GENERAL CIVIL
A lawsuit
with a monetary amount of $25,000.00 or more to get property back, to
force someone to complete a contract, or to protect someone’s civil
rights.
LIMITED CIVIL
A lawsuit
with a monetary amount of $25,000.00 or less to get property back, to
force someone to complete a contract, or to protect someone’s civil
rights.
SMALL CLAIMS
Small claims
court is a special court where disputes are resolved quickly and
inexpensively. Your claim cannot be more than $7,500.00. The rules are simple and informal. The person who sues is
called the
plaintiff. The person who is sued is called the
defendant. In small claims court, you may ask a lawyer
for advice before you go to court, but you cannot have a lawyer in court.
For
general small claims information along with forms you can visit the
California Courts Self Help Center or
you can visit EZLegal to fill
out small claims forms online.
Small
Claims night court is available once each month. Night court is held on
the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Moreno Valley Branch, 13800 Heacock
St. Bldg. D #201, Moreno Valley. Night court starts promptly at 5:30
p.m. and is heard in Department MV1.
Reference Information
Small
Claims Advisor Information
You can
also contact the small claims advisor at 1.800.244.8898 for Riverside
County residents and 951.683.3700 for residents outside of Riverside
County. Your call will typically
be returned within 7 hours, but on later than 24 hours after the original
call (except calls on Fridays which will be returned the next workday).
Return calls will be made between 8:30
a.m. and 7:00 p.m. No fewer than 2 attempted call backs will be made.
You may
e-mail the Small Claims Advisor at
ajj-atty@pacbell.net
or visit the website at
www.smallclaimsinfo.com
The small claims advisor shall advise and give additional assistance to
litigants in Riverside County small claims matters. For in person
consultations
please review the Small Claims
Advisors Site Schedule.
The small
claims advisor can provide services to any current litigant (plaintiff or
defendant) involved in a small claims case, any potential litigant in a
small claims case prior to filing a claim, and anyone involved in a small
claims appeal. The advisor can also help small claims litigants with their
“post-judgment” matters, such as assistance with writs, liens, and orders
for appearance and examination hearings.
LANDLORD/TENANT
EVICTIONS (UNLAWFUL DETAINERS)
An Unlawful Detainer/Eviction
is a civil proceeding brought by the owner of the property to obtain
possession from the occupants.
Information and forms for Unlawful Detainers/Landlord Tenant Evictions
Fill Out Landlord/Tenant Eviction Forms Online
CIVIL COURT LOCATIONS
Riverside Civil
4050 Main Street
Riverside, Ca. 92501
951.955.4600
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Moreno Valley Court
13800 Heacock St. Bldg D #201
Moreno Valley, Ca. 92553
951.955.4600
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Temecula Court
41002 County Center Dr. #100
Temecula, Ca. 92591
951.600.6400
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Banning Court
135 N. Alessandro
Banning, Ca. 92220
951.922.7155
Business Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Hemet Court
880 N.
State Street
Hemet, Ca. 92543
951.766.2321
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Indio Court
46-200 Oasis Street
Indio, Ca. 92201
760.863.8208
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
Blythe Court
265 N. Broadway
Blythe, Ca. 92225
760.921.7981
Business Hours: 7:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Map and Driving Directions
CIVIL HARASSMENTS
A
restraining order is
court order that protects you from
physical, emotional, or financial abuse. It can also protect you from
being stalked or harassed
You can ask
for a civil harassment restraining order if you suffer harassment by
someone who is not close to you.
Harassment is
violence, a threat of violence, or actions that really scare, annoy or
harass you, done on purpose and for no good reason.
A civil
harassment order can be used to protect you from roommates, neighbors, and
co-workers.
Information and forms for Civil Harassment
NAME
CHANGES
In order to get a court
order changing your name or a child’s name, you have to file a petition in
the Superior Court in the county where you live.
Information and forms for Name Changes
EMANCIPATIONS
Emancipation
is a legal way for children to become adults before they're 18. Once a
child is emancipated, his or her parents do not have custody or control of
him or her anymore.
Information and forms for Emancipation
For information on where
to live if you cannot live with your parents
click here.
MINORS COMPROMISE
When a minor has a
disputed claim for damages, money or other property and does not have a
guardian of the estate, the following persons have the right to
compromise, or execute a covenant not to sue on or a covenant not to
enforce judgment on, the claim, unless the claim is against such person or
persons:
-
Either parent if the parents of the minor are not living separate and
apart.
- The
parent having the care, custody, or control of the minor the minor if
the parents of the minor are living separate and apart.
The compromise or covenant
is valid only after it has been approved, upon the filing of a petition,
by the superior court of either of the following counties:
- The
county where the minor resides when the petition is filed.
- Any
county where suit on the claim or matter properly could be brought.
- Any
money or other property to be paid or delivered for the benefit of the
minor pursuant to the compromise or covenant shall be paid and delivered
in the manner and upon the terms and conditions specified in Chapter 4
of Probate Code Section 3600.
- A
parent having the right to compromise the disputed claim of the minor
under this section may execute a full release and satisfaction, or
execute a covenant not to sue on or a covenant not to enforce judgment
on the disputed claim, after the money or other property to be paid or
delivered has been paid or delivered.
Petition
for Minors Compromise Fillable Form
ARBITRATION
In arbitration, the
neutral party conducts a hearing, receives evidence, and decides the
outcome of the dispute.
An arbitrator is
selected jointly by the parties or appointed by the court when the parties
fail to select an arbitrator.
For
additional information see next topic below - Alternative Dispute
Resolutions.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS
HOW TO REQUEST COPIES
Requests for copies is
$.50 per page. If certification is requested, an additional $15.00
per document will be assessed.
Please provide the
following information:
- Parties name
- Case Number
- Specific documents
requested
To request copies by mail,
submit a check payable to 'Clerk of the Court.' DO NOT SEND CASH.
If the total amount is unknown, indicated under the amount line 'not to
exceed $25.00.' The correct amount will be filled in and a receipt
will be forwarded, along with the requested copies. All checks
must be preprinted with makers name and address. Copy orders are
filled within 7-10 working days.
Please include a self
addressed, stamped envelope large enough to accommodate the request.
FORMS/FEES
MORE INFORMATION
Newspapers of General Circulation
California
Self Help Center
Online Legal Services for
Californians
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How do I check to see
if the defendant has filed an answer on my case?
You can
search the court records online
by either case number or a name on the case. You can also contact
the court via phone at 951.955.1960.
- Do I have to appear at
the court hearing?
Unless
your hearing is taken off calendar, continued to another date, or the case
is dismissed, you must appear at the hearing. Failure to appear at a
scheduled hearing may result in the issuance of an Order to Show Cause
Hearing for you to appear at a later date. At the Order to Show Cause
Hearing you will be required to state why you didn’t appear at the
previous hearing.
You can request in writing
that the hearing be taken off calendar.
You can
search the court records online
by either case number or a name on the case. You can also contact
the court via phone at 951.955.1960.
- How do I complain
about an attorney?
Contact the
State
Bar of California at 180 Howard Street, San Francisco, Ca.
94105-1639, 415.538.2000
- How do I file a
complaint against a judge?
Contact the
Commission on Judicial Performance, an independent state agency that
handles complaints about California's judicial officers for judicial
misconduct or wrongdoing. The complaint process is not intended to address
complaints related to the merits of a case or a court's decision.
The Commission on
Judicial Performance is located at 455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14400, San
Francisco, CA 94102-3660, 415-557-1200.
More information about the
Commission of Judicial Appointments
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