Form CM-010: California Civil Case Cover Sheet

Under Attorney or party without attorney, enter the state bar number, name, firm name, street address, city, state, zip code, telephone no., fax no., email address and attorney for (name).

Under Superior Court of California, County of, enter the county, street address, mailing address, city and zip code and branch name.

Enter the CASE NAME.

Mark Unlimited when the Amount demanded exceeds $35,000 (checked October 31, 2026).

Mark Limited when the Amount demanded is $35,000 or less (checked October 31, 2026).

In complex cases only, parties must also use the Civil Case Cover Sheet to designate whether the case is complex.

If a plaintiff believes the case is complex under rule 3.400 of the California Rules of Court, this must be indicated by completing the appropriate boxes in items 1 and 2.

If a plaintiff designates a case as complex, the cover sheet must be served with the complaint on all parties to the action.

A defendant may file and serve no later than the time of its first appearance a joinder in the plaintiff's designation, a counter-designation that the case is not complex, or, if the plaintiff has made no designation, a designation that the case is complex.

Enter the CASE NUMBER, the JUDGE and the DEPT.

Check one box for the case type that best describes this case.

In item 1, you must check one box for the case type that best describes the case.

If the case fits both a general and a more specific type of case listed in item 1, check the more specific one.

If the case has multiple causes of action, check the box that best indicates the primary cause of action.

To assist you in completing the sheet, examples of the cases that belong under each case type in item 1 are provided on page 3 of this form.

A cover sheet must be filed only with your initial paper.

Mark Yes or No for Is this case complex under rule 3.400 of the California Rules of Court?

If the case is complex, mark the factors requiring exceptional judicial management.

The factors are: Large number of separately represented parties; Extensive motion practice raising difficult or novel issues that will be time-consuming to resolve; Substantial amount of documentary evidence; Large number of witnesses; Coordination with related actions pending in one or more courts in other counties, states, or countries, or in a federal court; Substantial postjudgment judicial supervision.

Remedies sought (check all that apply): monetary; nonmonetary; declaratory or injunctive relief; punitive.

Specify the Number of causes of action.

Mark Yes or No for Is this case a class action suit?

Fill in the Date, Type or print name, and the Signature of party or attorney for party.

If the case involves an uninsured motorist claim subject to arbitration, check Uninsured Motorist instead of Auto.

If the case involves illegal drugs, check Drugs; otherwise, choose Commercial or Residential.

If the case involves an Employment Development Department decision, check EDD Decision Review instead of wrongful termination or other employment.

The identification of a case as a rule 3.740 collections case on this form means that it will be exempt from the general time-for-service requirements and case management rules, unless a defendant files a responsive pleading.

A rule 3.740 collections case will be subject to the requirements for service and obtaining a judgment in rule 3.740.

A collections case does not include an action seeking the following: (1) tort damages, (2) punitive damages, (3) recovery of real property, (4) recovery of personal property, or (5) a prejudgment writ of attachment.

If this case is complex under rule 3.400 et seq. of the California Rules of Court, or a collections case under rule 3.740, you must serve a copy of this cover sheet on all other parties to the action or proceeding. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.220.)

If there are any known related cases, file and serve a notice of related case. (You may use form CM-015.)