San Francisco County trial document templates

Courtesy Copies of Filed Documents

Prepared by each party. Lodged, at the time of filing for conventionally filed papers, on the day of filing for anything filed fewer than 7 court days before the hearing, and no later than 2 court days after the electronic filing transaction for papers e-filed 7 or more court days before the hearing. Applies to any filed document requiring court review, action or signature, in any civil case. LRSF 2.7(B)

1. What the courtesy copy set must contain
   • Every supporting document filed with the papers
   • A courtesy copy of the pleading already on file, where the papers challenge the sufficiency of that pleading
   • The transaction receipt, for papers filed electronically
   • A signed copy of any document requiring a signature under penalty of perjury that was filed electronically
2. Complex civil in Department 304
   • Two hard copies of every e-filed document, proposed orders included
3. Complex civil in Department 613
   • Two paper courtesy copies of every e-filed document, unless otherwise specified
   • Tabs for each exhibit, on any courtesy copy that attaches exhibits
   • Bookmarks and hyperlinks in evidence filed electronically, PDF compendiums included

Settlement Conference Statement

Prepared by each party. Delivered to the settlement conference judge and exchanged, not less than 5 court days before the date of the settlement conference. Applies to civil cases set for a settlement conference; the demand and offer timing excepts limited jurisdiction unlawful detainer actions. LRSF 5.0(F) (January 1, 2026 edition lettering; the July 1, 2026 edition prints this paragraph with no subdivision letter)

1. Statement of the case (LRSF 5.0, item 1)
   • The facts of the case
   • The relevant legal issues and contentions
   • The latest demands and offers between the parties
   • In the plaintiff's statement, an evaluation of the percentage of liability attributed to each defendant, for allocating non-economic damages
2. Delivered with the statement (LRSF 5.0, items 2 through 4)
   • A copy of the most recent medical reports
   • A summary of injuries and residuals
   • A statement of economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, loss of earnings and other claimed special damages, if any
   • The names, addresses and specialties of any expert witness who will be called

Copies of the Operative Complaint and Answers

Prepared by plaintiff. Brought to the conference, at the settlement conference. Applies to unlawful detainer cases in the Real Property Court. LRSF 8.10(F)(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.

Joint Statement re Trial Time Limits

Prepared jointly. Filed, no less than 5 days before the trial date, and no less than 45 days before the trial date in a case assigned to a single judge, or at the time and in the manner any case management order prescribes. Applies to long cause unlimited jurisdiction civil cases, and cases assigned to a single judge; not expedited jury trials. LRSF 6.8(B)(2)

1. Contents of the statement
   • The total number of hours needed to try the case
   • A witness list with the name of each witness to be called on direct, and a brief description of that witness's testimony

Written Notice Requesting a Verbatim Record of a Trial Court Proceeding

Prepared by each party. Filed, received by the court two weeks before the proceeding in a civil case. Applies to parties who have received a fee waiver and want a verbatim record. Jameson v. Desta notice, Presiding Judge and Master Calendar page

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, at least 10 days before the date set for trial if served by mail, or at least 5 days before the date set for trial if personally served. Applies to all civil trials except unlawful detainer cases, and not expedited jury trials. LRSF 6.2

1. Courtesy copies to the trial judge
   • A courtesy copy of every motion in limine
   • A courtesy copy of every opposition to a motion in limine

List of Proposed Exhibits

Prepared by each party. Lodged, at least 10 days before trial, or as soon as the trial judge is known. Applies to all civil trials; not expedited jury trials. LRSF 6.4

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.

List of Witnesses Expected to Be Called

Prepared by each party. Lodged, at least 10 days before trial, or as soon as the trial judge is known. Applies to all civil trials; not expedited jury trials. A separate witness list need not be filed under LRSF 6.4 if the parties file a Joint Statement Regarding Trial Time Limits under LRSF 6.8. LRSF 6.4

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.

