Tuolumne County Superior Court

Introduction:

Tuolumne County Superior Court is a city courthouse serving the residents of Tuolumne County, California. It is located within the court of appeal in the fifth district, and the appeal from the eastern state district goes to the ninth circuit United State Court of appeal. The courthouse was established in 1853; a replacement was made in 1900. A new courthouse with a justice centre was built in 2019 with the latest technologies and now serves the residents. The court’s mission is to give justice equally, impartially, with dignity and respect according to the law. It has jurisdiction over criminal, civil, family, appeal, juvenile, traffic, and vehicle matters. They provide services like online payment, probate notes, calendar portal forms, fines, and many more, so it is optional to go to court for these services. This court also provides self-help for a different division. Proper dressing is required during the court session. Guidelines for attorneys to use the equipment of presentation are available in the evidence presentation equipment. Two superior courts are located in this county that are:

• TUOLUMNE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – BRANCH LOCATION
• TUOLUMNE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – HISTORIC COURTHOUSE

How to search for case information?

Tuolumne County Superior Court Case Search can be done online. The court maintained all the case records in the file or database. The case search can be done in the following ways:

• Searching by case number
• Searching by driver’s license
• Searching by citation or ticket number

After you enter any search information, it will come if it is available and is not confidential and sealed. If the case is personal and sealed, then you have to go to the court and request record access, and then the court will decide whether to provide that case information or not. Fees for the copies per page for records are mandatory, and you had to pay when coming to the court.

How to make a payment?

Tuolumne County Superior Court payment can be made in the following ways:

In-Person

A person can pay tickets and fines by visiting the hall of justice during regular court hours and paying in cash, checks, US funds, or a card at the court payment office. Take your ticket and case number with you when you come for payment. 2% surcharges will be applied if you make payment with a credit card. 

Online

Online payments can be made using the online court portal. If you want to pay for a traffic ticket, use this https://apps.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/Traffic.If you wish to pay for criminal cases, use this https://apps.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/Criminal. Look up the case by any method and pay online. Convenience fees will be applied using this method.

Mail 

A Person can send a certified check or money order to the court’s mailing address, 12855 Justice Ctr Dr, Sonora, CA 95370, United States. Cash or personal checks are not acceptable in the mail; only certified checks or money orders are accepted. Remember to write your citation, name, case number, and account number when you send the payment, and mail the amount in a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want a receipt. Please attach the courtesy notice to the envelope if paying for a traffic ticket.

How to search for dockets?

Tuolumne County Superior Court dockets can be found online using the court calendar https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/online-services/court-calendars. The dockets are updated after 4 pm every Monday to Friday. You can download the day from the website. The case number with name, type of case, time, and location is given on it. Confidential cases schedule are unavailable; you had to contact the court for those types of cases.

How to appear remotely?

Tuolumne County Superior Court remote appearances for some eligible cases, including unlimited and limited civil cases, are possible using court calls. You had to fill a form of RA-010 with an RA-020 order and submit it to the civil and family clerk’s office. If your request is accepted, you can pay the fees for this service and take the hearing using the telephone from anywhere. You can learn more about the procedure or fess by visiting http://www.courtcall.com/ccallp/main?c=CCHOME or call 1-888-88-COURT or 1-888-882-6878

 The family law division handles which types of cases?

Tuolumne County Court Family law division handles matters related to family issues, the relationship between couples and many other matters. These issues include:

• Divorce, legal separation and nullity
• Child custody, visitation and support or support action
• Family or spousal support
• Domestic violence issue
• Division of marital property
• Abuse of elders
• Emancipation and mediation

The division also provides family law assistance that you can get from the self-help centre located on the first floor of the Justice Center Courthouse at 12855 Justice Center Drive, Sonora, CA. They help the parties that need assistance in the form filing used in child custody, support and protection. It is compulsory for the parties involved in custody matters to attend the workshop on cooperative parenting. Those who cannot afford an attorney can contact the family law facilitators; they can guide you without any cost. They can meet both parties but cannot represent you in court and cannot give legal advice. Call 209-533-6565 to make an appointment with the facilitators.

How can I file a small claim case?

Tuolumne County Small Claim Court handles all matters in which the claim is up to $7500 for a person and $5000 for a business. It is a special court where issues are resolved quickly and with less cost. The rules are very simple. You can file a small claim case by filling out the forms available online and in the clerk’s office. Type your and the defendant’s personal information, the reason and the amount you are claiming and send it to the court. You can contact the small claim advisor if you need help or assistance. The court will recommend that both parties attend a mediation session on the day of the hearing so your case can end with a successful resolution.

How many types of juvenile cases are handled by this court?

Tuolumne County juvenile court handles the cases in which a minor is involved. Two types of cases are taken that are:

· Juvenile delinquency cases:

It includes cases in which a juvenile violates the rules and is charged with violating the law, and it is considered a crime if an adult commits it. The transfer-ins for this type of case are held every Monday at 8:00 am.

· Juvenile dependency cases:

It involves a case in which the juvenile is neglected or abused. The child’s further responsibility and placement will be given to the child protective service. The transfer-ins for this type of case are held every Monday at 1:00 pm.

Juvenile cases are confidential, and the data is only provided to the person involved, like the parents, attorney and lawyer.

The traffic court handles which types of cases?

Tuolumne County traffic court handles adult and juvenile traffic and vehicle violations that include speeding, driving without or with an expired license, going while you have drugs, accidents etc. They also handle some ordinances related to the city and local. The criminal division handles the cases that involve DUI. The court will mail you a courtesy notice on the citation address after you receive a traffic or infraction ticket. That notice will tell you detailed information on the citation number, schedule, violation you had done, bail amount, eligibility for traffic violation school etc. If your citation includes a court appearance, then appearing in the court on the schedule is mandatory. Many options for resolving traffic tickets if a court appearance is not required are: 

• Sign up for the traffic school if your case is eligible. After completing it, your traffic infraction records will be removed.
• Pay the total amount of the fine on time
• Show some proof of correction if the case is related to insurance or no vehicle registration and pay a reduced amount of fine with the correction fees.
• Contest the violation by requesting a trial by sending a plea of not guilty. Two types of trials are available: written declaration trials and trials by the court.

You had to respond with a solution before the deadline. Contact the clerk’s office if you are still waiting to receive any mail for courtesy notice.

What is the responsibility of the clerk?

Tuolumne County clerk’s responsibilities are to collect the mail, fine. Give answers to questions that the people asked. Provide family law facilitator and mediation services and help the judge in the case. The clerk is responsible for setting the hearing date.

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