Self-Help Form Packets
Civil Form Packets
Use this packet to start a civil case claiming that someone broke an agreement or contract.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-01 Civil Complaint - Breach Of Contract
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1009 | Information – Civil Case Time Schedule | Explains common deadlines and scheduling requirements in a civil case. |
| CM-010 | Civil Case Cover Sheet | Tells the court some basic information about a case being filed. Filed at the beginning of all civil cases except family law cases. |
| SUM-100 | Summons | Tells a party being sued (the defendant) that a court case has started and what can happen if a response is not filed in 30 days. |
| PLD-C-001 | Complaint—Contract | Tells the court and the other side that you are starting a lawsuit based on breach of contract or a similar theory, and the general allegations you are making against the other side. Must have a one or more causes of action attached. |
| PLD-C-001(1) | Cause of Action—Common Counts | Tells the court and the other side that you contend that the other side broke an agreement (breached a contract), and the specific details of the allegation. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| PLD-C-001(2) | Cause of Action—Breach of Contract | Tells the court and the other side that you contend that the other side owes you money based on one or more of several common business practices. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| PLD-C-001(3) | Cause of Action—Fraud | Tells the court and the other side that you contend that the other side made a false representation or intentional omission that you reasonably relied upon, and were harmed as a result (fraud). Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| L-1200 | Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Information Package | Provides information about resolving a civil case through mediation, arbitration, or another alternative dispute resolution process. |
| L-1270 | Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Stipulation | Records the parties' agreement to use an alternative dispute resolution process. |
| POS-010 | Proof of Service of Summons | Tells the court that you had a summons or other legal papers delivered to (served on) the other party in a case. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where, when, and how they were served, and who served them. |
| L-1172 | Information Sheet – Legal Resources | Provides contact information for legal help, court self-help services, and other community resources. |
Use this packet to start a civil case for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-02 Civil Complaint - Personal Injury
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1009 | Information – Civil Case Time Schedule | Explains common deadlines and scheduling requirements in a civil case. |
| CM-010 | Civil Case Cover Sheet | Tells the court some basic information about a case being filed. Filed at the beginning of all civil cases except family law cases. |
| SUM-100 | Summons | Tells a party being sued (the defendant) that a court case has started and what can happen if a response is not filed in 30 days. |
| PLD-PI-001 | Complaint—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death | Tells the court and the other side that you are starting a lawsuit based on personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, and the general allegations you are making against the other side. Must have one or more causes of action attached. |
| PLD-PI-001(1) | Cause of Action—Motor Vehicle | Tells the court and the other side that you contend the other side was negligent in a motor vehicle accident, and the details of the accident. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| PLD-PI-001(2) | Cause of Action—General Negligence | Tells the court and the other side that you contend the other side was negligent in some way, and that you were harmed as a result. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| PLD-PI-001(3) | Cause of Action—Intentional Tort | Tells the court and the other side that you contend the other side intentionally caused you harm in some way. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| PLD-PI-001(4) | Cause of Action—Premises Liability | Tells the court and the other side that you contend that some condition of the other side's premises caused you harm. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| PLD-PI-001(5) | Cause of Action—Products Liability | Tells the court and the other side that you contend that you were harmed in some way by a defective product that the other side made or sold. Must be attached to a Complaint form to use. |
| L-1200 | Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Information Package | Provides information about resolving a civil case through mediation, arbitration, or another alternative dispute resolution process. |
| L-1270 | Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Stipulation | Records the parties' agreement to use an alternative dispute resolution process. |
| POS-010 | Proof of Service of Summons | Tells the court that you had a summons or other legal papers delivered to (served on) the other party in a case. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where, when, and how they were served, and who served them. |
Use this packet to ask the court for permission to publish a summons when the other party cannot be personally served.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-03 Civil Application for Publication of Summons
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-0254 | Application and Order for Publication of Summons or Citation | Ask the court for permission to serve a summons or citation by publishing it in an approved newspaper. |
| L-0849 | Certificate of Due Diligence | Documents the efforts made to locate or serve a person before asking the court for another method of notice. |
| L-1116 | Newspapers of General Circulation (Adjudicated) | Lists newspapers approved by the court to publish legal notices in Orange County. |
Use this packet to respond (answer) to most limited civil complaints, except a verified collection complaint.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-04 Answering Any Civil Limited Complaint Except a Verified Collection Complaint
