The California Judicial Council is closely monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, and has advised the courts to follow the guidance of the Department of Public Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to limit the spread of the virus.
As of March 16, 2020, the presiding judges of a number of the county superior courts and the supreme court petitioned the Chief Justice—as chair of the Judicial Council—to issue emergency orders to implement relief measures, “including declaring holidays to recalculate filing deadlines, extending temporary restraining orders, holding sessions elsewhere in the county, extending the time for a criminal trial to be held, and others.”
Also go to your county’s Superior Court’s website to find updates about your case, court closures, case continuances (e.g. hearings, trials, and case progress conferences,) extending temporary restraining orders, etc. Emergency Orders and closures as of March 16, 2020 include, among others, the following.
Contra Costa Superior Court is closed between March 16, 2020 and anticipates reopening on April 1, 2020, and the dates will be “deemed holidays for purposes of computing the time for filing papers.” Temporary restraining orders that will expire between March 16, 2020 and April 1, 2020 may be extended by fifteen days.
Los Angeles Superior Court – Every Los Angeles Superior courthouse and courtroom is closed between March 17, 2020 and March 19, 2020. As of March 16, 2020, the court anticipates it will be open on March 20, 2020 for essential and emergency family law matters. If you need self-help services and don’t feel well or believe you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, call (213) 830-0845 for assistance.
Marin County Superior Court “services will substantially be curtailed in order to limit the volume of individuals having to appear in the courthouse. In Family Law, all case progress conferences (including the pro per) calendars will be continued 90 days. DCSS calendars will also be rescheduled and continued. Self-Help Office will physically be closed, but access to email and phones will be checked and answered. For any needed court appearances, telephonic appearances are encouraged.” Judges may extend by 21 days, any temporary restraining order.
Orange Superior Court – All locations closed from March 17, 2020 through March 27, 2020.
Santa Clara Superior Court – “Many Family Law Hearings” between March 16 and April 5, 2020 will be rescheduled. Check on the status of your case here. The court encourages you to use CourtCall (1-888-88-COURT) to appear telephonically, as permitted by law under California Rules of Court, Rule 3.670. Judges may extend by 21 days, any temporary restraining order that will expire between March 16, 2020 and April 5, 2020. Parties can receive self-help assistance via email and e-file court documents.
San Mateo Superior Court – “With few exceptions, the Court will be closed to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, through Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Suspension of trials and all traffic matters will take effect immediately. All other changes will take effect Wednesday March 18, 2020.” Parties with family law hearings scheduled between Monday, March 16, 2020 and April 15, 2020 will be notified by mail of their new court dates.
San Francisco Unified Family Court
“All family law matters, including mediation, but excluding ex parte requests, temporary restraining orders, child abduction due process hearings, and domestic violence restraining orders where visitation or custody is an issue will be continued on a rolling basis for 30 days.
Domestic violence restraining orders (DVRO) where visitation or custody is an issue will continue to be heard on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. in Department 403. Child support hearings will be continued on a rolling basis for at least 30 days. Any necessary hearings not continued or reset by the Court will be conducted by telephone. Notice to the parties will be provided by the San Francisco Department of Child Support Services (DCSS). DCSS may be contacted at (415) 356-2700.
The Clerk’s Office in Room 402 of the Civic Center Courthouse will be closed Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through Wednesday, April 15, 2020. A drop box is available for filings in the lobby of the Civic Center Courthouse and will be checked throughout each court day.”
Sonoma Superior Court – all locations are closed between March 16, 2020 and April 3, 2020, except for “critical calendars and functions, including family law domestic violence ex parte review. The court closure days are judicial holidays for purposes of filing deadlines and other time calculations.”
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