Your Guide to the State of California’s Stanislaus County Superior Court

What is the Stanislaus County Superior Court?

The Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus County, California will typically be heard before the Stanislaus County Superior Court.

The Stanislaus County Superior Court currently is comprised of 4 locations, which are determined in accordance to the specific hearing. The main courthouse is located in Stanislaus County, California:

800 11th Street
Modesto, California 95354
(209) 525-6348

Stanislaus County Superior Court Jurisdiction

The following cities, municipalities, and towns in the State of California are under the jurisdiction of the Stanislaus County Superior Court. However, the Stanislaus County Country Court System is apportioned into 4 locations with regard to the respective legal services provided:

Ceres

Hughson

Modesto

Newman

Oakdale

Patterson

Riverbank

Turlock

Waterford

Stanislaus County Superior Court Judges and Personnel

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

Linda McFadden: Presiding Judge.

Legal Issues Managed at the Stanislaus County Superior Court:

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

Family Law: Judicial review within this legal field in the Stanislaus County Superior Court undertakes legal matters addressing matters of the family. Measures of alternative forms of conflict resolution, including Mediation, are oftentimes undertaken with regard to familial, structural procedures including:

The Establishment of Paternity and Guardianship

Domestic Violence and Domestic Partnerships. This may include the oversight of retraining orders and legal statutes forbidding the encroachment of an individual within the expressed vicinity of another individual.

Divorce, Legal Separation, and Annulment

The Establishment of Visitation

Domestic Partnerships

Small Claims Court: The Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus County may be heard.

Small Claims Court in Stanislaus County will only undertake matters not exceeding $7,500 in valuation. Individuals are prohibited from filing for an excess of 2 Small Claims hearings exceeding $2,500 each on an annual basis.

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:

Adoption

Wills and Testaments

Conservatorships

Single Party Inheritance

Descendent Guardianship

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. This includes juvenile traffic violations.

Juvenile Dependency

Traffic and Accident Law: Vehicular and transportation matters requiring legal administration and regulation may be heard at the Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 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. This also includes:

Criminal Record Expungement

The Establishment and Regulation of Bail

Civil Law in the Stanislaus County Superior Court

With regard to legal matters involving a resident of Stanislaus 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. These cases will require additional fees of $395 in order to be heard.

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

Civil disputes that take place between a tenant and a landlord.

Stanislaus County Superior Court Administration and Fees

The Stanislaus 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.

The Administration of Jury Duty

The ability to access both court records and court report archives.