The Appellate Advisory Committee and the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee recommend amending seven California Rules of Court governing the expedited resolution of actions and proceedings brought under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to implement Senate Bill 676 (Stats. 2025, ch. 550), which provides streamlined CEQA review for certain projects to “maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property or facilities damaged or destroyed by wildfire.” (See Pub. Res. Code, § 21168.6.2(a).) In addition, the committees recommend additional rule changes to remove outdated material related to streamlined CEQA projects, improve consistency with the governing laws, make minor clarifying edits, and facilitate the future updating of these rules.

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The Appellate Advisory Committee proposes approving a new optional form for issuing an order on an application for an extension of time to file a brief in limited civil, misdemeanor, and infraction appeals. This proposal originated from a suggestion by the Committee on Appellate Courts of the California Lawyers Association’s Litigation Section.

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The Appellate Advisory Committee proposes amending California Rules of Court, rule 8.140 to add an advisory committee comment providing examples of acts requiring the superior court to notify a litigant they have failed to timely do an act required to procure the record on appeal in a civil case. This proposal was prompted by a suggestion from the chair of a county bar association’s appellate law section.

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The Appellate Advisory Committee proposes amending California Rules of Court, rule 8.320, to clarify what must be included in the record in criminal felony appeals. This proposal is designed to help reduce the number of appeals in which augmentation or correction of the record is necessary, which would reduce both the work for court clerks and resulting delays. This proposal originated from a recommendation of the former Chief Justice’s Appellate Caseflow Workgroup.

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The Appellate Advisory Committee proposes revising forms APP-001-INFO, APP-003, APP-010, APP-101-INFO, APP-103, and APP-110—and approving forms APP-003A, APP-003B, APP-003C, and APP-003D—to simplify and improve the clarity of the record-designation process. The committee also proposes amending California Rules of Court, rules 8.100, 8.121, 8.122, 8.821, 8.831, and 8.832 to require that clerk’s transcript designations identify documents using names from the trial court register of actions. The committee further proposes revoking California Rules of Court, rules 8.134 and 8.344, and amending rules 8.74, 8.120, 8.122, 8.130, 8.144, 8.149, 8.155, and 8.407 to remove the option for agreed statements. This proposal is designed to make the record-designation process in civil appeals more efficient. This proposal originated from a recommendation of the former Chief Justice’s Appellate Caseflow Workgroup.

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The Appellate Advisory Committee proposes amending five California Rules of Court to require parties represented by counsel to use appendixes in unlimited and limited civil appeals. This proposal is designed to expedite the record-preparation process in civil appeals. This proposal originated from a recommendation of the former Chief Justice’s Appellate Caseflow Workgroup.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes adopting 1 form, revising 23 forms, and revoking 1 form to implement Assembly Bill 561 (Stats. 2025, ch. 267). AB 561 amends the statutes governing civil harassment restraining orders (CHROs) and elder or dependent adult abuse restraining orders (EAROs). For both CHROs and EAROs, AB 561 authorizes the electronic submission of certain documents and also authorizes certain persons to appear remotely. For EAROs, AB 561 authorizes alternative methods of service if there is reason to believe that the respondent is evading service or cannot be located. All the abovementioned provisions become operative on January 1, 2027.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes the revision of two forms to implement Assembly Bill 2917 (Stats. 2024, ch. 539), which revised the types of evidence courts must consider in determining whether grounds for a gun violence restraining order exist. Additionally, the committee proposes making various changes to improve these forms and to address related issues raised during the public comment period for a recent proposal to implement Senate Bill 899 (Stats. 2024, ch. 544).

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Senate Bill 54 (Stats. 2025, ch. 646) exempts veterans disability service-connected compensation from monthly income for purposes of determining whether a fee waiver applicant’s income is 200 percent or less of the current federal poverty guidelines. The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee and the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee propose amending seven rules of court and revising 22 fee waiver forms to implement SB 54, correct misapplications of existing law, and make other improvements.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee and the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee propose amending two rules of court and approving four Judicial Council forms relating to statements of decision. The proposal implements Assembly Bill 515 (Stats. 2025, ch. 559), which amends Code of Civil Procedure sections 632 and 664. AB 515 makes numerous changes to the procedures regarding statements of decision. The bill also directs the Judicial Council to adopt or amend rules of court consistent with the statutory changes and to prepare forms that may be used to request a statement of decision and that explain the requirements for making that request.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes amending rule 2.111 of the California Rules of Court to require amended or subsequent complaints and cross-complaints to list the names of all parties in the caption. This rule amendment would address situations where new parties are added but are not listed in the caption, which may make it difficult for courts to ensure that all parties are correctly listed in the court’s case management system. The committee proposes this amendment in response to a suggestion from a committee member.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes amending California Rules of Court, rule 3.1380 to clarify that the rule does not require in-person attendance at mandatory settlement conferences. This change would give courts the discretion to determine how parties must appear, including by allowing remote appearances. The committee proposes this amendment in response to a suggestion by a member of the public.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes amending California Rules of Court, rule 3.891, which identifies cases that may be ordered into mediation, to reflect the changes in law made by Assembly Bill 1523 (Stats. 2025, ch. 201) that will take effect on January 1, 2027.

