Simple Guide to the State of California’s Santa Clara County Superior Court

What is the Santa Clara County Superior Court?

The Santa Clara County Superior Court is a Superior County Court in the State of California, which exists within the realm of Common Law. A Superior Court is permitted to hear cases both criminal and civil in nature. This is in contrast to a court classified as ‘lower’, which is restricted to the judicial review of cases considered to be less severe in nature. Although this qualification differs with regard to the nature of the crime, matters considered to be of the utmost seriousness within Santa Clara County, California will typically be heard before the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

The Santa Clara County Superior Court currently is comprised of 15 locations, which are determined in accordance to the specific hearing. The main courthouse is located in Santa Clara County, California:

191 North 1st Street
San Jose, California 95113
(408) 882-2700

Santa Clara County Superior Court Jurisdiction

The following cities, municipalities, and towns in the State of California are under the jurisdiction of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. However, the associated townships and surrounding areas are apportioned between the 15 courthouses in addition to the main courthouse:

Campbell

Cupertino

Gilroy

Los Altos

Los Altos Hills

Los Gatos

Milpitas

Monte Sereno

Morgan Hill

Mountain View

Palo Alto

San Jose

Santa Clara

Saratoga

Sunnyvale

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judges and Personnel

In the Santa Clara County Superior Court, the following Judges and personnel are responsible for legal review of legal matters:

Jamie Jacobs-May: Presiding Judge.

Legal Issues Managed at the Santa Clara County Superior Court:

The following legal issues, statutory legislation, and proceedings are heard in the Santa Clara County Superior Court:

Family Law: Judicial review within this legal field in the Santa Clara County Superior Court undertakes legal matters addressing matters of the family and familial, structural procedures including:

Adoption

The Establishment of Paternity and Guardianship

Domestic Violence

Divorce, Legal Separation, and Annulment

The Establishment of Visitation

Domestic Partnerships

Small Claims Court: The Santa Clara County Superior Court provides a legal venue existing under the jurisdiction of Civil Law with which legal matters involving smaller sums of money, damages, and torts occurring within Santa Clara County may be heard.

Small Claims Court in Santa Clara County will only undertake matters not exceeding $7,500 in valuation. Businesses and commercial institutions will only be permitted to be heard within small claims courts with regard to cases not exceeding $5,000 in value.

Probate Court: A legal venue in which the appropriation of the estate belonging to a deceased individual takes place. This includes the judicial review of the following:

Wills and Testaments

Conservatorships

Single Party Inheritance

Guardianship

Restraining Orders: Legal statutes forbidding the encroachment of an individual within the expressed vicinity of another individual.

Juvenile and Minor Law: This legal field undertakes hearings involving children and individuals not considered to be legal adults, which may include the following:

Child Support

Violations Committed by Individuals Considered to be ‘Underage’

Juvenile Crime

Procurement: The Santa Clara County Superior Court undertakes hearings in which debt, collection, and acquisitions are subject to take place. This includes the Collection Unit and the Civil Assessment Department. This may involve landlord/tenant disputes.

Traffic and Accident Law: Vehicular and transportation matters requiring legal administration and regulation may be heard at the Santa Clara County Superior Court. These matters will range in the requirement for a court appearance in lieu of the submission of required fees. This may include:

Required Fines and Fees

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

The Mandating of Citations

Punitive Recourse with regard to the Associated Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Criminal Law: The Santa Clara County Superior Court will address matters in both civil jurisdictions, as well as those occurring within criminal jurisdictions. Criminal cases are considered to be affronts in the form of crime with regard to the general public within the public sector.

Civil Law in the Santa Clara County Superior Court

With regard to legal matters involving a resident of Santa Clara County, the following classifications of respective circumstances are applicable to Civil Law Cases:

Unlimited Civil Jurisdictions entail hearings in which the valuation of monies, assets, or properties is equal to or exceeds $25,000. Limited Civil Jurisdictions entail hearings in which the valuation of monies, assets, or properties is less than $25,000.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Administration and Fees

The Santa Clara County Superior Court provides individuals the opportunity to not only access court documentation, but also satisfy the payment of fees online. The following details are pertinent with regard to both scheduling of fee payment, as well the procedural structuring of legal fees:

Fee structures, schedules, and payments are available both in virtual and physical formats.

Court forms and applicable documentation are provided in both online, as well as in hard copy form.