FAQ

1. Where do I get a copy of the Federal Rules?
Answer: Federal Rules can be found at http://www.law.cornell.edu.
2. Where do I get a copy of the Local Rules?
Answer: Local Rules can be obtained from the court's website. 
3. Where do I file?
Answer: The Court has two divisional offices for the filing of civil actions. Offices are located in Fresno and Sacramento. The specific location for filing or reviewing of documents is determined by in which county the action is cognizable.
 
Fresno Division: Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne.
 
Sacramento Division: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, and Yuba.
4. If a case is on file in Sacramento, may pleadings be filed in Fresno and vice versa?
Answer: Yes, all documents delivered to the Clerk for filing or lodging in a pending action may be presented to the Clerk in either division.
5. What are your hours?
Answer: Eastern District of California Office Hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
6. What are the Federal Holidays?

Answer: Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the following public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that if the four holidays set by date (New Year's Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day or Christmas Day) fall on a Saturday, the holiday is usually observed on a Friday if the holiday falls on a Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on a Monday.

  1. New Year's Day, January 1
  2. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Third Monday in January
  3. Washingtons' Birthday, Third Monday in February
  4. Memorial Day, Last Monday in May
  5. Independence Day, July 4
  6. Labor Day, First Monday in September
  7. Columbus Day, Second Monday in October
  8. Veterans Day, November 11
  9. Thanksgiving Day, Fourth Thursday in November
  10. Christmas Day, December 25
7. What if I have a filing after-hours?
Answer: The Court is open to the public between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays. There are no drop boxes for after hours filings.
8. How much is the filing fee?
Answer: Please see the Fee Schedule.
9. Where can I obtain forms?
Answer: Forms can be obtained from the court's website.
10. What is the fee for a pro hac vice application?
Answer: Please see the Fee Schedule.
11. What is PACER?
Answer: The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system allows any user with a personal computer to dial in to a district or bankruptcy court computer and retrieve official electronic case information and court dockets usually in less than a minute. PACER is predominately utilized by attorneys and has eliminated the need to travel to the courthouse to retrieve routine information. Each court controls its own computer system and case information database; therefore, there are some variations among jurisdictions as to the information offered. Typically, information currently available through PACER includes basic case information, docket information, index information, and opinions. Many jurisdictions offer 800 telephone lines to eliminate long distance toll charges.
12. How do I sign up for PACER service?

Answer: You can sign up for PACER service by calling the PACER service Center at 1-800-676-6856.

13. How many copies of each pleading do I file?
Answer: An original and one for the court and any copies you want conformed and returned. Remember to always include a self-stamped and addressed envelope for the return of conformed copies.
14. Can I fax a pleading?
Answer: Pursuant to Local Rule 133, the court will accept for filing faxed signatures and documents. The document must be marked "original" prior to submission to the Clerk's Office for filing. The originator of the document, or in the case of an affidavit or certification, the presenting attorney or party, is required to maintain the document containing the original manual signature until the conclusion of the case, including any appeal and remand after appeal. In the event there are multiple signatories to a document, the filing party or attorney shall retain the originally signed document(s). The court may required that the document containing the original manual signature to be filed. The Rule does not provide for documents to be transmitted via fax directly to the Clerk's Office. Documents directly faxed to the Clerk or to a chambers of the Court will not be filed, lodged, received, returned, or acknowledged.
15. How can I sign up to receive orders and judgments by fax?
Answer: Orders and judgments are not available by fax. All documents and pleadings may be obtained through PACER.
16. What is the filing fee for Attorney Admission to the Eastern District of California?
Answer: Please see the Fee Schedule.
17. What counties are served by this district?
Answer: Fresno Division: Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne.
 
Sacramento Division: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, and Yuba.
18. What is the court's copying fees and policy?
Answer: Please see the Fee Schedule.
19. What are the fee for retrieving a file from the Federal Record Center?
Answer: Please see the Fee Schedule.
20. Do you require blue backing?
Answer: No
21. What is the fee schedule?
Answer: Please see the Fee Schedule.