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Those in active-duty military service may ask a court to temporarily relieve them from financial obligations under Military and Veterans Code section 409.3 if their active duty materially affects their ability to pay such obligations. The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes revising forms MIL-010, MIL-015, and MIL-020 to reflect amendments to section 409.3.

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Assembly Bill 747 (Stats. 2025, ch. 563) and Senate Bill 85 (Stats. 2025, ch. 403) make numerous changes to the laws regarding service and proof of service of summons in civil actions. The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes amending 3 rules, adopting 2 mandatory forms, approving 1 optional form, and revising 13 forms to implement AB 747 and SB 85. The committee also proposes changes to these rules and forms to improve clarity and readability.

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Assembly Bills 246 (Stats. 2025, ch. 337), 747 (Stats. 2025, ch. 563) and 863 (Stats. 2025, ch. 344) make changes to laws regarding summons, complaints, and defenses in unlawful detainer proceedings. The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes revising four forms to implement these changes in law, correct misstatements of law, remove inapplicable items, and improve readability and clarity. The committee also proposes significant plain - language revisions to Unlawful Detainer—Complaint (form UD-100) and the conversion of Unlawful Detainer—Answer (form UD-105) to a plain-language form.

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The Appellate Advisory Committee and the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee recommend amending seven California Rules of Court governing the expedited resolution of actions and proceedings brought under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to implement Senate Bill 676 (Stats. 2025, ch. 550), which provides streamlined CEQA review for certain projects to “maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property or facilities damaged or destroyed by wildfire.” (See Pub. Res. Code, § 21168.6.2(a).) In addition, the committees recommend additional rule changes to remove outdated material related to streamlined CEQA projects, improve consistency with the governing laws, make minor clarifying edits, and facilitate the future updating of these rules.

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The California Department of Justice (DOJ) suggests removal of an item on Order for Dismissal (Military Personnel) (form CR-184/MIL-184) that allows a court to order that the DOJ be notified of a sealing order under Penal Code section 1170.9(h)(4)(D). The Criminal Law Advisory Committee proposes revising the form to remove the item, and to make additional technical amendments to improve readability and replace gendered pronouns.

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The Criminal Law Advisory Committee recommends amending two rules of court to (1) reflect recent case law that addresses the trial court’s reliance on aggravating factors to justify the imposition of an upper term sentence and (2) clarify the scope of the trial court’s discretion in the context of imposing an upper term sentence.

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Additions and revisions to jury instructions reflecting recent developments in the law and user suggestions.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee and the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee propose amending two rules of court and approving four Judicial Council forms relating to statements of decision. The proposal implements Assembly Bill 515 (Stats. 2025, ch. 559), which amends Code of Civil Procedure sections 632 and 664. AB 515 makes numerous changes to the procedures regarding statements of decision. The bill also directs the Judicial Council to adopt or amend rules of court consistent with the statutory changes and to prepare forms that may be used to request a statement of decision and that explain the requirements for making that request.

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The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revising Notice of Court Hearing and Temporary Order to Change or End Restraining Order (DV-310) and How Do I Ask to Change or End a Domestic Violence Restraining Order? (DV-300-INFO) to address court operational concerns and improve form usability for litigants.

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Senate Bill 823 (Stats. 2020, ch. 337) created a new statutory process for physically transferring a party between juvenile and adult facilities if their juvenile case has been transferred to criminal court. Gabriel M. v. Superior Court (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 446 noted that California Rules of Court, rule 5.770 1 and Order to Transfer Juvenile to Criminal Court Jurisdiction (Welfare and Institutions Code, § 707) (form JV-710) do not conform to the current statutory scheme. The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending rule 5.770 and revising form JV-710 to remove the inapplicable portions and proposes adoption of a new form, Order Regarding Housing in Adult Facility (form JV-711) to address the new statutory process.

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Senate Bill 413 (Allen; Stats. 2025, ch. 221) amended Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 to authorize a new category of individuals—attorneys representing a party in certain civil proceedings involving child welfare agencies or probation departments—to access juvenile case files under specified confidentiality safeguards. To implement SB 413, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes to amend California Rules of Court, rule 5.552, and approve two new forms, Request to Access Juvenile Case File by Parties Authorized Under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 827 (form JV-566) and Proof of Destruction of Juvenile Case File Records (form CIV-180/JV-568).

