Ex Parte Applications: Ask the Court for an Order as Quickly as Possible

Templates and Forms

Note: This Guide covers generic ex parte (emergency) requests in civil cases. If you need a temporary restraining order, see our article TROs: Applying for a Temporary Restraining Order in a Civil Case. Family, probate, and criminal courts handle the process differently.

“Ex parte” is a Latin legal term for “from one party.” An Ex Parte Application is used by one party to ask the court for an order, such as an order changing a hearing date or deadline, without the usual notice to the other parties to give them time to prepare an opposition. Ex parte applications are used in emergency situations when there is not enough time for a standard motion, which typically take about four weeks (16 court (business) days minimum).

Ex Parte Tips

Use only when truly necessary

Because the notice requirement of motions are designed to ensure the fairness of the procedure, ex parte applications, which by their nature circumvent this process, are highly disfavored, and granted only if absolutely necessary. If a matter could have been handled by a noticed motion or stipulation, the judge will deny your application and set for a hearing at a later date

Therefore, before filing an ex parte application, ask the other party(s) if they will agree to your request. If they do, file a stipulation instead.

Some requests are never handled ex parte

Courts in different counties may have different local rules or practices on what matters can be handled via ex parte hearings. For example, in Sacramento, the court will reject all ex parte applications to continue a trial. However, you may apply for an ex parte “order shortening time to serve or file motion to continue trial,” to permit you to file and serve a motion to continue trial with less than 16 days’ notice.

In fact, most typical motions are not appropriate for ex parte hearing. Instead, litigants can bring an ex parte application to shorten time for notice of the desired motion. If the judge approves the application, the order will usually specify the deadline for the other party to be served and to respond.

Some requests are always handled ex parte

Some requests are so routine and noncontroversial that the Judicial Council or local courts have created forms for them. For instance, in Sacramento, you can use a local form to substitute newly-discovered defendants for your Doe defendants, extend the time for arbitration, and to extend the time to select a trial date. Ex Parte Application for Extension of Time to Serve Pleading (CM-020) is an ex parte application mostly used for a plaintiff to extend time to serve the complaint. However, there are no pre-printed forms for most civil ex parte situations.

Researching and writing the papers

You will need to research and write (1) an “Ex Parte Application,” stating what you are requesting and when the hearing will be; (2) a “Memorandum of Points and Authorities,” explaining the relevant laws and how they apply to your facts; (3) a “Declaration” under penalty of perjury explaining the facts of the case, and why the matter is so urgent it should be heard ex parte; and (4) a “Declaration re Notice” explaining if and how you give notice to the other parties. (Sometimes this is combined with the Declaration of the facts of the case.) You must also write a “Proposed Order” for the judge to sign if they grant the application.

Templates for the Ex Parte Application and for the Declaration Regarding Notice are attached to this guide, set up for an application to shorten the required notice for an urgent motion. This may not fit your circumstances and you will likely need to do research and customize the application. The Law Library has several books with samples and instructions of all these papers, which you can customize for your situation. See the “Secondary Sources and Forms” section, below, for specific recommendations.

Scheduling the hearing and notifying other parties

The applicant must schedule the ex parte hearing ahead of time with the court department by 10 a.m. the day before. You must also notify the other parties that you will be bringing the application, and file your paperwork with the court by 4 p.m. the day before the hearing.

In Sacramento, different departments hear different types of motions, including ex parte applications on those matters:

• The Presiding Judge (Dept. 47) hears all motions for consolidation, coordination, severance, bifurcation, intervention, pretrial conference, change of venue, or to advance or continue trial.
• Case Management Program* (CMP) judges (Depts. 30 and 36) hear all CMP motions, including matters regarding judicial arbitration, redesignation of a case, for extension of time to answer a complaint, for relief from CMP rules, or certification for short cause.
• Law and Motion: Department 53 (odd-numbered cases) or Department 54 (even-numbered cases) hear most other types of motions.
• If a judge has been assigned to a case for all purposes, that judge hears all motions for the case.

These assignments change from time to time, so check the with the court for a current list of which department hears which types of motions.

