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Riverside County trial document templates

Not legal advice. Rules checked against the code on August 20, 2026. Verify every date yourself. Read the full disclaimer

Core CCP rules were checked against Westlaw (via CoCounsel legal research) on August 20, 2026. County local rules are paraphrased summaries. Individual department and judge standing orders are included only where the court publishes them and we have read the document, so assume your own department has requirements beyond what you see here. Verify every date against the operative code sections, your court’s rules and your department’s own order before relying on it. Using this site creates no attorney-client relationship.

15 documents, 23 required sections, taken from Superior Court of California, County of Riverside’s own published rules and read 2026-09-14. Each one downloads as California pleading paper with this court’s required sections already placed, so the document cannot silently omit one.

A blank template is easy to find anywhere. What is hard to find is which sections this court requires inside the document, because that lives in a local rule nobody indexes. Every heading below is cited to the subdivision it came from, and the rule’s own sentence prints beside it in the reference sheet so you can check your work.

Download these as templates

The reference sheet below carries everything this court requires, each rule quoted from its own text and cited to the subdivision. The pleading paper templates are temporarily down while the line numbering is rebuilt, because the rail did not line up with the body text and a pleading whose lines cannot be cited is worse than no template at all.

Your details optional, blanks print as ruled lines

These stay in this browser. They are not sent anywhere, and the file is built on this machine, so a case name never reaches our server.

  • Mandatory Settlement Conference Statementnot stated, 1 required sections. for the mandatory settlement conference; Local Rule 3290 adds no date of its own and leaves timing to California Rule of Court 3.1380
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Exchange of Trial Documents Under Local Rule 3401(2)each party, 8 required sections. not later than 14 days before the date set for trial, or by such other time agreed upon by counsel
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Joint Pretrial Statementjointly, 1 required sections. prepared after the Issues Conference, which is held not less than seven days before trial, and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Joint Witness Listjointly, 1 required sections. prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Joint Exhibit Listjointly, 1 required sections. prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Jury Instructions, agreed and objected tojointly, 1 required sections. prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Verdict Formjointly, 2 required sections. prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Declaration Regarding Failure to Participate or Cooperatejointly, 1 required sections. with the proposed versions of the joint documents, which are filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Motions in Limineeach party, 1 required sections. exchanged 14 days before trial and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Proposed Order on Motions in Limineeach party, 1 required sections. with the party's motions in limine
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Trial Briefeach party, 1 required sections. the county rule sets no separate deadline, so the brief goes in with the rest of the trial documents on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier date
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Pre-Trial Good Faith Declarationeach party, 1 required sections. on or before 4:00 p.m. the fifth calendar day before trial
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Trial Binder under the Local Rule 3401 Binder Guidelinesnot stated, 1 required sections. not stated in the booklet; the assigned department sets when the binder is delivered
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Trial Exhibits and Exhibit Notebooknot stated, 1 required sections. exhibits are numbered in advance; Rule 3401(7) sets no delivery date of its own
    Pleading paper is being corrected
  • Deposition Transcript Lodged for Trialeach party, 1 required sections. on the first day of trial
    Pleading paper is being corrected

Everything this court requires in one editable document, with each rule quoted and cited.

What each document has to carry

Mandatory Settlement Conference Statement

Prepared by not stated. Filed, for the mandatory settlement conference; Local Rule 3290 adds no date of its own and leaves timing to California Rule of Court 3.1380. Applies to civil cases set for a mandatory settlement conference. RSC Local Rule 3290(A), (B)

  1. Content and length of the statement
    • Everything prescribed by California Rule of Court 3.1380(c)
    • No more than 10 pages in length
    • A showing of good cause if the party wants to file a statement longer than 10 pages

Exchange of Trial Documents Under Local Rule 3401(2)

Prepared by each party. Served only, not later than 14 days before the date set for trial, or by such other time agreed upon by counsel. Applies to all civil trials except non-jury unlawful detainer trials and non-jury trials estimated to take no more than five hours, unless the all-purpose judge orders otherwise. RSC Local Rule 3401(2)

