduct of Trial

Rule 2.1030 Communications from or with jury Rule 2.1031 Juror note-taking Rule 2.1032 Juror notebooks in complex civil cases Rule 2.1033 Juror questions Rule 2.1034 Statements to the jury panel [Repealed] Rule 2.1035 Preinstruction Rule 2.1036 Assisting the jury at impasse

Testimony and Evidence

Rule 2.1040 Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence

Jury Instructions

Rule 2.1050 Judicial Council jury instructions Rule 2.1055 Proposed jury instructions Rule 2.1058 Use of gender-neutral language in jury instructions

Judgments

Rule 2.1100 Notice when statute or regulation declared unconstitutional