STATE JUDICIAL COUNCIL APPROVED FORMS

When you are involved in a court case, you must file legal documents explaining to the court what the dispute is and what you are asking for. To make sure your court documents have the information the court needs, the California courts have created a set of court forms called Judicial Council Forms which can be used in every Superior Court in California.

Judicial Council Forms provide you with an easy "check-the-box" format and are available for many civil, family law and criminal cases. The first step in completing a Judicial Council form is to see if the California Courts have developed a form for your specific legal problem. To view a complete list of Judicial Council forms, click here.

The California Courts also provide information and instructions about how to complete court forms in order to make a specific request in your case. Find your legal topic and related Judicial Council forms by clicking here.

Most Judicial Council forms are "fillable" and can be downloaded to a local computer and filled out. You can also print out any form and fill it out by hand. For help understanding how to use fillable court forms, click here.

LOCAL SUPERIOR COURT FORMS

In addition to Judicial Council forms, each Superior Court adopts court-specific "local forms" that you may need to start your case or as your case continues. To view a list of Los Angeles Superior Court local forms, click here.

FILE AT HOME FORM PROGRAMS

Fill out court forms online using the LA Superior Court's user-friendly forms completion programs. Programs available for Divorce, Child Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Domestic Violence, Civil Harassment, Guardianship, Limited Conservatorship, Evictions, Name Changes and Small Claims. To access the forms completion programs, click here.

PLEADING PAPER TEMPLATE

If you cannot find a Judicial Council Form for your exact legal problem, then you will need to create your own legal document on 28-line pleading paper in a very specific format. For pleading paper formatted for the Los Angeles Superior Court, click here. The California Rules of Court, starting with Rule 2.100, tell you what is required for any document you file with the court. You can find samples of legal documents created on pleading paper at the Library. A good starting point is Litigation by the Numbers or a form book set such as California Forms of Pleading and Practice.