California Court Forms: Judicial Council Forms Used in Civil and Business Cases
Last updated: November 2026. Reviewed by Pavel Kolmogorov, California business litigation attorney (State Bar No. 321018).
California court forms are the standard legal forms that the Judicial Council of California issues for use in the state's courts. Current versions are on the official Court Forms page. This guide covers common forms in civil and business cases: what each is for, who files it, and any deadline a rule or statute sets.
Call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online if a filing deadline is close in a business case.
What Judicial Council forms are and where to get them
The Judicial Council may prescribe by rule the form and content of forms used in California courts. (Gov. Code, § 68511.)
Each form's page on the courts' self-help site has a "Get form" link and the current version's effective date. Forms are revised. On November 10, 2026, the official page showed the current cover sheet, CM-010, as effective July 1, 2026. Where an official title uses a long dash, we use a comma.
Mandatory and optional forms
Under the Rules of Court, every Judicial Council form is either mandatory or optional. Where a mandatory form applies, all parties must use it. An optional form may be used. Each form says which kind it is in the lower left corner of its first page. (Cal. Rules of Court, rules 1.30(b), 1.31(a), (c), 1.35(a), (c).)
A caution for corporations and LLCs
A corporation or LLC generally must appear in superior court through a licensed attorney, so an owner usually cannot file these forms for the company. Small claims court is the main exception. See whether a company can represent itself and our small claims guide.
Forms that start a civil case
CM-010: Civil Case Cover Sheet
CM-010 gives the court basic information about a new case. Rule 3.220 requires a cover sheet with the first paper filed. CM-010 must be filed in each civil action or proceeding except small claims cases and cases under the Probate Code, Family Code, or Welfare and Institutions Code. The plaintiff serves it with the complaint only when it marks the case as complex or as a collections case. If it is missing, the clerk must still file the paper, but sanctions are possible. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.220(a)-(c).)
SUM-100: Summons
SUM-100 tells a defendant that a lawsuit has been filed. It directs the defendant to file a written response within 30 days after the summons is served and warns that a default can be entered otherwise. (Code Civ. Proc., § 412.20, subd. (a).) Under rule 3.110(b), in most civil cases the complaint must be served on every named defendant within 60 days after it is filed.
SUM-110: Summons, Cross-Complaint
SUM-110 is the summons for a cross-complaint. It must be issued and served on a cross-defendant who has not yet appeared in the case. A party who has appeared is served with the cross-complaint through its attorney, or directly if it has none. (Code Civ. Proc., § 428.60.) The response is due within 30 days after service. (Code Civ. Proc., § 432.10.) See being served with a cross-complaint.
CM-015: Notice of Related Case
CM-015 tells the court and the other parties that another case is related to this one. Under rule 3.300, a party who learns of a related case in any state or federal court in California generally must serve and file the notice, even if that case was dismissed or decided. It is due as soon as possible, and no later than 15 days after the facts become known.
Proof of service forms
POS-010: Proof of Service of Summons
POS-010 tells the court that the summons and the papers with it were served. The person who made the service signs it, and that person must be at least 18 and not a party. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 414.10, 417.10, subd. (a).) Under rule 3.110(b), in most civil cases the proof must be filed within 60 days after the complaint is filed.
Section 417.10 changes on January 1, 2027. From that date, the proof must include photographs of the site of service, stamped with the date, time, and location coordinates, for personal and substituted service, with exceptions. Check for a revised form.
POS-015: Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt, Civil
POS-015 is used when a summons is served by mail. The sender mails it with the summons, the complaint, and a prepaid return envelope. Service is complete on the date the recipient signs the acknowledgment, if it is then returned. A recipient who does not return it within 20 days after mailing is generally liable for the reasonable cost of service by another method. (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.30.)
