Court Operations Update
The Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin (Court) hereby provides public notice, pursuant to Government Code section 68106, of changes in court operations in response to the Governor’s Executive Order, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA)’s revised COVID-19 regulations, and guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). These changes will remain in effect until further notice.
Beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021, all courthouses and courtrooms are open. The Court will continue to take reasonable safety precautions to protect the public, court staff, judicial officers, and others.
All persons entering court facilities must self-attest to being fully vaccinated or unvaccinated. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, or who decline to state their status, must wear a face covering to enter the courthouse and at all times while inside. Under current CDPH guidance, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a face covering or practice physical distancing in state and local government buildings.
CLERKS’ OFFICES: Clerk’s Offices at all locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Clerk’s windows for Civil, Family Law, and the Lodi and Manteca locations are open from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the limited purpose of picking up restraining orders; no other in-person business will be conducted during that time.
- By Telephone: Visit the Court’s website at www.sjcourts.org for current hours and contact information.
- Online Support: Questions may be submitted via the support link at /self-help-pro-per-clinic.
Drop boxes are located outside the Stockton and Lodi courthouses. Drop boxes at the Manteca Branch and the Juvenile Justice Center are located inside those buildings. eFiling is available for Civil, Family Law, Criminal Motions, and Probate matters. Visit https://appfile.sjcourts.org/ for more information.
ALL COURTROOMS ARE OPEN. SEE BELOW FOR DIVISION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
CIVIL: Documents for Civil, Small Claims, and Appeals matters may be submitted by drop box, mail, or eFiling. eFiling is strongly encouraged for Civil and Small Claims cases. Courtesy copies must comply with Local Rule 3-117. Courtesy copies only may be placed in the drop boxes located on the 10th and 11th floors.
Departments 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 11B conduct hearings remotely unless otherwise directed. Refer to the Civil Division page for remote appearance instructions. Civil jury trials have resumed.
COLLABORATIVE COURTS: Collaborative Courts are open. Remote hearings are available upon request.
JURY SERVICES: Jury operations have resumed. Jurors must self-attest to vaccination status upon entry. Fully vaccinated jurors are not required to wear face coverings. Jurors who are not fully vaccinated, or who decline to state, must wear a face covering. Face coverings will be provided upon request. Visit /jury-services/ or call (209) 992-5500 for more information.
FAMILY LAW: Family Law documents may be submitted in person at the 4th-floor clerk’s windows from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., by drop box, mail, or eFiling. For assistance, call (209) 992-5690 or submit questions at /self-help-pro-per-clinic. Remote hearings are available upon request and subject to judicial approval. Mediations will be conducted in person with parties and mediators; attorneys may appear telephonically for mediations only.
PROBATE (Department 11A): Parties may appear by teleconference where permitted. Instructions are available on form SJPR-001 on the Local Forms page. Settlement conferences and trials are heard in person unless special approval for teleconference is granted at least 72 hours in advance.
Probate documents may be submitted by eFiling (encouraged), in person (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), drop box, or mail. Fax filings are no longer accepted. Questions may be submitted via the Probate Inquiries page or by email at sjprobate@sjcourts.org.
MENTAL HEALTH: Matters continue to be heard remotely.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Copy requests may be submitted by mail or online at /records-management/records-request. Appointments for research kiosks may be requested. Visit the Records Management Division page for more information.
TRAFFIC: Traffic payments may be made online, in person, by mail, or via the drop box at the Stockton courthouse entrance. Walk-in calendars remain suspended.
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is available 24 hours a day at cii2.courtinnovations.com/CASCSJ/.
Verify hearing information at https://cms.sjcourts.org/fullcourtweb/start.do.
SELF-HELP: The Self-Help Center is open for in-person assistance from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with afternoon appointments available. Online assistance is available at www.sjcourts.org (responses typically within three to five days). Telephone assistance is available at (209) 992-5283 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.