| Division |
Case Type |
Where Cases Are Heard |
| Civil |
Unlimited Jurisdiction ($25,000 or more) |
Martinez |
| Limited Jurisdiction ($5,000 to $25,000) |
| Complex Litigation (an action that requires exceptional judicial management to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on the court or the litigants. California Rules of Court, Rule 3.400) |
| Small Claims ($7,500 or less) |
Concord, Pittsburg, Richmond,
Walnut Creek |
| Small Claims Appeal (Appeal of original decision by the defendant only) |
Usually in the same court where original case was heard |
| Civil Harassment (violence, threat of violence, or actions that really scare, annoy or harass you, done on purpose and for no good reason by someone who is not close to you, such as a roommates, neighbor, or co-worker.) |
First appearance is
in Martinez
If you have another court date, it will be in Concord, Pittsburg, Richmond, or
Walnut Creek |
| Unlawful Detainer (eviction from rented or leased apartments, homes or business locations) |
Concord, Pittsburg,
Richmond,
Walnut Creek |
| Criminal |
Infraction (A minor violation of a law, contract, or right.) |
Concord, Pittsburg, Richmond,
Walnut Creek |
| Misdemeanor (A crime that can be punished by up to 1 year in jail.) |
Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond,
Walnut Creek |
| Felony (A serious crime that can be punished by more than 1 year in prison or by death.) |
First appearance may be in Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond,
Walnut Creek
If you have another court date, it will be in Martinez |
| Family |
Child Custody and Visitation (how parents will share and divide parenting time and responsibilities) |
Martinez |
| Child Support (money that one parent pays to the other to help support their child) |
| Domestic Violence (violence, threat of violence, or actions that really scare you by someone with whom you have a child, or a close relationship (married or registered domestic partners, divorced, separated, dating or used to date, live together or used to live together*), or you are related (parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, mother-in-law, son-in-law) |
First appearance may be in Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond,
Walnut Creek
If you have another court date, it will be in Martinez |
| Divorce (this includes dissolving a marriage or domestic partnership) |
Martinez |
| Legal Separation (does not end the marriage, but allows each partner to own some assets and debts separately) |
| Mediation (child custody and visitation issues) |
| Nullity of Marriage (declares a marriage null and void – rare) |
| Parentage (establishes legal parents) |
| Spousal Support (support one spouse or partner pays to the other for a time after separation or divorce) |
| Juvenile |
Delinquency (crimes committed by a minor under 18 years) |
Cases may be in Martinez or Richmond |
| Dependency (child may become a ward of the court while the court considers whether parents may accomplish certain tasks and re-unify with their child, or lose their parental rights.) |
| Probate |
Conservatorship (of the person, estate, or both when they cannot handle these decisions and responsibilities on their own) |
Martinez |
| Guardianship (of the person, estate, or both when a parent cannot provide primary care and decision-making for a child) |
| Wills, Trusts and Estates (Interpreting, recording, and enforcing decisions as outlined in a will, trust, or estate.) |
| Traffic |
Infraction (relatively minor violations such as running a red light, or failing to have proof of auto insurance.) |
Concord, Pittsburg, Richmond,
Walnut Creek
(NOTE: Parking Tickets are paid to cities, not the court. See the ticket for more information) |
