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San Diego County trial document templates

Not legal advice. Rules attested September 29, 2026; last full pass August 17, 2026. Verify every date yourself. Read the full disclaimer

Each verified rule carries its own date on the methodology page, all of them September 29, 2026: the date the maintaining attorney last attested it. The last full pass, signed off on August 17, 2026, checked the rules against their official sources (the code, the California Rules of Court, or for court holidays the Judicial Council calendar), with the exceptions listed on the about page. Rules still awaiting sign-off are listed on the methodology page as not yet verified. 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.

12 documents, 15 required sections, taken from Superior Court of California, County of San Diego's own published rules and read September 14, 2026. 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

Every document below comes out on California pleading paper, 28 numbered lines down the left, with this court's own required sections already placed as headings. Take the Word version to draft in and the PDF to print. Fill in your details once and they carry across every template on the site.

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.

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  • Written Settlement Conference StatementEach party, 2 required sections. Lodged with the settlement conference judge and served on the other parties five court days before the settlement conference, and mailed not less than 10 days before it if served by mail.
  • Request to be Excused from Personal Attendance at the Settlement ConferenceEach party. At least five court days before the settlement conference.
  • Joint Trial Readiness Conference Report (SDSC form CIV-252)Prepared jointly, 6 required sections. Submitted to the assigned judge five court days before the scheduled trial readiness conference, which is generally three weeks before trial.
  • Joint Trial Readiness Conference Statement on CompensationPrepared jointly. Completed, signed and filed after the parties meet, before the trial readiness conference on compensation that is set at the Case Management Conference.
  • Notice of Remote Appearance (Judicial Council form RA-010)Each party. At least two court days before the trial readiness conference.
  • Motions in LimineEach party, 1 required section. Five court days before trial call, unless the court directs otherwise.
  • Proposed Juror Questionnaires with SDSC Juror Questionnaire Cover SheetEach party. Five court days before trial call.
  • Original Deposition Transcripts and Designated ExcerptsPreparer not stated, 1 required section. Before trial, with designated excerpts exchanged at the meeting held at least three court days before the initial trial call date.
  • Opposition to Motions in LimineEach party. Two court days before trial call, unless the court directs otherwise.
  • Exhibit Binders and Joint Trial NotebookEach party, defendant the exhibit binders and plaintiff the Joint Trial Notebook, unless the parties agree otherwise, 2 required sections. Joint Trial Notebook at trial call, exhibit binders the first day of trial.
  • Joint Trial NotebookPrepared jointly, 2 required sections. At the Friday trial call, with two sets of exhibit binders and three copies each of the joint witness and exhibit lists due the day trial commences.
  • Proposed Jury Instructions, Full TextEach party, 1 required section. On the scheduled trial date.

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

What each document has to carry

Written Settlement Conference Statement

Prepared by each party. Lodged and served, lodged with the settlement conference judge and served on the other parties five court days before the settlement conference, and mailed not less than 10 days before it if served by mail. Applies to all civil cases set for a settlement conference, except unlawful detainer proceedings in which a party is represented by counsel under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act. SDSC Rule 2.3.1.2, first paragraph (deadline) and second paragraph (five page cap) (Div. II, ch. 3)

  1. Liability and damages (Rule 2.3.1.2, second paragraph)
    • The information necessary to concisely support the issues of liability
    • The information necessary to concisely support the issues of damages
    • An itemization of special damages
    • An itemization of general damages
  2. Settlement position (Rule 2.3.1.2, second paragraph)
    • A settlement demand and offer
    • The last offer

Request to be Excused from Personal Attendance at the Settlement Conference

Prepared by each party. Served only, at least five court days before the settlement conference. Applies to any party seeking to be excused from personal attendance at a settlement conference. SDSC Rule 2.3.1.1(D) (Div. II, ch. 3)

The rule cited above requires this document and does not say what goes in it. That is the rule's silence, not a gap here. Your department's order is where the contents will be.

