Changes in Fees at Ventura County Recorders
Click here to download the Ventura County Clerk's Memo regarding changes in their recording fees effective July 1, 2008.

Orange County Attorney Fees on Judgment by Default
Click here to download the Orange County Superior Court's Memo regarding changes in Attorney Fees on Judgment by Default.

Increased Fee at LA County Recorder
Effective May 19, 2008, the LA County Recorder will charge an additional $1.00 for each recorded document title, pursuant to State Law (AB 1169 section 627) in which The Board of Supervisors for Los Angeles County has approved a Resolution to implement The Social Security Number Truncation Program.

Ventura Superior Court Civil Filing Changes
Effective January 1, 2008, the Case Information Sheet is no longer required when filing new civil cases in Ventura County. The required forms for new civil actions in Ventura County are the Civil Case Cover Sheet (state form) and the Declaration for Court Assignment (local form).

Orange County Family Court No Longer Accepts Notice of Unavailability
Effective January 18, 2008, the Orange County Family Law Court will not file notiices of unavailability. Pursuant to Carl v. Super Court (2007) 157 CA4th 73, 77, such a notice "is not a fileable document under the Rules of Court." This policy is not intended to prohibit an attorney from serving Notices of Unavailablity on counsel. This policy is not intended to limit the availability of sanctions per Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Inc. v. Sparks (1992) 8 CA4th 299.

2008 Federal Witness Fees Increase
The attendance fee for Federal subpoenas is governed by and described in 28 USC 1821. Witness fees are $40.00 per day and $0.50-1/2 per mile, round trip or $1.01 one way from the witness' residence to where they must appear.

ADR Pilot Programs in Orange County
To help litigants resolve their cases quickly and with less expense, the Superior Court of Orange County has added two pilot programs -- Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) and Civil Mediation -- to its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program. For more information on these programs, click here to download the full news flash put out by the Superior Court of Orange County.

CT Corporation Changes Its Hours Again
Effective March 31, 2008, CT Corporation will be closing at 3:00pm.

Update In Probate Filing Fees
On March 28, 2008, the Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal issued an important opinion invalidating the graduated filing fees in probate cases. In Estate of Claeyssens (2008 DJDAR 4317) the court held that provisions of the California Constitution, coupled with Proposition 6 enacted in 1982, make the graduated filing fee an invalid estate or inheritance tax. In the instant case, the petitioner had paid a total filing fee with surcharges of $74,642.52.

The Administrative Office of the Courts apparently has opinioned that, henceforth, the law requires probate filings to be accompanied by the standard unlimited civil filing fee. Unanswered at this point is whether refunds wiill be required of amounts already paid. Even without refunds, estimates are that the courts will lose approximately $5 million by switching from the graduated to the fixed fee.

Online Mediator Selection in San Diego
Effective April 8, 2008, the Superior Court of Sasn Diego launched a new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) webpage. The Mediation section of the webpage provides attorneys and parties with online access to a list of approved mediators on the court's Civil Mediation Panel, a Subject Area Experince/Expertise Listing, and Mediator Profiles detailing each mediator's training, expoerience, and fees. For more information, please visit the page at http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/pls/portal/url/PAGE/SDCOURT/CIVIL/ADR.