POS-030 and POS-040: proof of service for other papers
These forms prove service of papers other than a summons. POS-030, Proof of Service by First-Class Mail, Civil, covers service by mail. POS-040, Proof of Service, Civil, records how the papers were served. Electronic service has its own form, POS-050. Proof of service by mail is generally signed by a person over 18 who is not a party. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1013a.) Under rule 3.1300(c), proof of service of moving papers must be filed no later than five court days before the hearing. See our guide to counting court days for how the method of service affects deadlines.
POS-050: Proof of Electronic Service
POS-050 tells the court that papers were served electronically. The proof must give the electronic service addresses of the sender and the person served, the date, and a statement that service was electronic. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1013b, subd. (b).)
CM-020: Ex Parte Application for Extension of Time to Serve Pleading and Orders
CM-020 asks the court for more time to serve a complaint, cross-complaint, or other pleading. Under rule 3.110(e), the application must be filed before the time for service has run. It needs a declaration explaining why service is not complete, what efforts were made, and the proposed completion date.
Case management forms
CM-110: Case Management Statement
CM-110 reports the progress of the case so the court can decide when it will be ready for trial. Under rule 3.725, each party must file it and serve it on all other parties no later than 15 calendar days before the case management conference. The form is mandatory, and every applicable item must be completed. See our case management conference page.
CM-100: not found on the official forms site
On November 10, 2026, a request for a CM-100 page on the official forms site returned a not-found error. Searchers probably want CM-010, the cover sheet, or CM-110, the case management statement.
CM-180 and CM-200: notice of stay and notice of settlement
CM-180, Notice of Stay of Proceedings, tells the court and the other side that the case is stayed (paused). Rule 3.650 requires the notice when the case is stayed by a federal or higher state court order, contractual or attorney fee arbitration, or automatically by a filing in another court. The party who requested or caused the stay must generally serve and file it immediately. CM-200, Notice of Settlement of Entire Case, tells them the dispute has been settled. Under rule 3.1385, each party seeking affirmative relief must file and serve the notice immediately and must usually request dismissal within 45 days after settlement.
Discovery, declaration, and settlement forms
DISC-001: Form Interrogatories, General
DISC-001 is a set of standard written questions for the other side in an unlimited civil case. In such a case, a party may send 35 specially prepared interrogatories plus any number of relevant official form interrogatories. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.030, subd. (a).) Responses are generally due within 30 days after service. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.260, subd. (a).) See our discovery toolkit.
SUBP-010: Deposition Subpoena for Production of Business Records
SUBP-010 orders a business to produce its records for copying. It is directed to the custodian of the records or another person qualified to certify them. The production date may be no earlier than 20 days after the subpoena is issued or 15 days after it is served, whichever is later. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2020.410, subd. (c).) If your company received one, see how to respond.
MC-030 and MC-031: Declaration and Attached Declaration
MC-030 is a form for a written statement signed under penalty of perjury. MC-031 gives more room and is always attached to another form or court paper. A declaration signed in California must state the date and place of signing. One signed anywhere may instead state the date and that it is made under California law. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2015.5.)
MC-040 and MC-050: change of address and substitution of attorney
MC-040 gives the court and the other parties notice of a change of address or other contact information. The substitution form is MC-050, Substitution of Attorney, Civil (Without Court Order). An attorney may be changed by the consent of client and attorney, filed with the clerk. (Code Civ. Proc., § 284.)
CIV-090: Offer to Compromise and Acceptance Under Code of Civil Procedure Section 998
CIV-090 is a written settlement offer with a place for the other side to accept by signing. The offer must be served at least 10 days before trial or arbitration begins. It is deemed withdrawn if not accepted before trial or within 30 days after it is made, whichever comes first. A plaintiff who rejects a defendant's offer and fails to obtain a more favorable judgment cannot recover its later costs and must pay the defendant's costs from the time of the offer. (Code Civ. Proc., § 998, subds. (b), (c)(1).) See 998 offers.
