CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET

California Superior Court — Judicial Council Form CM-010 Preparation Worksheet

Official Form: Judicial Council Form CM-010 (Rev. January 1, 2026 — Mandatory)
Governed by: Cal. Rules of Court, Rules 2.30, 3.220, 3.400–3.403, 3.740; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 86, 88, 422.10

IMPORTANT: This worksheet is designed to help practitioners gather all information required to complete the official Judicial Council Form CM-010. The official form must be filed with the first paper in any civil action or proceeding in California Superior Court, except those filed in small claims court or under the Probate Code, Family Code, or Welfare and Institutions Code. Failure to file a cover sheet may subject a party, its counsel, or both to sanctions under Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 2.30.

DOCUMENT PREPARATION CHECKLIST

☐ Official CM-010 form obtained (current revision: January 1, 2026)
☐ Correct superior court location and branch identified
☐ Case type classification determined (limited vs. unlimited civil)
☐ Primary cause of action identified from CM-010 case type categories
☐ Complex case designation evaluated under Cal. Rules of Court, Rules 3.400–3.403
☐ Related cases identified and CM-015 form prepared (if applicable)
☐ Filing fee amount verified from current statewide fee schedule
☐ Local court supplemental cover sheets reviewed (e.g., LACSC, SFSC)
☐ ADR requirements reviewed per local court rules
☐ CM-010 completed and ready to file with first paper

1. COURT INFORMATION

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

2. PARTY INFORMATION

Plaintiff / Petitioner

Defendant / Respondent

Case Number

3. ATTORNEY OR SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY

☐ Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner
☐ Attorney for Defendant/Respondent
☐ Self-Represented (Pro Se / Pro Per)

4. CASE CLASSIFICATION — LIMITED VS. UNLIMITED

Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 86, civil cases are classified as follows:

☐ Limited Civil Case — Amount demanded is $35,000 or less
(Note: Effective January 1, 2024, the jurisdictional limit was raised from $25,000 to $35,000 per Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 85.)

☐ Unlimited Civil Case — Amount demanded exceeds $35,000, or the case involves non-monetary relief, or the case type requires unlimited jurisdiction

☐ Reclassification — This case was previously classified as ☐ limited / ☐ unlimited and is being reclassified pursuant to Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 88

5. CASE TYPE CATEGORIES (CM-010 ITEM 1)

Select one case type that best describes the primary cause of action. If the case involves multiple causes of action, select the most specific applicable category.

Auto Tort

☐ Auto (22) — Personal injury/property damage/wrongful death arising from motor vehicle accident

Other Personal Injury / Property Damage / Wrongful Death Tort

☐ Asbestos (04)
☐ Product Liability (24)
☐ Medical Malpractice (45)
☐ Other Personal Injury/Property Damage/Wrongful Death (23)

Non-Personal Injury / Property Damage Tort

☐ Business Tort/Unfair Business Practice (07)
☐ Civil Rights (08)
☐ Defamation (13)
☐ Fraud (16)
☐ Intellectual Property (19)
☐ Professional Negligence (25) (other than medical malpractice)
☐ Other Non-PI/PD/WD Tort (35)

Employment

☐ Wrongful Termination (36)
☐ Other Employment (15)

Contract

☐ Breach of Contract/Warranty (06)
☐ Rule 3.740 Collections Case (09)
☐ Insurance Coverage (18)
☐ Other Contract (37)

Real Property

☐ Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation (14)
☐ Wrongful Eviction (33)
☐ Other Real Property (26) (e.g., quiet title, partition)

Unlawful Detainer

☐ Commercial (31)
☐ Residential (32)
☐ Drugs (38) (Health & Saf. Code § 11571)

Judicial Review

☐ Asset Forfeiture (05)
☐ Petition Re: Arbitration Award (11)
☐ Writ of Mandate (02) (administrative or traditional)
☐ Other Judicial Review (39)

Provisionally Complex Civil Litigation (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.400)

☐ Antitrust/Trade Regulation (03)
☐ Construction Defect (10)
☐ Mass Tort (40)
☐ Securities Litigation (28)
☐ Environmental/Toxic Tort (30)
☐ Insurance Coverage Claims from Complex Case (41)

Enforcement of Judgment

☐ Enforcement of Judgment (20) (e.g., sister-state, foreign)

CEQA

☐ CEQA (21) (California Environmental Quality Act)

