Sonoma Superior Court Electronic Filing Rules

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Ex parte application

Attorneys must submit covered civil ex parte applications through eFile no later than 10:30 a.m. on the assigned judge's review day.

Effective immediately and until further notice, Ex Parte Applications in civil actions assigned to Courtrooms 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall be presented by eFile if submitted by an attorney or if submitted by a party without an attorney to the Civil Clerk's Office located at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403, no later than 10:30 a.m. on the assigned judge's ex parte review day.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Criminal complaint

Felony and misdemeanor complaints must be filed electronically with the Criminal Clerk’s Office through E-File.

A. Felony and misdemeanor complaints must be filed with the Criminal Clerk’s Office via E-File.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The Notice of Appeal and CRC 8.864 notice of election must be filed in the trial court, subsequent filings must be filed in the Criminal Appeals Department, and parties must comply with applicable electronic-filing requirements.

A. The Notice of Appeal and the CRC 8.864 Notice of election regarding a record of oral proceedings in the trial court shall be filed in the trial court. All subsequent filings shall be filed in the Criminal Appeals Department. The parties shall comply with any Electronic Filing requirements.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The Notice of Appeal and CRC 8.831 record-designation notice must be filed in the trial court, subsequent filings must be filed in the Civil Appeals Department, and parties must comply with applicable electronic-filing requirements.

A. The Notice of Appeal and the CRC 8.831 Notice designating the record on appeal shall be filed in the trial court. All subsequent filings shall be filed in the Civil Appeals Department. The parties shall comply with any Electronic Filing requirements.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The parties must comply with the applicable electronic filing requirements.

The parties shall comply with any Electronic Filing requirements.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Subject to Local Rule 17.23, represented parties, other represented persons, and attorneys must electronically file documents in all civil matters.

Subject to the exceptions in Local Rule 17.23, all represented parties, other represented persons, and all attorneys, including but not limited to consulting attorneys, mediator/attorneys, and document-preparer attorneys, are required to electronically file documents pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, § 1010.6 and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.250 et seq for the following case types/categories: 1. All Civil Matters

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

When instructed to prepare an order after a hearing, the proposed order must be electronically lodged in PDF format attached to Judicial Council Form EFS-020, with a simultaneously emailed editable version.

If instructed to prepare an order after a hearing, proposed orders after hearing shall be lodged with the court electronically in PDF format attached to Judicial Council Form EFS-020. At the same time as the EFS-020 and the PDF proposed order are lodged with the court electronically, a version of the proposed order in a fully editable word processing format (preferably in MS Word format, and not PDF or PDF converted to a word format) shall be submitted to the Court by electronic mail using an address identified on the Court’s website.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Proposed or draft document; may not be in force

Applies to

Bond

A bond may be electronically filed unless prohibited by statute, the California Rules of Court, or court order, but the filing must include a complete legible executed copy and all required attachments.

Electronic Filing of Bonds: A bond may be electronically filed unless otherwise prohibited by statute, the California Rules of Court, or order of the Court. An electronically filed bond must include a complete and legible copy of the executed bond, and all required attachments.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Documents may be transmitted electronically to the Court at all times.

Documents may be electronically transmitted to the Court seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Self-represented parties and other self-represented persons are exempt from mandatory electronic filing requirements.

B. Self-represented parties, or other self-represented persons, are exempt from mandatory electronic filing requirements pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.253 subdivision (b)(2).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

The Court's approved electronic filing service providers are listed on its website.

Approved Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs) are listed on the Court’s website at www.sonomacourts.ca.gov.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

To be submitted via eFile or dropped off by 8:30 am at 3055 Cleveland Ave & picked up at or after 2:30 pm at 3055 Cleveland Ave.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Review: To be submitted via eFile or dropped off by 8:30 am at 3055 Cleveland Ave & picked up at or after 2:30 pm at 3055 Cleveland Ave.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Civil ex party review ?

Civil Ex Parte Review: To be submitted via eFile by 10:30 am.

Summary: Judge Patrick Broderick's civil ex parte review submissions must be e-filed by 10:30 a.m.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

GVRO TRO Ex Parte Review: To be submitted via eFile or dropped off by 8:00 am at 3055 Cleveland Ave & picked up at or after 2:30 pm at 3055 Cleveland Ave

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Proposed or draft document; may not be in force

Applies to

Civil items ?

Notwithstanding any other provision of law or these rules, the following items may not be electronically filed: A. Civil: 1. Subpoenaed documents; 2. Labor Commissioner deposit of cash or check; and 3. Payments for Bonds and Undertakings.

Summary: Subpoenaed documents, Labor Commissioner cash or check deposits, and payments for bonds and undertakings in civil cases may not be electronically filed.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Proposed or draft document; may not be in force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law or these rules, the following items may not be electronically filed: B. Criminal: 1. Bail Bonds; 2. Jail Cites; and 3. Bail Bonds Motions.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Proposed or draft document; may not be in force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law or these rules, the following items may not be electronically filed: C. Probate: 1. Affidavit re: Real Property of Small Value; 2. Bonds; 2. Financial Documents submitted by Private Professional Conservator; 3. Subpoenaed documents; 4. Undertakings; and 5. Will/Codicils – originals for filing or safekeeping.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Ex parte review ?

To be submitted via eFile or dropped off by 8:30 am at 3055 Cleveland Ave & picked up at or after 2:30 pm at 3055 Cleveland Ave.

Summary: Civil Harassment, Elder Protection, and unlawful-detainer ex parte reviews may be submitted electronically or dropped off by 8:30 a.m. and picked up after 2:30 p.m.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Ex parte review ?

To be submitted via eFile by 10:30 am.

Summary: Civil ex parte reviews before Judge Patrick Broderick must be submitted electronically by 10:30 a.m.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Ex parte review ?

To be submitted via eFile or dropped off by 8:00 am at 3055 Cleveland Ave & picked up at or after 2:30 pm at 3055 Cleveland Ave

Summary: GVRO TRO ex parte reviews may be submitted electronically or dropped off by 8:00 a.m. and picked up after 2:30 p.m.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Unlawful Detainer Ex Parte matters are reviewed Monday through Friday. Documents are to be submitted through eFile if submitted by an attorney or if submitted by a party without an attorney at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, California no later than 8:30 am.

Summary: Unlawful Detainer Ex Parte matters are reviewed Monday through Friday; attorneys and parties without attorneys at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse must submit documents through eFile no later than 8:30 am.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Appendix of authorities

When a party is required to provide an appendix of authorities other than California cases, statutes, constitutional provisions, or state or local rules pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1113(i)(1), the appendix shall be lodged electronically or in the Clerk’s office.

Summary: A required appendix of authorities covering authorities outside the listed California and state or local materials must be lodged electronically or at the Clerk's Office.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

All persons required to file documents electronically under these Local Rules shall confidentially lodge the documents through the e-filing system.

Summary: Persons subject to the electronic-filing rules must confidentially lodge the specified original financial account, billing, and escrow statements through the e-filing system.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Civil filing ?

A. Civil: 1. Subpoenaed documents; 2. Labor Commissioner deposit of cash or check; and 3. Payments for Bonds and Undertakings.

Summary: Subpoenaed documents, Labor Commissioner cash or check deposits, and bond or undertaking payments may not be electronically filed in civil matters.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Criminal filing ?

B. Criminal: 1. Bail Bonds; 2. Jail Cites; and 3. Bail Bonds Motions.

Summary: Bail bonds, jail cites, and bail bond motions may not be electronically filed in criminal matters.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

C. Probate: 1. Affidavit re: Real Property of Small Value; 2. Bonds; 3. Financial Documents submitted by Private Professional Conservator; 4. Subpoenaed documents; 5. Undertakings; and 6. Will/Codicils – originals for filing or safekeeping.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Family law filing ?

D. Family Law: 1. Declaration for Default for Uncontested Judgment; 2. Judgments; and 3. Notice of Entry of Judgment.

Summary: The listed family-law documents may not be electronically filed.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Proposed order

Subject to any applicable exemptions, proposed orders submitted with moving papers before a hearing on a regularly noticed motion or orders after hearing shall be lodged with the court electronically in PDF format attached to Judicial Council Form EFS-020. At the same time as the EFS-020 and the PDF proposed order are lodged with the court electronically, a version of the proposed order in a fully editable word processing format (preferably in MS Word format, and not PDF or PDF converted to a word format) shall be submitted to the Court by electronic mail using an address identified on the Court’s website.

Summary: For probate cases, proposed orders submitted with moving papers before a regularly noticed motion hearing, or proposed orders after hearing, must be electronically lodged as a PDF attached to Judicial Council Form EFS-020, with a simultaneously emailed editable version.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Proposed or draft document; may not be in force

Applies to

Appendix

When a party is required to provide an appendix of authorities other than California cases, statutes, constitutional provisions, or state or local rules pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1113(i)(1), the appendix shall be lodged electronically or in the Clerk’s office.

Summary: A required appendix of authorities may be lodged electronically or in the Clerk's office, with the listed California and state or local authorities excluded from the appendix requirement.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Only the following types of documents will be filed over-the-counter:

Summary: Over-the-counter filing is limited to the document categories listed in Rule 17.11.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Initial document

Initial documents such as Complaints, Petitions, Applications, limited to one per customer, except as to Plaintiff’s Claims (Small Claims) and Unlawful Detainer Complaints.

Summary: Over-the-counter initial documents are limited to one per customer, except for Plaintiff’s Claims in Small Claims cases and Unlawful Detainer Complaints.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Persons not mandated to electronically file may still do so or deliver paper copies to the Court for filing.

Summary: Persons not required to electronically file may choose electronic filing or submit paper copies to the court.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to

Responsive pleading

Responsive Pleadings; Answers (including Disclaimers); General Denials, Responses; Cross-Complaints; Complaints-in-Intervention; and Defendant’s Claims (Small Claims).

Summary: The listed responsive pleadings and related documents may be filed over the counter.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to

Peremptory challenge

Peremptory Challenges pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §170.6.

Summary: Peremptory challenges under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 may be filed over the counter.