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Assembly Bill 651 (Stats. 2025, ch. 274) amended Penal Code section 2625 to require courts to give notice to incarcerated parents, including wards in Secure Youth Treatment Facilities (SYTFs), and allow them to attend specified dependency hearings. If an incarcerated parent waives in-person attendance, the statute requires incarcerated parents to be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing by videoconference or, if unavailable, by teleconference. The bill also amended Welfare and Institutions Code section 349 to extend to nonminor dependents the rights to notice, participation, and continuances if notice is not provided. To implement these changes, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending two rules of court and revising two mandatory forms.

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To remove references to a superseded method of calculating the court cost of providing dependency-related legal services, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending California Rules of Court, Appendix F (titled Guidelines for the Juvenile Dependency Counsel Collections Program). The proposal would also reformat the guidelines to conform more closely to the style of the rules of court, replace gender-specific language with gender- neutral terms, and make additional technical and stylistic changes.

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Assembly Bill 383 (Stats. 2025, ch. 362) amended Penal Code section 29810 to extend existing firearms relinquishment procedures to minors adjudicated for various offenses. Prohibited Persons Relinquishment Form Findings (form CR-210) assists judicial officers in making required findings about firearms relinquishment under section 29810. The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, with approval from the Criminal Law Advisory Committee, proposes revising and renumbering form CR-210 into a joint criminal and juvenile form because the findings required under section 29810 are now the same in adult criminal cases and juvenile

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To comply with new requirements for time limits on juvenile probation under Assembly Bill 1376 (Bonta; Stats. 2025, ch. 575), the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revisions to three Judicial Council forms, effective January 1, 2027.

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To comply with new requirements for granting a nonminor dependent’s request to change residence to another county under Assembly Bill 890 (Lee; Stats. 2025, ch. 281), the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending one rule of court, adopting one Judicial Council form, and revising two Judicial Council forms.

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Assembly Bill 1877 (Jackson; Stats. 2024, ch. 811) added section 788 to the Welfare and Institutions Code. Under the new section, county probation officers are required to initiate the record sealing process for individuals 18 years of age or older upon termination of juvenile court delinquency jurisdiction. The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending three rules, approving two new forms, and revising four existing forms to implement AB 1877.

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The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending a rule of court, revising two forms, and revoking one form. The proposal would revise Request to Change Court Order (form JV-180) and Court Order on Form JV-180, Request to Change Court Order (form JV-183) to ask whether dependency or wardship has been declared, and to allow the court to indicate that a Welfare and Institutions Code section 388 or 778 petition is being denied on the grounds that a dependency or wardship has not yet been declared, respectively. The committee also proposes amending rule 5.570 of the California Rules of Court to mirror those proposed additions to the forms. Since rule 5.570 and JV-180 apply to both dependents and wards, the committee further proposes amending the rule to require the use of form JV-180 for petitions filed under section 778, and revoking Petition to Modify, Change, or Set Aside Previous Order—Change of Circumstances (form JV-740), which would no longer be necessary. 

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The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes circulating for comment amendments to rule 5.275 of the California Rules of Court that were previously approved without the benefit of public comment. The committee also proposes additional amendments to rule 5.275 to ensure the continued availability and accuracy of software used to assist courts in determining support, promoting transparency in the certification procedures, and ensuring all certified support calculators perform in a manner consistent with the Family Code and rules of court. In addition to substantive changes, the committee also proposes minor technical and grammatical changes.

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Assembly Bill 747 (Stats. 2025, ch. 563) and Senate Bill 85 (Stats. 2025, ch. 403) amend statutory requirements governing service of a summons in civil cases and the procedure for requesting and ordering alternative service. To implement AB 747 and SB 85, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending one rule of court, adopting one mandatory form, approving two optional forms, and revising eight forms. The proposed new and revised forms would be used in Family Law and Domestic Violence Prevention Act cases.

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The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending two California Rules of Court in response to legislation. Assembly Bill 1974 (Stats. 2024, ch 303) amended Family Code section 1816 by expanding the advanced training requirements for court-appointed child custody investigators and evaluators. To align the rules with the statute, the committee proposes revising rules 5.215 and 5.230 to reference Family Code section 1816 directly rather than duplicating the statute’s list of required training topics. The proposed changes would ensure that these court professionals are directed to the most current training requirements and eliminate the need to amend the rules whenever the Legislature amends the statutory list. The committee also proposes additional substantive and technical amendments to improve legal accuracy and readability.

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The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revising two family law summons forms, effective January 1, 2027, to implement Assembly Bill 1297 (Stats. 2025, ch. 48). For certain family law proceedings, AB 1297 will expand the automatic temporary restraining order related to insurance to prohibit parties from allowing an insurance plan to lapse for nonpayment of premiums or failing to renew insurance. Forms FL-110 and FL-710 would be revised to reflect these changes. In addition, the committee proposes revising some language on these summons forms to plain language and making technical changes. The committee proposes similar plain language and technical revisions on forms FL-210 and SUR-110 for consistency across the summons forms used in family law proceedings.

