The CM-010 form, commonly called the civil case cover sheet, is required when filing a general civil case in California Superior Court. Under California Rules of Court Rule 3.220, the civil case cover sheet must accompany every new general civil complaint, petition, or application filed in California Superior Court, serving as the court's primary instrument for case categorization, judicial assignment, and case management tracking. Plaintiffs must submit it alongside the initial complaint in cases involving personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, and other civil disputes.
The form collects basic case information: the court name, the names of all plaintiffs and defendants, the case type, and the remedies being sought. Plaintiffs must also indicate whether related cases are pending in the same or other courts. Selecting the correct case type is important because it affects court filing fees and the case management timeline.
Although the form is only two pages long, accuracy matters. Incorrect case type selections can delay processing or require a corrected refiling. The civil case cover sheet must be signed by the attorney or self-represented party filing the case. It is not served on the opposing party but must accompany the complaint when delivered to the clerk's office.
Plaintiffs sometimes need additional documents alongside the CM-010. A Civil Case Information Sheet may be required in certain counties, and cases involving judicial oversight may require other California Judicial Council forms. Check with your local Superior Court clerk for county-specific requirements before filing.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | California Civil Form |
| Form Length | 2 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 30 sec |
| Other names | court civil cover sheet, california court civil case, form cm 010, cm 010 |