Joint Trial Readiness Conference Report (SDSC form CIV-252)

Prepared jointly. Filed, submitted to the assigned judge five court days before the scheduled trial readiness conference, which is generally three weeks before trial. Applies to all civil trials where the case has not settled in its entirety. SDSC Rule 2.1.15, first paragraph, third and fourth sentences (Div. II, ch. 1)

  1. Nature of the case, for reading to the jury panel (CIV-252, paragraph B)
    • A joint description of the nature of the case
    • Brief, non-argumentative wording
    • Language suitable for reading to a jury panel
  2. Joint numerical exhibit index (CIV-252, paragraph E)
    • A single joint numerical index of all exhibits
    • Each exhibit separately listed
    • No sub-parts to any exhibit
    • The format provided in the form
    • The exhibit number
    • The party by whom the exhibit is submitted
    • A description sufficient for identification
    • Either a stipulation to admissibility or the legal grounds for objection
  3. Jury instructions requested by each side (CIV-252, paragraphs F and G)
    • Standard jury instructions requested by plaintiff(s), each cited by number
    • Special instructions requested by plaintiff(s), listed by title
    • Standard jury instructions requested by defendant(s), each cited by number
    • Special instructions requested by defendant(s), listed by title
    • Copies of the proposed special instructions, presented to the court at the conference and not filed with the report
  4. Special verdict form (CIV-252, paragraph H)
    • The proposed special verdict form, attached to the report, if a party will propose one
  5. Witness list (CIV-252, paragraph I)
    • The names of all witnesses, experts included
    • Each witness identified by type, expert or percipient
    • Plaintiff's witnesses and defendant's witnesses listed separately
  6. Certification and signatures (CIV-252, certification block)
    • That the attorneys met and conferred jointly
    • That a good faith settlement demand or offer was made and the case did not settle
    • That all deadlines set by the court for the exchange of experts have been met
    • That all discovery is complete
    • That the parties are ready for trial
    • The signature and date of each attorney

Joint Trial Readiness Conference Statement on Compensation

Prepared jointly. Filed, completed, signed and filed after the parties meet, before the trial readiness conference on compensation that is set at the Case Management Conference. Applies to eminent domain only. SDSC Rule 2.4.5(C) (Div. II, ch. 4, Special Case Categories)

The rule cited above requires this document and does not say what goes in it. That is the rule's silence, not a gap here. Your department's order is where the contents will be.

Notice of Remote Appearance (Judicial Council form RA-010)

Prepared by each party. Filed and served, at least two court days before the trial readiness conference. Applies to any party who intends to appear remotely for trial. SDSC Rule 2.5.8(A), second paragraph (Div. II, ch. 5)

The rule cited above requires this document and does not say what goes in it. That is the rule's silence, not a gap here. Your department's order is where the contents will be.

Motions in Limine

Prepared by each party. Filed and served, five court days before trial call, unless the court directs otherwise. Applies to all civil trials. SDSC Rule 2.1.18, first paragraph, second sentence (Div. II, ch. 1)

  1. Scope limits and the subjects that may not be raised by written motion
    • A scope limited in accordance with Clemens v. American Warranty Corp. (1987) 193 Cal.App.3d 444, 451 (the rule prints the year as 1978)
    • A scope limited in accordance with Kelly v. New West Federal Savings (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 659, 670-671
    • A scope limited in accordance with Amtower v. Photon Dynamics, Inc. (2008) 158 Cal.App.4th 1582, 1593-1595
    • No written motion on any of the four subjects that Rule 2.1.18, second paragraph, subdivisions (A) through (D) reserves for oral motion

Proposed Juror Questionnaires with SDSC Juror Questionnaire Cover Sheet

Prepared by each party. Lodged, five court days before trial call. Applies to jury trials only. SDSC Rule 2.1.17 (Div. II, ch. 1)

The rule cited above requires this document and does not say what goes in it. That is the rule's silence, not a gap here. Your department's order is where the contents will be.

Original Deposition Transcripts and Designated Excerpts

The rule does not say who prepares it. Lodged, before trial, with designated excerpts exchanged at the meeting held at least three court days before the initial trial call date. Applies to civil trials assigned to Department 62. SDSC Dept. 62 Advance Trial Review Order (Hon. Judy S. Bae, as of 07.2026), heading DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPTS / TESTIMONY

  1. What is lodged and what is exchanged
    • The original transcript of every deposition that may be used at trial for any purpose
    • A list of any changes made by the deponent after the taking of the deposition
    • The designated excerpts, exchanged at the meeting held at least three court days before the initial trial call date
    • Clean copies of the designated excerpts showing the beginning and ending page and line numbers

Opposition to Motions in Limine

Prepared by each party. Filed and served, two court days before trial call, unless the court directs otherwise. Applies to all civil trials. SDSC Rule 2.1.18, first paragraph, second sentence (Div. II, ch. 1)

The rule cited above requires this document and does not say what goes in it. That is the rule's silence, not a gap here. Your department's order is where the contents will be.