  1. (a) Witness list
    • A list of all witnesses the party intends to call to testify at trial
    • The witness's name
    • A single-sentence description of the anticipated subjects on which the witness is expected to testify
    • In a jury trial, the community in which each non-expert witness lives
    • In a jury trial, the occupation and the principal office area of each expert witness
  2. (b) Exhibit list
    • A list of all exhibits the party intends to introduce at trial
    • The exhibit number for each exhibit
    • A title or other brief description of each exhibit
    • The number of pages in each exhibit
    • Production, with the list, of any listed exhibit not previously exchanged in discovery
  3. (c) Facts and issues of law not controverted
    • A list of facts the party believes are not controverted and to which the party is willing to agree
    • A list of issues of law the party believes are not controverted and to which the party is willing to agree
  4. (d) Statement of claims, or of affirmative defenses
    • If a plaintiff, a description of each claim in support of which the party intends to offer evidence at trial
    • If a plaintiff, a description of the relief being sought as to each claim
    • If a plaintiff, the nature of each element of damages for which recovery is sought
    • If a plaintiff, the amount of each element of economic damages
    • If a defendant, a description of each affirmative defense in support of which the party intends to offer evidence at trial
  5. (e) Motions in limine
    • Any motions in limine that the party intends to bring
  6. (f) Statement of the case
    • In a jury trial, a proposed statement of the case suitable for reading to the jury venire
    • A neutral and non-argumentative statement
    • Plain English, rarely longer than four or five simple sentences
  7. (g) Jury instructions
    • In a jury trial, a list of the form jury instructions the party proposes to use
    • The text of the special jury instructions the party proposes to use
  8. (h) Verdict form
    • In a jury trial, a proposed verdict form

Joint Pretrial Statement

Prepared jointly. Filed, prepared after the Issues Conference, which is held not less than seven days before trial, and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to all civil trials covered by Local Rule 3401. RSC Local Rule 3401(4)(b)

  1. Form and contents of the Joint Pretrial Statement
    • A single document with a single caption and a single set of signatures
    • A joint statement of parties and counsel, listing the full name of each party still in the case and the counsel for each
    • A stipulation of agreed facts and legal issues
    • A joint statement of claims and defenses
    • In a jury trial, a joint statement of the case

Joint Witness List

Prepared jointly. Filed, prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to all civil trials covered by Local Rule 3401. RSC Local Rule 3401(4)(c)(i)

  1. Contents of the joint witness list
    • A joint witness list in the manner described in subdivision 2, which means for each witness the name, a single-sentence description of the anticipated subjects of testimony, and in a jury trial the community of residence for each non-expert witness and the occupation and principal office area of each expert
    • Every witness any party intends to call, because except for good cause no party will be allowed to call a witness who is not on the list for any purpose other than impeachment

Joint Exhibit List

Prepared jointly. Filed, prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to all civil trials covered by Local Rule 3401. RSC Local Rule 3401(4)(c)(ii)

  1. Contents of the joint exhibit list
    • A joint exhibit list in the manner described in subdivision 2, which means for each exhibit the exhibit number, a title or other brief description, and the number of pages
    • An indication whether the parties have stipulated to the admission of the exhibits
    • An indication whether the parties have stipulated to the authenticity of the exhibits
    • Every exhibit any party intends to introduce, because except for good cause no party will be allowed to introduce an exhibit that is not on the list other than for impeachment

Jury Instructions, agreed and objected to

Prepared jointly. Filed, prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to jury trials only. RSC Local Rule 3401(4)(c)(iii)

  1. Form and division of the proposed instructions
    • Fully edited instructions
    • The form required by California Rule of Court, rule 2.1055
    • The index prescribed by rule 2.1055(b)
    • CACI instructions where CACI covers the legal issues presented, unless a party shows its alternative states the law more accurately and would be more clearly understood
    • An agreed set of form and special instructions
    • A separate objected to set of form and special instructions
    • On each instruction in the objected to set, identification of the party proposing it and of any party agreeing to it

Verdict Form

Prepared jointly. Filed, prepared after the Issues Conference and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to jury trials only. RSC Local Rule 3401(4)(c)(iv)

  1. Agreed verdict form, and separate proposals where counsel cannot agree
    • In a jury trial, an agreed-upon verdict form
    • If counsel cannot agree on a joint proposal, a joint proposed verdict form to the limited extent all counsel can agree
    • If counsel cannot agree on a joint proposal, each side's separate proposals as to the remainder
  2. Special verdicts presented in writing before evidence
    • The jury questions, presented in writing to the court
    • The verdict forms, presented in writing to the court
    • Copies furnished to the other parties before any evidence is offered, unless the court orders otherwise

Declaration Regarding Failure to Participate or Cooperate

Prepared jointly. Filed, with the proposed versions of the joint documents, which are filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to any civil trial covered by Local Rule 3401 in which counsel for a party fails to participate in the Issues Conference or otherwise fails to cooperate in preparing the joint documents. RSC Local Rule 3401(4)(d)

  1. Proposed joint documents and the supporting declaration
    • Proposed versions of the joint documents specified in Rule 3401(4), prepared by counsel for the remaining party or parties
    • The signature of counsel for each remaining party on those proposed versions
    • An attached declaration describing the attempts to confer with the non-participating or non-cooperating counsel

Motions in Limine

Prepared by each party. Filed, exchanged 14 days before trial and filed on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier delivery date. Applies to all civil trials covered by Local Rule 3401. RSC Local Rule 3401(6)(a), (b), (c)