Default, dismissal, and judgment forms
CIV-100: Request for Entry of Default (Application to Enter Default)
CIV-100 asks the court to enter the default of a defendant or cross-defendant who did not respond, with or without a default judgment. Under rule 3.110(g), which covers most civil cases, when no response is served in time and no extension was granted, the plaintiff must file the request within 10 days after the time for service has elapsed. A default judgment must then be obtained within 45 days after the default is entered, unless the court extends the time. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110(h).) See default judgments.
CIV-110 and CIV-120: Request for Dismissal and Notice of Entry of Dismissal and Proof of Service
CIV-110 tells the court and the parties that the filing party does not want to go forward with the case. A plaintiff or cross-complainant may dismiss all or part of its case, with or without prejudice, before trial actually begins, including by written request to the clerk. (Code Civ. Proc., § 581, subds. (b)(1), (c).) Limits apply, for example where a defendant's cross-complaint seeks affirmative relief. CIV-120 is used with it and tells the parties that the dismissal was entered.
CIV-130: Notice of Entry of Judgment or Order
CIV-130 tells the parties that a judgment has been entered. In most contested civil cases, the party who submits the judgment for entry prepares the notice, serves it on every party who has appeared, and files the original with proof of service. The clerk serves it when a prevailing party has no attorney. (Code Civ. Proc., § 664.5, subds. (a), (b).)
Service starts the clocks. In an unlimited civil case, rule 8.104 generally makes the notice of appeal due 60 days after the clerk or a party serves a notice of entry or a file-stamped copy of the judgment. The normal outside limit is 180 days after entry, and a late appeal must be dismissed. Notice of intention to move for a new trial is due within 15 days after the clerk serves notice of entry under section 664.5 or any party serves written notice of entry on the moving party. The limit is 180 days after entry if earlier. (Code Civ. Proc., § 659, subd. (a)(2).) A memorandum of costs on MC-010 has its own deadline under rule 3.1700(a)(1): 15 days after service of the clerk's or a written notice of entry of judgment or dismissal, or 180 days after entry of judgment if earlier. See appealing a business judgment and recoverable court costs.
JUD-100, EJ-001, and EJ-130
JUD-100, Judgment, states the court's final decision in a limited or unlimited civil case. Two enforcement forms are listed by title only: EJ-001, Abstract of Judgment, Civil and Small Claims, and EJ-130, Writ of Execution.
Local court forms
Superior courts may have their own local forms. Rule 3.220(a) anticipates one: the Judicial Council cover sheet must be filed in addition to any cover sheet a local rule requires. Before filing in Orange County, Los Angeles, or any other county, check that court's website for local forms and rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a California court form CM-100?
The official Judicial Council forms site had no page for a form CM-100 on November 10, 2026. The closest numbers are CM-010, the Civil Case Cover Sheet filed with the first paper in a civil case, and CM-110, the Case Management Statement filed before a case management conference.
When is a case management statement due in California?
Each party must file and serve Judicial Council form CM-110 no later than 15 calendar days before the case management conference, under California Rules of Court, rule 3.725. Several parties may join in one statement. The official form is required, and every applicable item has to be filled in.
What does a notice of entry of judgment do in California?
A notice of entry of judgment, which can be given on Judicial Council form CIV-130, tells the parties that the court has entered judgment. Serving it starts post-judgment deadlines. In an unlimited civil case, the notice of appeal is generally due at the earlier of 60 days after service or 180 days after entry, under California Rules of Court, rule 8.104.
Which proof of service form should I use in a California civil case?
It depends on what was served and how. POS-010 proves service of a summons and complaint, and POS-015 is the acknowledgment for a summons served by mail. For later papers, POS-030 covers first-class mail and POS-050 covers electronic service. POS-040, Proof of Service, Civil, states how the papers were served.
Talk to a California business litigation attorney
If a form deadline is close, or you are not sure which form applies, call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online. Kolmogorov Law, P.C. is in Irvine, California, and represents businesses in Orange County, Los Angeles, and across California. See also our civil litigation deadlines quick guide.
This page provides general information about California court forms and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Form numbers and revision dates change, so download the current version from the official Judicial Council site before you file.