Easy Guide to the State of California’s Los Angeles County Superior Court

What is the Los Angeles County Superior Court?

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

The Los Angeles County Superior Court currently is comprised of 48 locations, which are determined in accordance with the specific hearing. The main courthouse is located in Los Angeles County, California:

111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
(213) 974-5201

Los Angeles County Superior Court Jurisdiction

The following cities, municipalities, and towns in the State of California are under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. However, the Los Angeles County Court System is apportioned into 48 locations with regard to the respective legal services provided. This includes the main courthouse:

Agoura Hills

Alhambra

Arcadia

Artesia

Avalon

Azusa

Baldwin Park

Bell

Bellflower

Bell Gardens

Beverly Hills

Bradbury

Burbank

Calabasas

Carson

Cerritos

Claremont

Commerce

Compton

Covina

Cudahy

Culver City

Diamond Bar

Downey

Duarte

El Monte

El Segundo

Gardena

Glendale

Glendora

Hawaiian Gardens

Hawthorne

Hermosa Beach

Hidden Hills

Huntington Park

Industry

Inglewood

Irwindale

La Canada Flintridge

La Habra Heights

Lakewood

La Mirada

Lancaster

La Puente

La Verne

Lawndale

Lomita

Long Beach

Los Angeles

Lynwood

Malibu

Manhattan Beach

Maywood

Monrovia

Montebello

Monterey Park

Norwalk

Palmdale

Palos Verdes Estates

Paramount

Pasadena

Pico Rivera

Pomona

Rancho Palos Verdes

Redondo Beach

Rolling Hills

Rolling Hills Estates

Rosemead

San Dimas

San Fernando

San Gabriel

San Marino

Santa Clarita

Santa Fe Springs

Santa Monica

Sierra Madre

Signal Hill

South El Monte

South Gate

South Pasadena

Temple City

Torrance

Vernon

Walnut

West Covina

West Hollywood

Westlake Village

Whittier

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges and Personnel

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

Charles McCoy: Presiding Judge

John A. Clarke: Court Executive Officer and Clerk.

Legal Issues Managed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court

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

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

Adoption

The Establishment of Paternity and Guardianship

Self-help Marital Resources

Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulment, and Alimony Payments

Child Custody and Visitation

Child Support

Harassment and Domestic Violence Cases

Appellate Court: The Los Angeles County Superior Courts maintain the jurisdictional authority to retry, review, or reexamine specific cases that have received rulings from lower courts.

Small Claims Court: The Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County may be heard.

Small Claims Court in Los Angeles County will only undertake matters not exceeding $7,500 in valuation. Los Angeles County Small Claims Court prohibits the presence of juries, rules of evidence, and legal representation.

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

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

Juvenile Dependency

Traffic and Accident Law: Vehicular and transportation matters requiring legal administration and regulation may be heard at the Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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.

The Establishment and Regulation of Bail

Criminal Expungements

Civil Law in the Los Angeles County Superior Court

With regard to legal matters involving a resident of Los Angeles 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 Cases may include class action suits involving consumer-based complains and litigation with regard to Asbestos injuries.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Administration and Fees

The Los Angeles 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.