  1. When a motion may be brought, and the form of each motion
    • A motion only where the parties disagree as to the subject of the motion, with any agreed-upon issue placed instead in the parties' stipulation of facts and legal issues
    • A writing
    • Sequential numbering by the party bringing the motions
    • Tailoring to the specific issues and evidence in the case
    • A supporting memorandum of points and authorities
    • Admissible evidence, by declaration or otherwise, where the motion or an opposition rests on facts

Proposed Order on Motions in Limine

Prepared by each party. Lodged, with the party's motions in limine. Applies to any party submitting motions in limine in a civil trial covered by Local Rule 3401. RSC Local Rule 3401(6)(f)

  1. Contents of the single proposed order
    • A single proposed order encompassing all motions in limine made by that party
    • As to each motion, the precise relief sought, stated so the ruling can be understood from the language of the order alone
    • A description of the precise evidence excluded
    • A direction to counsel not to refer to the excluded evidence
    • A direction to counsel to instruct their parties and witnesses not to refer to the excluded evidence

Trial Brief

Prepared by each party. Filed, the county rule sets no separate deadline, so the brief goes in with the rest of the trial documents on the first day of trial unless the assigned department sets an earlier date. Applies to required in non-jury trials, encouraged in jury trials. RSC Local Rule 3401(5)

  1. Subject of the brief
    • The legal issues presented by the trial

Pre-Trial Good Faith Declaration

Prepared by each party. Filed and served, on or before 4:00 p.m. the fifth calendar day before trial. Applies to civil trials assigned to Department PS1 (Palm Springs) only. Dept. PS1 Trial Rules, sections D and E

  1. Declaration, and the trial brief due the same day
    • A declaration under penalty of perjury from lead trial counsel for each party, or from all lead counsel for all parties jointly
    • Filing with the court and service on the other parties by 4:00 p.m. on the fifth calendar day before trial
    • A trial brief filed the same day, no more than 20 pages inclusive of attachments

Trial Binder under the Local Rule 3401 Binder Guidelines

Prepared by not stated. Not stated, not stated in the booklet; the assigned department sets when the binder is delivered. Applies to civil trials in the departments that require the court's binder format. Local Rule 3401 Binder Guidelines booklet, index page. Published under "Civil Trial Binder Guidelines" on the court's Civil division page. Not a numbered local rule.

  1. Binder structure and tabs
    • A cover page
    • A spine
    • An index page
    • Tab 1, Operative Pleadings
    • Tab 2, Joint Pretrial Statement
    • Tab 3, Trial Briefs
    • Tab 4, Joint Witness List
    • Tab 5, Joint Exhibit List
    • Tab 6, Request(s) for Judicial Notice
    • Tab 7, Joint Statement of the Case
    • Tab 8, Jury Instructions (Joint/Plaintiff's/Defendant's)
    • Tab 9, Verdict Form(s)

Trial Exhibits and Exhibit Notebook

Prepared by not stated. Not stated, exhibits are numbered in advance; Rule 3401(7) sets no delivery date of its own. Applies to all civil trials covered by Local Rule 3401. RSC Local Rule 3401(7)(a) through (d)

  1. Numbering, pagination and the notebook
    • Exhibits numbered in advance
    • A separate exhibit number for each exhibit, avoiding lettered subparts such as 3a, 3b and 3c
    • A unique consecutive page number on each page
    • Unless there are fewer than 10 exhibits, all documentary exhibits and photographs of 8 1/2 by 12 inches or smaller placed in a loose-leaf notebook
    • Numbered dividers in the notebook matching the exhibit numbers

Deposition Transcript Lodged for Trial

Prepared by each party. Lodged, on the first day of trial. Applies to any party who intends to introduce deposition testimony during trial. RSC Local Rule 3401(9)(c)

  1. What gets lodged
    • Either the original transcript or a certified copy, for each deposition the party intends to use

Start with the joint documents

6 of these are prepared jointly: Joint Pretrial Statement; Joint Witness List; Joint Exhibit List; Jury Instructions, agreed and objected to; Verdict Form; Declaration Regarding Failure to Participate or Cooperate. A joint document needs a meet and confer before it can be filed, so it sets the real deadline even though the filing date is the same as everything else.

When each one is due

Most of these do not run off the trial date. They run off the issues conference, which the court sets, and counting back from trial instead is the commonest way one gets missed. The full rule list for Riverside County carries every rule with its quoted text, and the trial countdown calculator computes the statewide CCP chain.

How these were built

Every rule was researched from the court’s own published text, then checked a second time by a reader told to assume a rule had been invented. Grouping those rules into the documents a court actually wants was a further pass, and an adversarial check corrected it: the commonest error was a document whose contents the first pass left empty while the rule enumerated them. Templates are generated in your browser, so nothing you type is sent anywhere. See methodology.

Related: All courts with templates · Riverside trial binder rules · Trial countdown calculator