Other Civil Complaint / Petition

☐ Other Complaint (42) (not specified above)
☐ Partnership and Corporate Governance (43)
☐ Other Petition (44) (not specified above)
☐ Civil Harassment (27)
☐ Workplace Violence (34)
☐ Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse (29)
☐ Election Contest (17)
☐ Petition for Name Change (46)
☐ Petition for Relief from Late Claim (47)
☐ Other Civil Petition (48)

Selected Case Type: [________________________________]
CM-010 Code Number: [____]

6. COMPLEX CASE DESIGNATION (CM-010 ITEM 2)

Under Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.400, a "complex case" is an action that requires exceptional judicial management to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on the court or the litigants.

Does This Case Meet the Complex Case Criteria?

☐ This case IS complex — Check all applicable factors below
☐ This case is NOT complex

Factors Indicating Complexity (Rule 3.400(a))

☐ (a) Large number of separately represented parties
☐ (b) Extensive motion practice raising difficult or novel issues that will be time-consuming to resolve
☐ (c) Substantial amount of documentary evidence
☐ (d) Large number of witnesses
☐ (e) Coordination with related actions pending in one or more courts in other counties, states, or countries, or in a federal court
☐ (f) Substantial post-judgment judicial supervision

Provisionally Complex Case Types (Rule 3.400(b))

The following case types are treated as provisionally complex:

☐ Antitrust and trade regulation claims
☐ Construction defect claims involving many parties or structures
☐ Securities claims or investment losses involving many parties
☐ Environmental/toxic tort claims
☐ Claims involving mass torts
☐ Claims involving class actions
☐ Insurance coverage claims arising out of any of the above

Note: If you designate the case as complex, the cover sheet must be served on all parties to the action. See Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.402. A Case Management Conference will be set under Rule 3.403.

7. ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS (CM-010 ITEMS 3–5)

Item 3 — Remedies Sought

☐ Monetary relief only
☐ Non-monetary (declaratory or injunctive relief)
☐ Punitive damages (check if specifically alleged)

Item 4 — Number of Causes of Action

Number of causes of action in complaint: [____]

Item 5 — Related Cases

☐ This case IS related to another case
- Related Case Title: [________________________________]
- Related Case Number: [________________________________]
- Related Court/Department: [________________________________]
- CM-015 (Notice of Related Case) filed: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ To be filed

☐ This case is NOT related to any other pending case

8. FILING FEES — CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT

Current Statewide Fee Schedule (as of January 1, 2026)

(Fees subject to change. Verify current fees at the filing court or at https://www4.courts.ca.gov/documents/filingfees.pdf. See Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70611–70617.)

Fee Waiver

☐ Applicant is requesting a fee waiver (file Form FW-001)
☐ Fee waiver has been granted (attach order)
☐ Not applicable — fees will be paid at filing

9. COLLECTIONS CASE DESIGNATION (Rule 3.740)

If the case is a collections case under Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.740:

☐ This IS a collections case — A case in which a plaintiff has assigned the claim to a third-party debt collector for purposes of filing the action
☐ This is NOT a collections case

If a collections case:
- Number of defendants: [____]
- Original creditor: [________________________________]
- Amount claimed per defendant: $[________________________________]

10. CLASS ACTION DESIGNATION

☐ This IS a class action — Filed under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 382
☐ This is NOT a class action

If class action:
- Proposed class description: [________________________________]
- Estimated class size: [________________________________]

11. JURY DEMAND

☐ Jury trial demanded
☐ Non-jury / bench trial
☐ Jury demand to be filed separately

Note: Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 631, a jury fee deposit of $150.00 per party must be posted at least 25 calendar days before the trial date to preserve the right to a jury trial.

12. DESCRIPTION OF CASE AND MONETARY RELIEF

Case Description

• Type of action and primary causes of action: [________________________________]
• Brief factual summary: [________________________________]

Monetary Relief

• Amount demanded (if stated): $[________________________________]
• ☐ Amount demanded is not stated (unlimited civil case)
• Non-monetary / equitable relief sought: [________________________________]

13. SERVICE AND SPECIAL NOTES

Service Information

• Service addresses and method: [________________________________]
• Process server / sheriff / certified mail: [________________________________]

Special Accommodations

• Interpreter needed: ☐ Yes ☐ No — Language: [________________________________]
• ADA accommodation needed: ☐ Yes ☐ No — Accommodation: [________________________________]