Exhibit Binders and Joint Trial Notebook

Prepared by each party, defendant the exhibit binders and plaintiff the Joint Trial Notebook, unless the parties agree otherwise. Provided to the court, Joint Trial Notebook at trial call, exhibit binders the first day of trial. Applies to civil trials assigned to Department 62. SDSC Dept. 62 Advance Trial Review Order (Hon. Judy S. Bae, as of 07.2026), heading EXHIBIT BINDERS & JOINT TRIAL NOTEBOOK

  1. Joint Trial Notebook (plaintiff prepares it unless the parties agree otherwise)
    • Table of contents
    • The Joint Trial Readiness Report
    • Operative pleadings (complaint, cross-complaint, answer and so on)
    • Expert designations
    • Motions in limine and oppositions, in order, with an index
    • Joint witness list, with a description of each witness's expected testimony
    • Joint exhibit list, checked so each description matches its exhibit and nothing is duplicated
    • Copies of trial briefs, if any
    • Joint statement of the case, in a neutral form suitable to be read to prospective jurors
    • Proposed voir dire questions, if any
    • Jury instructions: a packet of those agreed and a packet of those not agreed, showing which party offers and which objects
    • Special verdict form, either an agreed form or each side's proposed forms
  2. Exhibit binders (defendant prepares them unless the parties agree otherwise)
    • Two sets: an original pre-marked with exhibit tags for the witnesses, and a copy for the court
    • Full and complete copies of all premarked exhibits

Joint Trial Notebook

Prepared jointly. Brought to trial call, at the Friday trial call, with two sets of exhibit binders and three copies each of the joint witness and exhibit lists due the day trial commences. Applies to civil trials assigned to Department 72. SDSC Dept. 72 Policies and Procedures, paragraph 9, Trial Requirements

  1. Joint Trial Notebook, brought to the Friday trial call (paragraph 9)
    • Table of contents
    • A copy of the Joint Trial Readiness Report, and the operative pleadings
    • Copies of the in limine motions and oppositions, in order, each motion followed by its opposition
    • A copy of the joint witness list, with a short sentence describing each witness
    • A copy of the joint exhibit list, checked so each description matches its exhibit
    • Copies of trial briefs
    • Joint statement of the case, in a neutral form suitable to be read to prospective jurors (competing versions are not accepted)
    • Voir dire questions counsel ask the court to ask, if any
    • Jury instructions: a packet of agreed instructions and a packet of instructions not agreed, with post-it notes showing who opposes each
    • Special verdict forms, either agreed forms or each side's proposed forms
  2. Due the day trial commences (paragraph 9)
    • Two sets of exhibit binders: the original for the witness, pre-marked with Court Exhibit tags, and one copy for the court
    • Each exhibit marked with its own number and correctly identified, never a whole file under one number
    • Three copies of the joint witness list
    • Three copies of the joint exhibit list
    • Copies of the deposition transcripts that will be used at trial, lodged on the shelf in front of the bench

Proposed Jury Instructions, Full Text

Prepared by each party. Lodged, on the scheduled trial date. Applies to jury trials only. SDSC Rule 2.1.16, first and second sentences (Div. II, ch. 1)

  1. Requirements for special jury instructions
    • Gender neutral wording
    • Plain English
    • No special instruction on a matter addressed by a Judicial Council CACI instruction
    • No supporting authority on the original special instructions, although authority may be included on the copies submitted

Start with the joint documents

4 of these are prepared jointly: Joint Trial Readiness Conference Report (SDSC form CIV-252); Joint Trial Readiness Conference Statement on Compensation; Exhibit Binders and Joint Trial Notebook; Joint Trial Notebook. 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 trial readiness conference, which the county rule times from the trial date. Work out that date first, because counting back from the wrong date is the commonest way one gets missed. The full rule list for San Diego 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.

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