Deposition Designations and Counter-Designations

Prepared by each party. Lodged, at least 10 days before trial, or later as soon as the trial judge is known. Applies to all civil trials except expedited jury trials; testimony used for impeachment is excluded. LRSF 6.3

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.

Written Opposition to Motions in Limine

Prepared by each party. Filed and served, filed and personally served no later than the date set for trial. Applies to all civil trials except unlawful detainer cases, and not expedited jury trials. LRSF 6.2

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.

Proposed Jury Instructions

Prepared by each party. Lodged, delivered to the trial judge as CCP section 607a requires. Applies to all jury trials. LRSF 6.5(A)

1. Written notice of the instructions acceptable to all parties, limited jurisdiction cases
   • A written notification to the trial judge identifying which of the proposed instructions are acceptable to all parties
2. Written notice of the instructions acceptable to all parties, unlimited jurisdiction cases
   • A written notification to the trial judge identifying which of the proposed instructions are acceptable to all parties
3. Form of each proposed instruction
   • An instruction complete in all respects, with no unfilled blanks
   • An instruction with no bracketed portions
4. Copies of each instruction to provide to the court
   • One copy of each instruction containing appropriate points and authorities
   • One copy of each instruction with no points and authorities and no other writing on it, in a form fit to go to the jury

Settlement Demand and Identification of Remaining Defendants

Prepared by plaintiff. Served only, no later than 10 days before the date set for the mandatory settlement conference, or as the Judge otherwise orders. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.2(A)(1)

1. Demand and remaining defendants (LRSF 20.2(A)(1))
   • A settlement demand to each remaining defendant
   • Every previously undisclosed remaining defendant, identified

Settlement Statement

Prepared by each party. Lodged, within 5 days before the date set for the mandatory settlement conference, or as the Judge otherwise orders. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.2(A)(2)

1. Liability and defenses (LRSF 20.2(A)(2))
   • The essential facts supporting claimed liability and the defenses to it
2. What the plaintiff's statement also states (LRSF 20.2(A)(2))
   • The total amounts of settlements obtained or negotiated in the case, including bankruptcy trust payments
   • All factors bearing on the plaintiff's likelihood to settle, leaving out trial related factors such as judge assignment or type of jury
3. What each defendant's statement also states (LRSF 20.2(A)(2))
   • The name, position or title, phone numbers and email address of each person who must approve an offer and has final settlement authority
   • All factors bearing on the defendant's likelihood to settle, leaving out trial related factors such as judge assignment or type of jury

List of Remaining Defendants and Current Demands or Settlement Status

Prepared by plaintiff. Lodged, no later than two weeks before the trial date. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.2(D)(1)

1. Remaining defendants and settlement status (LRSF 20.2(D)(1))
   • A list of the remaining defendants
   • The current demands or settlement status

List of Former Testimony to Be Used at Trial

Prepared by each party. Served only, no later than 7 calendar days before the actual trial date. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department; transcripts to be used for cross-examination are excluded. LRSF 20.3(D)

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 Defense and Plaintiff Motions in Limine

Prepared jointly. Filed and served, on the date the case is assigned to a trial department. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.3(A)

1. Courtesy copy binder for the trial department
   • A single submission containing all of the initial joint defense motions in limine
   • The respective oppositions
   • An index
   • Tabs

Trial Brief

Prepared by each party. Lodged, on the day of trial assignment or by the first trial appearance, whichever is earlier. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.3(E)

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.

Witness Lists and Exhibit Lists

Prepared by each party. Lodged, no later than 2 court days after the date on which the case was assigned to a trial department. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.3(B)

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 Standard Jury Instructions

Prepared jointly. Lodged, no later than 2 court days after the date on which the case was assigned to a trial department. Applies to asbestos jury trials in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.3(C)

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.

Page and Line Designations of Former Testimony

Prepared by each party. Served only, no later than 2 court days after the date of assignment to a trial judge, with counter-designations and objections due within 3 court days after receipt. Applies to asbestos cases in the Asbestos Department. LRSF 20.3(D)

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.