Coronavirus/COVID-19 Response Information
For news and announcements concerning COVID-19, Please visit our COVID-19 information page.
Appearing before the Court? Learn about Remote Appearances
Face Coverings at the Courthouse: The County Health Officer is re-instituting a face-covering requirement beginning on Monday, November 22. Face masks will be required in all Court facilities regardless of vaccination status.
Superior Court of Santa Cruz
Services
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Electronic Filing
e-Filing is available for all case types and is mandatory for attorneys.
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File @ Home
Complete the required paperwork for certain types of legal actions by answering questions in an online interview.
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Get Text Reminders
Text the case number to (831) 208-5170.
News, Updates & Notices
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Nov 19, 2021
New Electronic Calendar Displays
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Mar 25, 2021
Evidence Submission Updates
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Mar 16, 2021
CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program
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Feb 01, 2021
New Legislation SB 91 extending AB 3088
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Dec 01, 2020
Seventh General Order Emergency Relief
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Locations
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Santa Cruz Court House
701 Ocean Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 -
Watsonville Court House
1 Second Street
Watsonville, CA 95076 -
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About the Court
The mission of the Santa Cruz Superior Court is to preserve and protect the rights and ideals of society through the interpretation and enforcement of law, provide equal access to justice through quality service to the community by judicial officers and court staff and treat all participants in the judicial system with dignity and respect.
This is a sandbox site
The JCC Web & Digital Services teams use this site to prototype content & designs for Superior Court websites. As of September 2021, the Homepage and the Self Help and Forms & Filing sections are actively being worked on - the rest is a clone of an existing site that we'll work on section by section.
COVID-19 changes (model):
All hearings and trials are currently being held remotely via Zoom. If you need to visit the courthouse for any reason, you must wear a mask.
Interpreter & Language Services
Ask for a court interpreter
- Court Interpreters are free.
- You must ask for an interpreter in advance.
Even if you speak English in everyday life, the situations and language in court can be very difficult. An interpreter can help make sure that you understand and can communicate as well as possible.
Tell the court in advance if you need an interpreter so we can make sure one is available for your court date.
For Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile, or Family Court Hearing: we will provide an interpreter. If one isn't available, we'll reschedule (continue) your case until one is.
For a civil or small claims hearing: we will provide an interpreter if one is available. If an interpreter is not available, you may be able to have a friend or relative (age 18 or over) act as an interpreter instead. If you bring a friend or relative to interpret, please have the person read the instructions and duties for interpreting in the information sheet called Foreign Language Interpreter’s Duties-Civil and Small Claims (INT-200). You can search for qualified (certified and registered) interpreters, at the Court Interpreters Program.
Ask for accommodation
If you have business at the court and need accommodations because of a disability, please contact X. If you need a sign language interpreter, you may ask for one for any court date you may have. This includes small claims hearings and jury duty.
Make your request
You'll fill out a form and bring it to the clerk at the Los Reyes courthouse.
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Fill out form INT-300
Download or print Form INT-300.
To fill it out, you'll need to know
- Your case number
- Your case type (Divorce, Child Custody, Traffic)
- Language you need interpreted
- The date and time of your next hearing
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Submit your request to the court
You can bring your form in person, mail it, or send it as an email attachment.
Return the form to the court in person at:
Superior Court, County of Sierra
100 Courthouse Square
Downieville, CA 95936Or mail to:
Superior Court, County of Sierra
P.O. Box 476
Downieville, CA 95936 -
Check before your court date
Call us at least 3 days before your court date to make sure we received your request form and find out where to meet your interpreter.
Complaint Process
To file a complaint about interpreter services, please use Language Access Complaint form at the State level on the Court Interpreter Complaints web page.
Online Services
The Superior Court of California County of Santa Cruz offers online resources to assist citizens with their traffic citations, jury duty, research & filing and more.
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Internet Case Inquiry System
Case and calendar information relating to: Criminal, Traffic, Civil, Family Law, Probate, Small Claims. Portal Documentation
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Interactive Jury Services
Check your jury duty status, request to postpone service
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Receive Text Court Reminders
This service provides text message reminders for hearing dates and payment due dates. Text case number to 831-208-5170.
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Remote Appearance
Remote appearance information and instructions for virtual courtroom connections.
Additional Services
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Pay a Traffic Citation or Criminal Fine
Pay traffic/criminal fines or make a payment on an existing payment plan online with a credit card. -
Tentative Rulings
Prior to the scheduled hearing of a Law and Motion, Complex Civil Litigation or a Discovery matter, the Court may issue a tentative ruling, in the discretion of the judge. -
California Courts Self-Help Center
The Online Self-Help Center of the California Courts provides information on a wide range of legal matters.
This is a sandbox site
The JCC Web & Digital Services teams use this site to prototype content & designs for Superior Court websites. As of September 2021, the Homepage and the Self Help and Forms & Filing sections are actively being worked on - the rest is a clone of an existing site that we'll work on section by section.
COVID-19 changes (model):
All hearings and trials are currently being held remotely via Zoom. If you need to visit the courthouse for any reason, you must wear a mask.
Self-Help Resources
The Superior Court of El Condado County offers free help to the public. We help with a variety of basic legal issues and types of cases, including family law and small claims.
- Ask us your questions by phone or email
- Get help with court forms at a workshop
- Find step by step instructions online
Services we offer
We help people who need legal information but don't have a lawyer. We can answer questions about your case, help you figure out which forms you need and how to fill them out, and explain different legal options. Our staff don't give legal advice (we can tell you how to do something but we can't tell you what choice you should make) and we may refer you to a private attorney or another resource depending on your situation. See more on what to expect.
Call us
We are available Monday through Friday from 9AM to 12PM. You can also leave us a voicemail and we'll return the call within 2 business days.
Email us
We can be reached at selfhelp@elcondadocourt.org. Please provide as many details as you can, including your case number if you have one. We answer emails within 2 business days.
Workshops
We offer free workshops to the public, focused on completing a specific legal task. These are group workshops, offered in person or online. See the schedule
Step-by-step instructions online
The State of California provides online information and resources for people representing themselves in a court case. Access these easy-to-read step-by-step instructions for navigating your court case from any device.
Types of cases
We offer help with most non-criminal legal problems. We have detailed resources on these areas:
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Divorce or Legal Separation
Resources to file and finish your divorce in El Condado County including online chat and workshops.
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Restraining Orders
Protecting yourself from abuse by a family member or other person
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Small Claims
Our Small Claims Advisor can help you prepare for small claims court - a court for small lawsuits with simpler procedures and no lawyers.
Top California Court FAQs
The following are links to the State of California's Self-Help Center frequently asked questions pages. Information is provided in English and Spanish.
Related Resources
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Lawyer Referral Services
Lawyer referral services are offered by the California Bar Association.
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Families Change
A guide to separation and divorce. Resources are available for all members of the family.
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California Courts Self-Help Center
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Cortes de California Centro de Ayuda
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Legal Services of Northern California
Sierra County has an equal access partnership with Legal Services of Norther California to provide assistance to low-income clients who meet the eligibility requirements.
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Sierra County Small Claims
Small claims is a court within the Superior Court where disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively.