Miscellaneous Codes for Small Claims

Business and Professions Code

143. (a) No person engaged in any business or profession for which a license is required under this code governing the department or any board, bureau, commission, committee, or program within the department, may bring or maintain any action, or recover in law or equity in any action, in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract for which a license is required without alleging and proving that he or she was duly licensed at all times during the performance of that act or contract, regardless of the merits of the cause of action brought by the person.

(b) The judicial doctrine of substantial compliance shall not apply to this section.

(c) This section shall not apply to an act or contract that is considered to qualify as lawful practice of a licensed occupation or profession pursuant to Section 121.

6200. (a) The board of governors shall, by rule, establish, maintain, and administer a system and procedure for the arbitration, and may establish, maintain, and administer a system and procedure for mediation of disputes concerning fees, costs, or both, charged for professional services by members of the State Bar or by members of the bar of other jurisdictions. The rules may include provision for a filing fee in such amount as the board may, from time to time, determine.

(b) This article shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Disputes where a member of the State Bar of California is also admitted to practice in another jurisdiction or where an attorney is only admitted to practice in another jurisdiction, and he or she maintains no office in the State of California, and no material portion of the services were rendered in the State of California.

(2) Claims for affirmative relief against the attorney for damages or otherwise based upon alleged malpractice or professional misconduct, except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 6203.

(3) Disputes where the fee or cost to be paid by the client or on his or her behalf has been determined pursuant to statute or court order.

(c) Unless the client has agreed in writing to arbitration under this article of all disputes concerning fees, costs, or both, arbitration under this article shall be voluntary for a client and shall be mandatory for an attorney if commenced by a client. Mediation under this article shall be voluntary for an attorney and a client.

(d) The board of governors shall adopt rules to allow arbitration and mediation of attorney fee and cost disputes under this article to proceed under arbitration and mediation systems sponsored by local bar associations in this state. Rules of procedure promulgated by local bar associations are subject to review by the board to insure that they provide for a fair, impartial, and speedy hearing and award.

(e) In adopting or reviewing rules of arbitration under this section the board shall provide that the panel shall include one attorney member whose area of practice is either, at the option of the client, civil law, if the attorney's representation involved civil law, or criminal law, if the attorney's representation involved criminal law, as follows:

(1) If the panel is composed of three members the panel shall include one attorney member whose area of practice is either, at the option of the client, civil or criminal law, and shall include one lay member.

(2) If the panel is composed of one member, that member shall be an attorney whose area of practice is either, at the option of the client, civil or criminal law.

(f) In any arbitration or mediation conducted pursuant to this article by the State Bar or by a local bar association, pursuant to rules of procedure approved by the board of governors, an arbitrator or mediator, as well as the arbitrating association and its directors, officers, and employees, shall have the same immunity which attaches in judicial proceedings.

(g) In the conduct of arbitrations under this article the arbitrator or arbitrators may do all of the following:

(1) Take and hear evidence pertaining to the proceeding.

(2) Administer oaths and affirmations.

(3) Compel, by subpoena, the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents pertaining to the proceeding.

(h) Participation in mediation is a voluntary consensual process, based on direct negotiations between the attorney and his or her client, and is an extension of the negotiated settlement process. All discussions and offers of settlement are confidential and may not be disclosed in any subsequent arbitration or other proceedings.

7031. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (e), no person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor, may bring or maintain any action, or recover in law or equity in any action, in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract where a license is required by this chapter without alleging that he or she was a duly licensed contractor at all times during the performance of that act or contract, regardless of the merits of the cause of action brought by the person, except that this prohibition shall not apply to contractors who are each individually licensed under this chapter but who fail to comply with Section 7029.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (e), a person who utilizes the services of an unlicensed contractor may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state to recover all compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor for performance of any act or contract.

(c) A security interest taken to secure any payment for the performance of any act or contract for which a license is required by this chapter is unenforceable if the person performing the act or contract was not a duly licensed contractor at all times during the performance of the act or contract.

(d) If licensure or proper licensure is controverted, then proof of licensure pursuant to this section shall be made by production of a verified certificate of licensure from the Contractors' State License Board which establishes that the individual or entity bringing the action was duly licensed in the proper classification of contractors at all times during the performance of any act or contract covered by the action. Nothing in this subdivision shall require any person or entity controverting licensure or proper licensure to produce a verified certificate. When licensure or proper licensure is controverted, the burden of proof to establish licensure or proper licensure shall be on the licensee.

(e) The judicial doctrine of substantial compliance shall not apply under this section where the person who engaged in the business or acted in the capacity of a contractor has never been a duly licensed contractor in this state. However, notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 143, the court may determine that there has been substantial compliance with licensure requirements under this section if it is shown at an evidentiary hearing that the person who engaged in the business or acted in the capacity of a contractor (1) had been duly licensed as a contractor in this state prior to the performance of the act or contract, (2) acted reasonably and in good faith to maintain proper licensure,(3) did not know or reasonably should not have known that he or she was not duly licensed when performance of the act or contract commenced, and (4) acted promptly and in good faith to reinstate his or her license upon learning it was invalid.

(f) The exceptions to the prohibition against the application of the judicial doctrine of substantial compliance found in subdivision (e) shall apply to all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 1992, and to all actions or arbitrations arising therefrom, except that the amendments to subdivisions (e) and (f) enacted during the 1994 portion of the 1993-94 Regular Session of the Legislature shall not apply to either of the following:

(1) Any legal action or arbitration commenced prior to January 1, 1995, regardless of the date on which the parties entered into the contract.

(2) Any legal action or arbitration commenced on or after January 1, 1995, if the legal action or arbitration was commenced prior to January 1, 1995, and was subsequently dismissed.

9852. No person required to have a valid registration under the provisions of this chapter shall have the benefit of any lien for labor or materials or the right to sue on a contract for repairs or installation done by such individual, unless he or she has such a valid registration.  

9853. A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a service dealer or service contractor is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this article. The director may order the registration temporarily or permanently invalidated, or may decline to issue a registration, when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, allowing that person to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends that date.

9884.9. (a) The automotive repair dealer shall give to the customer a written estimated price for labor and parts necessary for a specific job. No work shall be done and no charges shall accrue before authorization to proceed is obtained from the customer. No charge shall be made for work done or parts supplied in excess of the estimated price without the oral or written consent of the customer that shall be obtained at some time after it is determined that the estimated price is insufficient and before the work not estimated is done or the parts not estimated are supplied. Written consent or authorization for an increase in the original estimated price may be provided by electronic mail or facsimile transmission from the customer. The bureau may specify in regulation the procedures to be followed by an automotive repair dealer if an authorization or consent for an increase in the original estimated price is provided by electronic mail or facsimile transmission. If that consent is oral, the dealer shall make a notation on the work order of the date, time, name of person authorizing the additional repairs, and telephone number called, if any, together with a specification of the additional parts and labor and the total additional cost, and shall do either of the following:

(1) Make a notation on the invoice of the same facts set forth in the notation on the work order.

(2) Upon completion of the repairs, obtain the customer's signature or initials to an acknowledgment of notice and consent, if there is an oral consent of the customer to additional repairs, in the following language:   "I acknowledge notice and oral approval of an increase in the original estimated price. __________________________________ (signature or initials)"   Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring an automotive repair dealer to give a written estimated price if the dealer does not agree to perform the requested repair.

(b) The automotive repair dealer shall include with the written estimated price a statement of any automotive repair service that, if required to be done, will be done by someone other than the dealer or his or her employees. No service shall be done by other than the dealer or his or her employees without the consent of the customer, unless the customer cannot reasonably be notified. The dealer shall be responsible, in any case, for any service in the same manner as if the dealer or his or her employees had done the service.

(c) In addition to subdivisions (a) and (b), an automotive repair dealer, when doing auto body or collision repairs, shall provide an itemized written estimate for all parts and labor to the customer. The estimate shall describe labor and parts separately and shall identify each part, indicating whether the replacement part is new, used, rebuilt, or reconditioned. Each crash part shall be identified on the written estimate and the written estimate shall indicate whether the crash part is an original equipment manufacturer crash part or a nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash part.

(d) A customer may designate another person to authorize work or parts supplied in excess of the estimated price, if the designation is made in writing at the time that the initial authorization to proceed is signed by the customer. The bureau may specify in regulation the form and content of a designation and the procedures to be followed by the automotive repair dealer in recording the designation. For the purposes of this section, a designee shall not be the automotive repair dealer providing repair services or an insurer involved in a claim that includes the motor vehicle being repaired, or an employee or agent or a person acting on behalf of the dealer or insurer.

9884.16. No person required to have a valid registration under the provisions of this chapter shall have the benefit of any lien for labor or materials or the right to sue on a contract for motor vehicle repairs done by him unless he has such a valid registration.

17900. (a)(1) The purpose of this section is to protect those dealing with individuals or partnerships doing business under fictitious names, and it is not intended to confer any right or advantage on individuals or firms that fail to comply with the law. The filing of a fictitious business name certificate is designed to make available to the public the identities of persons doing business under the fictitious name.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or impede the rebuttable presumption described in Section 14411.

(b) As used in this chapter, "fictitious business name" means:

(1) In the case of an individual, a name that does not include the surname of the individual or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners, as described in subdivision (c).

(2) In the case of a partnership or other association of persons, other than a limited partnership that has filed a certificate of limited partnership with the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15621 or 15902.01 of the Corporations Code, a foreign limited partnership that has filed an application for registration with the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15692 or 15909.02 of the Corporations Code, a registered limited liability partnership that has filed a registration pursuant to Section 15049 or 16953 of the Corporations Code, or a foreign limited liability partnership that has filed an application for registration pursuant to Section 15055 or 16959 of the Corporations Code, a name that does not include the surname of each general partner or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners, as described in subdivision (c) and in Section 17901.

(3) In the case of a domestic or foreign corporation, any name other than the corporate name stated in its articles of incorporation filed with the California Secretary of State, in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17910.5.

(4) In the case of a limited partnership that has filed a certificate of limited partnership with the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15621 or 15902.01 of the Corporations Code and in the case of a foreign limited partnership that has filed an application for registration with the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15692 or 15902.02 of the Corporations Code, any name other than the name of the limited partnership as on file with the California Secretary of State.

(5) In the case of a limited liability company, any name other than the name stated in its articles of organization and in the case of a foreign limited liability company that has filed an application for registration with the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 17451 of the Corporations Code, any name other than the name of the limited liability company as on file with the California Secretary of State, in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 17910.5.

(c) A name that suggests the existence of additional owners within the meaning of subdivision (b) is one that includes such words as "Company," "& Company," "& Son," "& Sons," "& Associates," "Brothers," and the like, but not words that merely describe the business being conducted.

17918. No person transacting business under a fictitious business name contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or his assignee, may maintain any action upon or on account of any contract made, or transaction had, in the fictitious business name in any court of this state until the fictitious business name statement has been executed, filed, and published as required by this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the failure to comply with subdivision (b) of Section 17917 does not constitute transacting business contrary to the provisions of this chapter.

Corporations Code

2110. Delivery by hand of a copy of any process against a foreign corporation (a) to any officer of the corporation or its general manager in this state, or if the corporation is a bank to a cashier or an assistant cashier, (b) to any natural person designated by it as agent for the service of process, or (c), if the corporation has designated a corporate agent, to any person named in the latest certificate of the corporate agent filed pursuant to Section 1505 shall constitute valid service on the corporation. A copy of the statement and designation, or a copy of the latest statement filed pursuant to Section 2117, certified by the Secretary of State, is sufficient evidence of the appointment of an agent for the service of process.    

2110.1. In addition to the provisions of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 413.10) of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, process may be served upon a foreign corporation as provided in this chapter.    

2111. (a) If the agent designated for the service of process is a natural person and cannot be found with due diligence at the address stated in the designation or if the agent is a corporation and no person can be found with due diligence to whom the delivery authorized by Section 2110 may be made for the purpose of delivery to the corporate agent, or if the agent designated is no longer authorized to act, or if no agent has been designated and if no one of the officers or agents of the corporation specified in Section 2110 can be found after diligent search and it is so shown by affidavit to the satisfaction of the court, then the court may make an order that service be made by personal delivery to the Secretary of State or to an assistant or deputy secretary of state of two copies of the process together with two copies of the order, except that if the corporation to be served has not filed the statement required to be filed by Section 2105 then only one copy of the process and order need be delivered but the order shall include and set forth an address to which the process shall be sent by the Secretary of State. Service in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after delivery of the process to the Secretary of State.

(b) Upon receipt of the process and order and the fee therefor the Secretary of State forthwith shall give notice to the corporation of the service of the process by forwarding by registered or certified mail, with request for return receipt, a copy of the process and order to the address specified in the order if the corporation has not filed the statement required by Section 2105 or to the two stated addresses of the corporation set forth in the latest statement filed pursuant to Section 2105 or 2117, or if only one address is set forth in the latest statement, to the sole stated address of the corporation.

(c) The Secretary of State shall keep a record of all process served upon the Secretary of State and shall record therein the time of service and the Secretary of State's action with respect thereto. The certificate of the Secretary of State, under the Secretary of State's official seal, certifying to the receipt of process, the giving of notice thereof to the corporation, and the forwarding of the process pursuant to this section, shall be competent and prima facie evidence of the matters stated therein. 

Evidence Code

350. No evidence is admissible except relevant evidence.  

352. The court in its discretion may exclude evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury.    

352.1. In any criminal proceeding under Section 261, 262, or 264.1, subdivision (d) of Section 286, or subdivision (d) of Section 288a of the Penal Code, or in any criminal proceeding under subdivision (c) of Section 286 or subdivision (c) of Section 288a of the Penal Code in which the defendant is alleged to have compelled the participation of the victim by force, violence, duress, menace, or threat of great bodily harm, the district attorney may, upon written motion with notice to the defendant or the defendant's attorney, if he or she is represented by an attorney, within a reasonable time prior to any hearing, move to exclude from evidence the current address and telephone number of any victim at the hearing. The court may order that evidence of the victim's current address and telephone number be excluded from any hearings conducted pursuant to the criminal proceeding if the court finds that the probative value of the evidence is outweighed by the creation of substantial danger to the victim. Nothing in this section shall abridge or limit the defendant's right to discover or investigate the information. 

500. Except as otherwise provided by law, a party has the burden of proof as to each fact the existence or nonexistence of which is essential to the claim for relief or defense that he is asserting.  

900. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this division. They do not govern the construction of any other division.

901. "Proceeding" means any action, hearing, investigation, inquest, or inquiry (whether conducted by a court, administrative agency, hearing officer, arbitrator, legislative body, or any other person authorized by law) in which, pursuant to law, testimony can be compelled to be given.

902. "Civil proceeding" means any proceeding except a criminal proceeding.

903. "Criminal proceeding" means: (a) A criminal action; and (b) A proceeding pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 3060) of Chapter 7 of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code to determine whether a public officer should be removed from office for willful or corrupt misconduct in office.

905. "Presiding officer" means the person authorized to rule on a claim of privilege in the proceeding in which the claim is made. 

930. To the extent that such privilege exists under the Constitution of the United States or the State of California, a defendant in a criminal case has a privilege not to be called as a witness and not to testify.

Family Code

297.5.

(a) Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.

(b) Former registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon former spouses.

(c) A surviving registered domestic partner, following the death of the other partner, shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon a widow or a widower.

(d) The rights and obligations of registered domestic partners with respect to a child of either of them shall be the same as those of spouses. The rights and obligations of former or surviving registered domestic partners with respect to a child of either of them shall be the same as those of former or surviving spouses.

(e) To the extent that provisions of California law adopt, refer to, or rely upon, provisions of federal law in a way that otherwise would cause registered domestic partners to be treated differently than spouses, registered domestic partners shall be treated by California law as if federal law recognized a domestic partnership in the same manner as California law.

(f) Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights regarding nondiscrimination as those provided to spouses.

(g) No public agency in this state may discriminate against any person or couple on the ground that the person is a registered domestic partner rather than a spouse or that the couple are registered domestic partners rather than spouses, except that nothing in this section applies to modify eligibility for long-term care plans pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 21660) of Part 3 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(h) This act does not preclude any state or local agency from exercising its regulatory authority to implement statutes providing rights to, or imposing responsibilities upon, domestic partners.

(i) This section does not amend or modify any provision of the California Constitution or any provision of any statute that was adopted by initiative.

(j) Where necessary to implement the rights of registered domestic partners under this act, gender-specific terms referring to spouses shall be construed to include domestic partners.

(k) (1) For purposes of the statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, and any other provision or source of law governing the rights, protections, and benefits, and the responsibilities, obligations, and duties of registered domestic partners in this state, as effectuated by this section, with respect to community property, mutual responsibility for debts to third parties, the right in particular circumstances of either partner to seek financial support from the other following the dissolution of the partnership, and other rights and duties as between the partners concerning ownership of property, any reference to the date of a marriage shall be deemed to refer to the date of registration of a domestic partnership with the state.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for domestic partnerships registered with the state before January 1, 2005, an agreement between the domestic partners that the partners intend to be governed by the requirements set forth in Sections 1600 to 1620, inclusive, and which complies with those sections, except for the agreement's effective date, shall be enforceable as provided by Sections 1600 to 1620, inclusive, if that agreement was fully executed and in force as of June 30, 2005.

Government Code

911.2. (a) A claim relating to a cause of action for death or for injury to person or to personal property or growing crops shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action. A claim relating to any other cause of action shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than one year after the accrual of the cause of action.

(b) For purposes of determining whether a claim was commenced within the period provided by law, the date the claim was presented to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board is one of the following:

(1) The date the claim is submitted with a twenty-five dollar ($25) filing fee.

(2) If a fee waiver is granted, the date the claim was submitted with the affidavit requesting the fee waiver.

(3) If a fee waiver is denied, the date the claim was submitted with the affidavit requesting the fee waiver, provided the filing fee is paid to the board within 10 calendar days of the mailing of the notice of the denial of the fee waiver.

945.4. Except as provided in Sections 946.4 and 946.6, no suit for money or damages may be brought against a public entity on a cause of action for which a claim is required to be presented in accordance with Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 900) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 910) of Part 3 of this division until a written claim therefor has been presented to the public entity and has been acted upon by the board, or has been deemed to have been rejected by the board, in accordance with Chapters 1 and 2 of Part 3 of this division.

26720.9. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amounts set forth in Sections 26721, 26721.1, 26725, 26728, 26734, 26742, and 26743 shall be increased to thirty dollars ($30) on January 1, 2001. 

26721. Except as provided in this article, the fee for serving or executing any process or notice required by law or the litigants to be served shall be the amount described in Section 26720.9, and there shall be no additional fee for substitute service when substitute service is authorized. However, no fee shall be charged for serving an emergency protective order, protective order, or restraining order issued pursuant to Division 10 of the Family Code (the Domestic Violence Prevention Act) on a respondent who is in custody. In any case where property has been levied upon and, pursuant to the levy, a copy of the writ of execution and a notice of levy are required by statute to be served either personally or by mail upon the judgment debtor or other person, no fee shall be charged for that service.

68093. Except as otherwise provided by law, witness' fees for each day's actual attendance, when legally required to attend a civil action or proceeding in the superior courts, are thirty-five dollars ($35) a day and mileage actually traveled, both ways, twenty cents ($0.20) a mile.

68511.3. (a) The Judicial Council shall formulate and adopt uniform forms and rules of court for litigants proceeding in forma pauperis. These rules shall provide for all of the following:

(1) Standard procedures for considering and determining applications for permission to proceed in forma pauperis, including, in the event of a denial of permission, a written statement detailing the reasons for denial and an evidentiary hearing if there is a substantial evidentiary conflict.

(2) Standard procedures to toll relevant time limitations when a pleading or other paper accompanied by the application is timely lodged with the court and delay is caused due to the processing of the application to proceed in forma pauperis.

(3) Proceeding in forma pauperis at every stage of the proceedings at both the appellate and trial levels of the court system.

(4) The confidentiality of the financial information provided to the court by these litigants.

(5) That the court may authorize the clerk of the court, county financial officer, or other appropriate county officer to make reasonable efforts to verify the litigant's financial condition without compromising the confidentiality of the application.

(6) That permission to proceed in forma pauperis be granted to all of the following:

(A) Litigants who are receiving benefits pursuant to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and State Supplemental Payments (SSP) programs (Sections 12200 to 12205, inclusive, of the Welfare and Institutions Code), the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act (CalWORKs) program (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), the Food Stamp Program (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2011 et seq.), or Section 17000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(B) Litigants whose monthly income is 125 percent or less of the current monthly poverty line annually established by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services pursuant to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended.

(C) Other persons when, in the court's discretion, this permission is appropriate because the litigant is unable to proceed without using money that is necessary for the use of the litigant or the litigant's family to provide for the common necessaries of life.

(b) (1) Litigants who apply for permission to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) shall declare under penalty of perjury that they are receiving the benefits, and may voluntarily provide the court with their date of birth and social security number or their Medi-Cal identification number to permit the court to verify the applicant's receipt of public assistance. The court may require any applicant, except a defendant in an unlawful detainer action, who chooses not to disclose his or her social security number for verification purposes to attach to the application documentation of benefits to support the claim and all other financial information on a form promulgated by the Judicial Council for this purpose.

(2) Litigants who apply for permission to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) shall file a financial statement under oath on a form promulgated by, and pursuant to rules adopted by, the Judicial Council.

(c) (1) The forms and rules adopted by the Judicial Council shall provide for the disclosure of the following information about the litigant:

(A) Current street address.

(B) Occupation and employer.

(C) Monthly income and expenses.

(D) Address and value of any real property owned directly or beneficially.

(E) Personal property with a value that exceeds five hundred dollars ($500).

(2) The information furnished by the litigant shall be used by the court in determining his or her ability to pay all or a portion of the fees and costs.

(d) (1) At any time after the court has granted a litigant permission to proceed in forma pauperis, and prior to final disposition of the case, the clerk of the court, county financial officer, or other appropriate county officer may notify the court of any changed financial circumstances that may enable the litigant to pay all or a portion of the fees and costs that had been waived. The court may authorize the clerk of the court, county financial officer, or other appropriate county officer to require the litigant to appear before and be examined by the person authorized to ascertain the validity of his or her indigent status. However, no litigant shall be required to appear more than once in any four-month period. A litigant proceeding in forma pauperis shall notify the court within five days of any settlement or monetary consideration received in settlement of this litigation and of any other change in financial circumstances that affects the litigant's ability to pay court fees and costs. After the litigant either (A) appears before and is examined by the person authorized to ascertain the validity of his or her indigent status, or (B) notifies the court of a change in financial circumstances, the court may then order the litigant to pay to the court the sum and in any manner the court believes is compatible with the litigant's financial ability.

(2) In any action or proceeding in which the litigant whose fees and costs have been waived would have been entitled to recover those fees and costs from another party to the action or proceeding had they been paid, the court may assess the amount of the waived fees and costs against the other party and order the other party to pay that sum to the court or to the clerk and serving and levying officers respectively, or the court may order the amount of the waived fees and costs added to the judgment and so identified by the clerk.

(3) Execution may be issued on any order provided for in this subdivision in the same manner as on a judgment in a civil action. When an amount equal to the sum due and payable to the clerk has been collected upon the judgment, these amounts shall be remitted to the clerk within 30 days. Thereafter, when an amount equal to the sum due to the serving and levying officers has been collected upon the judgment, these amounts shall be due and payable to those officers and shall be remitted within 30 days. If the remittance is not received by the clerk within 30 days, or there is a filing of a partial satisfaction of judgment in an amount at least equal to the fees and costs payable to the clerk, or a satisfaction of judgment has been filed, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may issue an abstract of judgment, writ of execution, or both for recovery of those sums, plus the fees for issuance and execution and an additional fee for administering this section. The court shall establish a fee, not to exceed actual costs of administering this subdivision, and in no case exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25), that shall be added to the writ of execution.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person who is sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison or confined in a county jail and, during the period of imprisonment or confinement, files a civil action or notice of appeal of a civil action in forma pauperis shall be required to pay the full amount of the filing fee to the extent provided as follows:

(1) In addition to the form required by this section for filing in forma pauperis, an inmate shall file a copy of a statement of account for any sums due to the inmate for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the civil action or notice of appeal of a civil action. This copy shall be certified by the appropriate official of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or a county jail.

(2) Upon filing the civil action or notice of appeal of a civil action, the court shall assess, and when funds exist, collect, as a partial payment of any required court fees, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of the following:

(A) The average monthly deposits to the inmate's account.

(B) The average monthly balance in the inmate's account for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the civil action or notice of appeal.

(3) After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the inmate shall be required to make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month's income credited to the inmate's account. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall forward payments from this account to the clerk of the court each time the amount in the account exceeds ten dollars ($10) until the filing fees are paid.

(4) In no event shall the filing fee collected pursuant to this subdivision exceed the amount of fees permitted by law for the commencement of a civil action or an appeal of a civil action.

(5) In no event shall an inmate be prohibited from bringing a civil action or appeal of a civil action solely because the inmate has no assets and no means to pay the initial partial filing fee.

70617. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the uniform fee for filing a motion, application, or any other paper requiring a hearing subsequent to the first paper, is forty dollars ($40). Papers for which this fee shall be charged include the following:

(1) A motion listed in paragraphs (1) to (12), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 1005 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(2) A motion or application to continue a trial date.

(3) An application for examination of a third person controlling defendant's property under Section 491.110 or 491.150 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(4) Discovery motions under Title 4 (commencing with Section 2016.010) of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(5) A motion for a new trial of any civil action or special proceeding.

(6) An application for an order for a judgment debtor examination under Section 708.110 or 708.160 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(7) An application for an order of sale of a dwelling under Section 704.750 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(8) An ex parte application that requires a party to give notice of the ex parte appearance to other parties.

(b) There shall be no fee under subdivision (a) or (c) for filing any of the following:

(1) A motion, application, demurrer, request, notice, or stipulation and order that is the first paper filed in an action and on which a first paper filing fee is paid.

(2) An amended notice of motion.

(3) A civil case management statement.

(4) A request for trial de novo after judicial arbitration.

(5) A stipulation that does not require an order.

(6) A request for an order to prevent civil harassment.

(7) A request for an order to prevent domestic violence.

(8) A request for entry of default or default judgment.

(9) A paper requiring a hearing on a petition for emancipation of a minor.

(10) A paper requiring a hearing on a petition for an order to prevent abuse of an elder or dependent adult.

(11) A paper requiring a hearing on a petition for a writ of review, mandate, or prohibition.

(12) A paper requiring a hearing on a petition for a decree of change of name or gender.

(13) A paper requiring a hearing on a petition to approve the compromise of a claim of a minor.

(c) The fee for filing the following papers not requiring a hearing is twenty dollars ($20):

(1) A request, application, or motion for, or a notice of, the continuance of a hearing or case management conference. The fee shall be charged no more than once for each continuance. The fee shall not be charged if the continuance is required by the court.

(2) A stipulation and order.

(3) A request for an order authorizing service of summons by posting or by publication under Section 415.45 or 415.50 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(d) The fee for filing a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication of issues is two hundred dollars ($200).

(e) Regardless of whether each motion or matter is heard at a single hearing or at separate hearings, the filing fees required by subdivisions (a), (c), and (d) apply separately to each motion or other paper filed. The Judicial Council may publish rules to give uniform guidance to courts in applying fees under this section.

70626. (a) The fee for each of the following services is fifteen dollars ($15). Amounts collected shall be distributed to the Trial Court Trust Fund under Section 68085.1.

(1) Issuing a writ of attachment, a writ of mandate, a writ of execution, a writ of sale, a writ of possession, a writ of prohibition, or any other writ for the enforcement of any order or judgment.

(2) Issuing an abstract of judgment.

(3) Issuing a certificate of satisfaction of judgment under Section 724.100 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(4) Certifying a copy of any paper, record, or proceeding on file in the office of the clerk of any court.

(5) Taking an affidavit, except in criminal cases or adoption proceedings.

(6) Acknowledgment of any deed or other instrument, including the certificate.

(7) Recording or registering any license or certificate, or issuing any certificate in connection with a license, required by law, for which a charge is not otherwise prescribed.

(8) Issuing any certificate for which the fee is not otherwise fixed. (b) The fee for each of the following services is twenty dollars ($20). Amounts collected shall be distributed to the Trial Court Trust Fund under Section 68085.1.

(1) Issuing an order of sale.

(2) Receiving and filing an abstract of judgment rendered by a judge of another court and subsequent services based on it, unless the abstract of judgment is filed under Section 704.750 or 708.160 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(3) Filing a confession of judgment under Section 1134 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(4) Filing an application for renewal of judgment under Section 683.150 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(5) Issuing a commission to take a deposition in another state or place under Section 2026.010 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(6) Filing and entering an award under the Workers' Compensation Law (Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code).

(7) Filing an affidavit of publication of notice of dissolution of partnership.

(8) Filing an appeal of a determination whether a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious under Section 31622 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(9) Filing an affidavit under Section 13200 of the Probate Code, together with the issuance of one certified copy of the affidavit under Section 13202 of the Probate Code.

(10) Filing and indexing all papers for which a charge is not elsewhere provided, other than papers filed in actions or special proceedings, official bonds, or certificates of appointment.

72190. Within the jurisdiction of the court and under the direction of the judges, commissioners shall exercise all the powers and perform all of the duties prescribed by law. At the direction of the judges, commissioners may have the same jurisdiction and exercise the same powers and duties as the judges of the court with respect to any infraction or small claims action. They shall be ex officio deputy clerks.

72190.1. A commissioner may conduct arraignment proceedings on a complaint if directed to perform those duties by the presiding judge of the court, including the issuance and signing of bench warrants.

72190.2. If directed to perform such duties by the presiding judge, a commissioner may issue and sign a bench warrant for the arrest of a defendant who fails to appear in court when required to appear by law or who fails to perform any act required by court order.

Labor Code

3852. The claim of an employee, including, but not limited to, any peace officer or firefighter, for compensation does not affect his or her claim or right of action for all damages proximately resulting from the injury or death against any person other than the employer. Any employer who pays, or becomes obligated to pay compensation, or who pays, or becomes obligated to pay salary in lieu of compensation, or who pays or becomes obligated to pay an amount to the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4706.5, may likewise make a claim or bring an action against the third person. In the latter event the employer may recover in the same suit, in addition to the total amount of compensation, damages for which he or she was liable including all salary, wage, pension, or other emolument paid to the employee or to his or her dependents. The respective rights against the third person of the heirs of an employee claiming under Section 377.60 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and an employer claiming pursuant to this section, shall be determined by the court.  

Vehicle Code

16250. As used in this chapter and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 16430), "judgment" means a final judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction in this or any other state or of the United States against a person as defendant upon a cause of action.  

16251. As used in this chapter and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 16430), "cause of action" means any cause of action for damage to property in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) or for damage in any amount on account of bodily injury to or death of any person resulting from the operation by the defendant or any other person of any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state, except a cause of action based upon statutory liability by reason of signing the application of a minor for a driver's license.

17450. As used in this chapter, "nonresident" means a person who is not a resident of this State at the time the accident or collision occurs.

17451. The acceptance by a nonresident of the rights and privileges conferred upon him by this code or any operation by himself or agent of a motor vehicle anywhere within this state, or in the event the nonresident is the owner of a motor vehicle then by the operation of the vehicle anywhere within this state by any person with his express or implied permission, is equivalent to an appointment by the nonresident of the director or his successor in office to be his true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all lawful processes in any action or proceeding against the nonresident operator or nonresident owner growing out of any accident or collision resulting from the operation of any motor vehicle anywhere within this state by himself or agent, which appointment shall also be irrevocable and binding upon his executor or administrator.

17452. Where the nonresident has died prior to the commencement of an action brought pursuant to this article, service of process shall be made on the executor or administrator of the nonresident in the same manner and on the same notice as is provided in the case of the nonresident. Where an action has been duly commenced under the provisions of this article by service upon a defendant who dies thereafter, the court shall allow the action to be continued against his executor or administrator upon motion with such notice as the court deems proper.

17453. The acceptance of rights and privileges under this code or any operation of a motor vehicle anywhere within this state as specified in Section 17451 shall be a signification of the irrevocable agreement of the nonresident, binding as well upon his executor or administrator, that process against him which is served in the manner provided in this article shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served on him personally in this state.

17454. Service of process shall be made by leaving one copy of the summons and complaint in the hands of the director or in his office at Sacramento or by mailing either by certified or registered mail, addressee only, return receipt requested, the copy of the summons and complaint to the office of the director in Sacramento. Service shall be effective as of the day the return receipt is received from the director's office. A fee of two dollars ($2) for each nonresident to be served shall be paid to the director at the time of service of the copy of the summons and complaint and such service shall be a sufficient service on the nonresident subject to compliance with Section 17455.

17455. A notice of service and a copy of the summons and complaint shall be forthwith sent by registered mail by the plaintiff or his attorney to the defendant. Personal service of the notice and a copy of the summons and complaint upon the defendant wherever found outside this State shall be the equivalent of service by mail.