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Senate Bill 450 (Stats. 2025, ch. 757) amended California adoption law to require adoption orders to include the names of all adoptive parents and any existing parents maintaining parental rights. To implement SB 450, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revising Adoption Order (form ADOPT-215), the mandatory Judicial Council form used for all orders for the adoption of a minor child.

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Recent federal legislation, (H.R. No. 1, 119th Cong., 1st Sess. (2025)) made changes to federal law, including modifying the tax treatment of certain income attributable to tips and overtime for tax years 2025–2028. To implement House Resolution No. 1 (H.R. No. 1) and to respond to identified concerns, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revising three family law forms used by parties to provide financial disclosures and to request information from an adverse party’s employer. The committee also proposes adopting four mandatory attachment forms, approving two optional attachment forms, and revoking an optional information sheet to facilitate more comprehensive and accurate financial disclosure.

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The Criminal Law Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council sponsor
legislation amending several Penal Code statutes to improve consistency in how arrest records
are sealed when a person is granted specified criminal record relief.

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Senate Bill 54 (Stats. 2025, ch. 646) exempts veterans disability service-connected compensation from monthly income for purposes of determining whether a fee waiver applicant’s income is 200 percent or less of the current federal poverty guidelines. The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee and the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee propose amending seven rules of court and revising 22 fee waiver forms to implement SB 54, correct misapplications of existing law, and make other improvements.

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To implement portions of Assembly Bill 1663 (Stats. 2022, ch. 894) and to make conservatorship forms more accessible and user-friendly, the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes adopting seven forms for mandatory use and revising three mandatory forms. The proposal will provide new forms for a petition and for an order for appointment of a limited conservator, and new attachments for use in both general and limited conservatorships. The committee intends for the proposal to simplify the forms and make them more intuitive and understandable for self-represented litigants, conservators, and proposed conservatees.

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Assembly Bill 747 (Stats. 2025, ch. 563) made numerous changes to the laws regarding service under the Code of Civil Procedure. which apply to service required by the Probate Code. To bring the forms used for service in probate proceedings into compliance with the new service requirements, the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes approving two optional forms, revising five forms, and revoking two forms.

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Assembly Bill 495, effective January 1, 2026, authorizes a court to appoint a custodial but unavailable parent and a person nominated by that parent as joint guardians of the person of the parent’s child. In response, the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes amending one rule, adopting one form, revoking one form and approving two new forms in its place, and revising four forms to facilitate the process of petitioning for and appointing joint guardians under the new law. The proposal would also revise and renumber an information form, update cross-references, simplify language, and make other improvements to the forms.

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To conform to changes in conservatorship law, the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes revoking one form, adopting two mandatory forms to replace the revoked form, and amending one rule. One proposed form would be a statement of the duties of a conservator for the court to distribute to each newly appointed conservator. A conservator would use the second proposed form to acknowledge receipt of the statement of duties and the Judicial Council’s Handbook for Conservators as required by Probate Code section 1834. The proposed rule amendment would update form references to use the new form titles and numbers.

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The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revising Notice of Court Hearing and Temporary Order to Change or End Restraining Order (DV-310) and How Do I Ask to Change or End a Domestic Violence Restraining Order? (DV-300-INFO) to address court operational concerns and improve form usability for litigants.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes adopting 1 form, revising 23 forms, and revoking 1 form to implement Assembly Bill 561 (Stats. 2025, ch. 267). AB 561 amends the statutes governing civil harassment restraining orders (CHROs) and elder or dependent adult abuse restraining orders (EAROs). For both CHROs and EAROs, AB 561 authorizes the electronic submission of certain documents and also authorizes certain persons to appear remotely. For EAROs, AB 561 authorizes alternative methods of service if there is reason to believe that the respondent is evading service or cannot be located. All the abovementioned provisions become operative on January 1, 2027.

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The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes the revision of two forms to implement Assembly Bill 2917 (Stats. 2024, ch. 539), which revised the types of evidence courts must consider in determining whether grounds for a gun violence restraining order exist. Additionally, the committee proposes making various changes to improve these forms and to address related issues raised during the public comment period for a recent proposal to implement Senate Bill 899 (Stats. 2024, ch. 544).

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The Traffic Advisory Committee proposes revocations and revisions to the trial by written declaration forms and corresponding amendments to the relevant rule of court to better assist court users. These proposed revisions include substantive changes, clearer language, and reorganized, more intuitive content. The committee specifically recommends amending rule 4.210 of the California Rules of Court; revising forms TR-205, TR-215, TR-220, TR-225, and TR-235; and revoking forms TR-200 and TR-210.

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