14. SIGNATURE

I certify that the information provided on this cover sheet is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Date: [__/__/____]

________________________________
[Attorney Name / Self-Represented Party Name]
California State Bar No. [________________________________]
Attorney for ☐ Plaintiff/Petitioner ☐ Defendant/Respondent

15. LOCAL COURT SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Los Angeles County Superior Court (LACSC)

☐ LACSC requires additional local cover sheet (LACIV 109) for certain case types
☐ Complex case designation requires filing in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse or designated complex courthouse
☐ LACSC electronic filing via the court-approved EFSP
☐ Mandatory ADR program — check local rules for specific requirements

San Francisco County Superior Court

☐ Additional ADR information sheet may be required
☐ Verify electronic filing requirements at sfsuperiorcourt.org
☐ Complex cases assigned to Complex Litigation Department

Orange County Superior Court

☐ Supplemental filing information available at occourts.org
☐ Self-help packet SHC-CIV-07 available for self-represented litigants
☐ Mandatory e-filing for most civil case types

San Diego County Superior Court

☐ Additional case management information may be required at filing
☐ Verify branch location and filing procedures
☐ Mandatory e-filing in effect

Other County: [________________________________]

☐ Local supplemental requirements: [________________________________]

16. PRACTICE NOTES AND CALIFORNIA-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

A. When CM-010 Is Required

The Civil Case Cover Sheet (CM-010) must be filed with the first paper filed in any civil action or proceeding in California Superior Court, with the following exceptions:
- Small claims cases
- Cases filed under the Probate Code
- Cases filed under the Family Code
- Cases filed under the Welfare and Institutions Code

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 422.10; Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.220.

B. Sanctions for Non-Compliance

Failure to file a cover sheet with the first paper may result in sanctions under Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 2.30, which authorizes the court to:
- Strike the paper
- Issue an order to show cause
- Impose monetary sanctions
- Dismiss the action

C. Complex Case Procedures (Rules 3.400–3.403)

If a case is designated as complex:
1. The cover sheet must be served on all other parties to the action (Rule 3.402).
2. A party who opposes the complex designation must file and serve a counter-designation within 20 days.
3. The court will set a Case Management Conference within 30 days of the filing to determine complex status (Rule 3.403).
4. Cases designated as complex are typically assigned to a single judge for all purposes.

D. Reclassification (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 88)

A case may be reclassified from limited to unlimited (or vice versa) if:
- The amount in controversy changes
- A party amends a pleading to seek different relief
- The court determines reclassification is appropriate

A motion to reclassify must be accompanied by a declaration or other evidence demonstrating that the case was incorrectly classified.

E. Electronic Filing

Most California superior courts now require or accept electronic filing through court-approved Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs). Verify your county's requirements:
- Los Angeles County: Mandatory e-filing for most civil case types
- San Francisco County: Mandatory e-filing for unlimited civil cases
- Orange County: Mandatory e-filing for most civil case types
- San Diego County: Mandatory e-filing in effect
- Many other counties: Electronic filing available and encouraged

F. Limited Civil Case Jurisdictional Amount

Effective January 1, 2024, the jurisdictional limit for limited civil cases was increased from $25,000 to $35,000 pursuant to amendments to Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 85. Cases involving amounts of $35,000 or less are classified as limited civil cases. This is an important change from the prior threshold.

G. Defendant/Respondent Cover Sheet

When a defendant or respondent files a first appearance, they must also file a cover sheet. The defendant's cover sheet may indicate a different case type if the defendant disagrees with the plaintiff's classification.

17. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Judicial Council Form CM-010 (Rev. January 1, 2026) — https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/cm010.pdf
• California Self-Help Guide: CM-010 — https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/CM-010
• Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.220 (Case Cover Sheet) — https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_220
• Cal. Rules of Court, Rules 3.400–3.403 (Complex Litigation) — https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_400
• California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule — https://www4.courts.ca.gov/documents/filingfees.pdf
• Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 422.10 (Cover Sheet Required) — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=422.10
• Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 86 (Limited Civil Cases) — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=86
• Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70611–70617 (Filing Fees) — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=70611
• Orange County Superior Court Filing Information — https://www.occourts.org/divisions/civil/civil-filing-information
• "How to Fill Out Form CM-010" — https://taxsharkinc.com/how-to-fill-out-form-cm-010/