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PLD-050 | General Denial | Tells the court and other side that you challenge the Complaint in a civil case, and demand that each allegation be proven. Also provides space to describe your defenses. |
| POS-030 | Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil | Tells the court that you had legal papers in a civil case - other than a summons - delivered to (served on) the other party by mail. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where and when they were served, and who served them. Also explains how to fill out this form. |
Use this packet to respond (answer) to a complaint involving personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-05 Answering a Personal Injury, Property Damage or Wrongful Death Complaint
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PLD-PI-003 | Answer—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death | Tells the court and the other side that you challenge the Complaint-Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death and what defenses you might raise. |
| POS-030 | Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil | Tells the court that you had legal papers in a civil case - other than a summons - delivered to (served on) the other party by mail. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where and when they were served, and who served them. Also explains how to fill out this form. |
Use this packet to respond (answer) to a civil complaint claiming breach of contract.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-06 Answering a Breach of Contract Complaint
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PLD-C-010 | Answer—Contract | Tells the court and the other side that you challenge the Complaint-Contract, and what defenses you might raise. |
| POS-030 | Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil | Tells the court that you had legal papers in a civil case - other than a summons - delivered to (served on) the other party by mail. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where and when they were served, and who served them. Also explains how to fill out this form. |
Use this packet for the basic forms and steps needed to start a civil case.
Download full packet here: SHC-CIV-07 How to Start a Civil Case
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1009 | Civil Case Time Schedule | Explains common deadlines and scheduling requirements in a civil case. |
| CM-010 | Civil Case Cover Sheet | Tells the court some basic information about a case being filed. Filed at the beginning of all civil cases except family law cases. |
| L-1200 | Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Information Package | Provides information about resolving a civil case through mediation, arbitration, or another alternative dispute resolution process. |
| L-1270 | Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Stipulation | Records the parties' agreement to use an alternative dispute resolution process. |
| POS-010 | Proof of Service of Summons | Tells the court that you had a summons or other legal papers delivered to (served on) the other party in a case. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where, when, and how they were served, and who served them. |
| L-1172 | Legal Resources Information Sheet | Provides contact information for legal help, court self-help services, and other community resources. |
Use this packet to collect a civil judgment by asking the sheriff to levy money in a bank account.
Download full packet here: SHC-CPJ-01 Enforcement of Judgment Levy on Personal Property (Bank Account)
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MC-013-INFO | Information Sheet for Calculating Interest and Amount Owed on a Judgment | Explains what a judgment creditor (a person the court has decided is owed money by another party in a civil case) has a right to collect from the other party and how to figure out the interest and the amount that a judgment creditor is owed. |
| MC-012 | Memorandum of Costs After Judgment, Acknowledgment of Credit, and Declaration of Accrued Interest | If you are a judgment creditor (a person the court has decided is owed money by another party in a civil case), tell the court the costs you had to pay to enforce the court’s decision (judgment) that you are asking the other party to pay you back for, any amount you already got back, and any interest that you are owed on the amount that has not yet been paid back. |
| EJ-130 | Writ of Execution | Tells the sheriff to take action to enforce a judgment. Used with instructions to the sheriff to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or take possession of personal property |
| EJ-150 | Memorandum of Costs After Judgment, Acknowledgment of Credit, and Declaration of Accrued Interest | Tells the judgment debtor or other interested person that personal property is being taken by the sheriff to satisfy a judgment. |
| EJ-155 | Exemptions From the Enforcement of Judgments | List of property or money that is protected (exempt) from judgment collection and the code section that describes the exemption. These code sections are used when completing a Claim of Exemption (form EJ-160). |
| EJ-157 | Ex Parte Application for Order on Deposit Account Exemption | Asks the court to make a decision (order) about which account(s) are exempt from collection, and to what degree, when the judgment debtor has more than one account. |
| EJ-158 | Declaration Regarding Notice and Service for Ex Parte Application for Order on Deposit Account Exemption | Tells the court that you gave notice to the other side that you filed a form EJ-157 and of any hearing that was scheduled on it. |
| EJ-159 | Order on Application for Designation of Deposit Account Exemption | States the court's decision (order) determining which accounts are exempt after the filing of form EJ-157. |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
| SER-001A | Special Instructions for Writs and Levies—Attachment | Complete this form if you want the sheriff or marshal to enforce a writ. |
Use this packet to claim that some or all wages should be protected from garnishment.
Download full packet here: SHC-CPJ-02 Claim of Exemption for Wage Garnishment
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| WG-006 | Claim of Exemption (Wage Garnishment) | Asks the sheriff, marshal, or constable to reduce or stop garnishing wages because you cannot afford the basic necessities of life with the garnishment. If a claim of exemption is opposed, this form is forwarded by the sheriff, marshal, or constable to the court |
| WG-007 | Financial Statement (Wage Garnishment—Enforcement of Judgment) | Tells the sheriff, marshal, or constable and the other side the details of your financial situation. If a claim of exemption is opposed, this information is forwarded by the sheriff, marshal, or constable to the court. |
Use this packet to claim that personal property or money should be protected from a levy.
Download full packet here: SHC-CPJ-03 Claim of Exemption for Levy on Personal Property
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EJ-155 | Exemptions from the Enforcement of Judgments | List of property or money that is protected (exempt) from judgment collection and the code section that describes the exemption. These code sections are used when completing a Claim of Exemption (form EJ-160). |
| EJ-160 | Claim of Exemption (Enforcement of Judgment) | Claims that some or all of your property being levied is exempt from collection of a judgment. This form is not filed with the court, but instead is filed with the sheriff or other levying officer. |
| EJ-165 | Financial Statement | Describes your financial situation if you claim property is exempt from collection based on your financial status. Is attached to form EJ-160. |
| EJ-155 | Exemptions from the Enforcement of Judgments | List of property or money that is protected (exempt) from judgment collection and the code section that describes the exemption. These code sections are used when completing a Claim of Exemption (form EJ-160). |
| EJ-156 | Current Dollar Amounts of Exemptions from Enforcement of Judgments | List of the current dollar amount of exemptions listed in form EJ-155. |
| EJ-157 | Ex Parte Application for Order on Deposit Account Exemption | Asks the court to make a decision (order) about which account(s) are exempt from collection, and to what degree, when the judgment debtor has more than one account. |
| EJ-158 | Declaration Regarding Notice and Service for Ex Parte Application for Order on Deposit Account Exemption | Tells the court that you gave notice to the other side that you filed a form EJ-157 and of any hearing that was scheduled on it. |
| EJ-159 | Order on Application for Designation of Deposit Account Exemption | States the court's decision (order) determining which accounts are exempt after the filing of form EJ-157. |
Use this packet to collect a civil judgment by garnishing the debtor’s wages.
Download full packet here: SHC-CPJ-04 Wage Garnishment
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MC-013-INFO | Information Sheet for Calculating Interest and Amount Owed on a Judgment | Explains what a judgment creditor (a person the court has decided is owed money by another party in a civil case) has a right to collect from the other party and how to figure out the interest and the amount that a judgment creditor is owed. |
| MC-012 | Memorandum of Costs After Judgment, Acknowledgment of Credit, and Declaration of Accrued Interest | If you are a judgment creditor (a person the court has decided is owed money by another party in a civil case), tell the court the costs you had to pay to enforce the court’s decision (judgment) that you are asking the other party to pay you back for, any amount you already got back, and any interest that you are owed on the amount that has not yet been paid back. |
| EJ-130 | Writ of Execution | Tells the sheriff to take action to enforce a judgment. Used with instructions to the sheriff to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or take possession of personal property |
| WG-001 | Application for Earnings Withholding Order | Ask the sheriff, marshal, or constable of a county to garnish the wages of someone you have a judgment against. Must first obtain a Writ of Execution from the court. |
| WG-002 | Earnings Withholding Order | Tells the employer (orders) to garnish wages of an employee. This sheriff, marshal, or constable may prepare this form or ask you to prepare it for them. |
| WG-005 | Employer's Return | The employer uses this form to tell the sheriff, marshal, or constable about the employment of the person whose wages are being garnished. The sheriff, marshal, or constable may prepare the top caption, or may ask you to prepare it for them. |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
| SER-001A | Special Instructions for Writs and Levies—Attachment | Complete this form if you want the sheriff or marshal to enforce a writ. |
Use this packet for the steps and forms needed to serve a civil bench warrant.
Download full packet here: SHC-CPJ-05 How to Serve a Bench Warrant
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1166 | Bench Warrant Instructions | Provides instructions for requesting or processing a bench warrant. |
| L-0525 | Bench Warrant | Provides an order authorizing law enforcement to arrest a person who failed to follow a court requirement. |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
If you are a landlord or master tenant, use this packet to start an eviction case after you have given notice and the notice period has ended.
Download full packet here: SHC-UD-01 Opening An Unlawful Detainer Case
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1163 | Unlawful Detainer Information | This form is a procedural guide for unlawful detainers in Orange County. |
| CM-010 | Civil Case Cover Sheet | Tells the court some basic information about a case being filed. Filed at the beginning of all civil cases except family law cases. |
| SUM-130 | Summons—Eviction (Unlawful Detainer / Forcible Detainer / Forcible Entry) | Tells a tenant that the landlord has started a court case to evict the tenant and what can happen if a response is not filed in 5 days. |
| UD-100 | Complaint—Unlawful Detainer | Starts an eviction case and tells the tenant all the issues the landlord wants to include in a judgment against them. |
| CP10.5 | Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession | Given by a landlord to a person they’re trying to evict when they don’t know their name. It gives the person a chance to add themselves to the eviction court case at the beginning to say why they shouldn’t be evicted. |
| POS-010 | Proof of Service of Summons | Tells the court that you had a summons or other legal papers delivered to (served on) the other party in a case. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where, when, and how they were served, and who served them. |
Use this packet if you are a landlord or master tenant and the tenant did not respond to the eviction case. This packet asks the court to move the case forward and give you back the property.
Download full packet here: SHC-UD-02 Unlawful Detainer: Default Judgment for Possession Only
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1006 | Default Judgment Checklist – Clerk Default Judgment – Civil | Provides a checklist of documents and steps needed to request a default judgment. |
| CIV-100 | Request for Entry of Default (Application to Enter Default) | Asks the court to enter a "default" against the defendant or cross-defendant because they failed to file an Answer or other responsive document in the case. Can be used to ask for a default alone, or also a default judgment. |
| UD-120 | Verification by Landlord Regarding Rental Assistance—Unlawful Detainer | Tell the court as a landlord that you haven’t received or asked for financial help when evicting a tenant due to back rent or other money owed. Used when the tenant didn’t file an Answer (form UD-105) by the deadline. |
| UD-110 | Judgment—Unlawful Detainer | States a court’s decision in an eviction case. |
| L-1051 | Application for Writ of Possession—Unlawful Detainer | Ask the court to issue a writ allowing the sheriff to return possession of a property after an eviction judgment. |
| EJ-130 | Writ of Execution | Tells the sheriff to take action to enforce a judgment. Used with instructions to the sheriff to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or take possession of personal property |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
| SER-001A | Special Instructions for Writs and Levies—Attachment | Complete this form if you want the sheriff or marshal to enforce a writ. |
Use this packet if you are a landlord or master tenant and the tenant did not respond to the eviction case. This packet asks the court to move the case forward and award you money damages and the return of the property.
Download full packet here: SHC-UD-03 Unlawful Detainer: Default Judgment for Possession & Monetary Recovery
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L-1006 | Default Judgment Checklist – Clerk Default Judgment – Civil | Provides a checklist of documents and steps needed to request a default judgment. |
| CIV-100 | Request for Entry of Default (Application to Enter Default) | Asks the court to enter a "default" against the defendant or cross-defendant because they failed to file an Answer or other responsive document in the case. Can be used to ask for a default alone, or also a default judgment. |
| UD-120 | Verification by Landlord Regarding Rental Assistance—Unlawful Detainer | Tell the court as a landlord that you haven’t received or asked for financial help when evicting a tenant due to back rent or other money owed. Used when the tenant didn’t file an Answer (form UD-105) by the deadline. |
| L-0124 | Memorandum for Setting for Hearing (Uncontested Matter) | Ask the court to schedule a matter for a hearing. |
| UD-116 | Declaration for Default Judgment by Court (Unlawful Detainer—Code Civ. Proc., § 585(d)) | Ask the court to win your eviction case as a landlord because the tenant didn’t file an Answer (form UD-105) by the deadline. |
| UD-110 | Judgment—Unlawful Detainer | States a court’s decision in an eviction case. |
| L-1051 | Application for Writ of Possession—Unlawful Detainer | Ask the court to issue a writ allowing the sheriff to return possession of a property after an eviction judgment. |
| EJ-130 | Writ of Execution | Tells the sheriff to take action to enforce a judgment. Used with instructions to the sheriff to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or take possession of personal property |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
| SER-001A | Special Instructions for Writs and Levies—Attachment | Complete this form if you want the sheriff or marshal to enforce a writ. |
Use this packet if you are a tenant to respond (answer) to an eviction complaint.
Download full packet here: SHC-UD-04 Answering an Unlawful Detainer Complaint
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| UD-105 | Answer—Unlawful Detainer | Tell the court and the landlord your responses to the Complaint and things you want to ask for as a tenant in an eviction case. |
| L-0982 | Attachment 3.t.a to UD-105 – Habitability Defenses | Use this attachment to provide additional defenses with an Answer in an eviction case. |
| L-0983 | Attachment 3.t.b to UD-105 – Repair and Deduct Defense | Use this attachment to provide additional facts supporting defenses in an eviction case. |
| POS-030 | Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil | Tells the court that you had legal papers in a civil case - other than a summons - delivered to (served on) the other party by mail. Lists the papers that were served and tells who they were served on, where and when they were served, and who served them. Also explains how to fill out this form. |
Use this packet if there is an Answer to the eviction case and you want to move the case to trial.
Download full packet here: SHC-UD-05 Unlawful Detainer: Trial Packet, Response Filed; Steps to Take for Trial and Court Judgment
Forms included in this packet are listed below.
| Form Number | Form Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| UD-150 | Request/Counter-Request to Set Case for Trial—Unlawful Detainer | Ask for a trial date in an eviction case when the tenant filed an Answer (form UD-105). |
| UD-120 | Verification by Landlord Regarding Rental Assistance—Unlawful Detainer | Tell the court as a landlord that you haven’t received or asked for financial help when evicting a tenant due to back rent or other money owed. Used when the tenant didn’t file an Answer (form UD-105) by the deadline. |
| UD-110 | Judgment—Unlawful Detainer | States a court’s decision in an eviction case. |
| EJ-130 | Writ of Execution | Tells the sheriff to take action to enforce a judgment. Used with instructions to the sheriff to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or take possession of personal property |
| L-1051 | Application for Writ of Possession—Unlawful Detainer | Ask the court to issue a writ allowing the sheriff to return possession of a property after an eviction judgment. |
| SER-001 | Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers | Ask the sheriff to serve court papers and provide the information needed to complete service. |
| SER-001A | Special Instructions for Writs and Levies—Attachment | Complete this form if you want the sheriff or marshal to enforce a writ. |