You must give the other party(s) notice before 10 a.m. the court day before the hearing, unless you can prove “exceptional circumstances that justify a shorter time for notice.” Ex parte hearings have unique notice procedures. You personally should phone the other party(s) (or their lawyer, if they have one) to tell them what you are asking the court and when the hearing will be, and ask them if they plan to attend. California Rule of Court (“CRC”) 3.1204. If you do not reach them, leave a detailed message with a reliable call-back number.

After you do this, you must write the “Declaration re Notice” stating whether the opposing party is represented by counsel, whether that party has been contacted and has agreed to the requested order, or why the order should be issued without such notice. This Declaration must be submitted to the department before 10 a.m. the day before the hearing. You must also pay the filing fee (usually $60 in Sacramento) unless you have a fee waiver in the case.

You must also file the rest of your paperwork before 10 a.m. the court day before the hearing.

Attending the hearing

Since COVID-19, it is permissible to appear by telephone or Zoom.

Be sure to log into Zoom or arrive at the appropriate department early. If attending in person, bring a copy of all paperwork to the hearing with you. Pay the fee if you haven’t yet, and bring the receipt to the hearing.

In Sacramento, the judge will typically consider the matter in chambers (the judge’s office) based on the papers you have turned in, and may just notify you of the decision while you wait. If the judge has additional questions, he or she may ask you to come in to chambers to answer questions.

If your evidence is sufficient, the judge will sign your Proposed Order. The judge may also deny the Ex Parte Application, but set the matter for hearing on a normal motion schedule later.

The applicant should serve any signed orders on the other parties and file the original order and proof of service at court.

For more information

Court procedures (Sacramento County)

“Ex Parte Motions: Law and Motion Departments”
Sacramento County Superior Court

In other counties, look on the court’s website under the Civil Department section or local rules, or call to ask a clerk the process.

Secondary sources and forms

There are no pre-printed forms for most ex parte applications. Templates for the Ex Parte Application and for the Declaration Regarding Notice are attached to this guide, which will need extensive research and customization.

The Law Library recommends the following practice guides, which contain sample forms you can adapt for your situation. Most of these books also have more details about the legal standards and procedures that apply to ex parte applications.

California Forms of Pleading and Practice (KFC 1010 .A65 C3 (Ready Reference))
(Matthew Bender). Chapter 372, “Motions and Orders,” has in-depth information on ex parte procedures, including customizable samples of the ex parte application, declarations, and proposed orders. There are also dozens of chapters on specific topics, from “Adjoining Landowners” to “Zoning,” with sample paperwork for those situations.

Sample memorandums of points and authorities can be found in the companion book California Points and Authorities (KFC1010 .B4 (Ready Reference)), Chapter 417.
Electronic access: On the Law Library’s computers, using Lexis Advance.

California Law and Motion Model Forms (KFC 1012.A65 P37 (General Collection))
(Rutter Group). Various chapters include sample ex parte applications for extensions of time, including extension of time to plead, for an order shortening time, and other situations, with all required elements, and a proposed order. This book includes a sample memorandum of points and authorities, unlike most others. It has less background information and primarily offers the customizable form to copy or download.

California Pretrial Practice & Forms (KFC1020 .A65 K86 (General Collection))
(James Publishing, Inc.). Chapter 14, sections 14:490-498, contain a succinct description of the requirements for ex parte applications, as well as sample forms. A useful discussion of the types of evidence that can be used to support motions and applications can be found at 14:80-122.
Electronic access: Forms, but not text, available on the companion CD-ROM, available at the Circulation Desk upon request.

In addition, all of the following practice guides have forms for the ex parte application, declaration, declaration re notice, and/or proposed order:

• California Civil Practice: Procedure, Chapter 14. (KFC 995.A65 B3 (General Collection))
• California Practice Guide: Civil Procedure before Trial, Chapter 9. (KFC995. W45 (General collection))
• California Pretrial Civil Procedure, Chapter 26. (KFC 995 .M38 (General Collection and Lexis Advance))
• California Civil Procedure before Trial, Chapter 14. (KFC 995 .C34 (General Collection and OnLaw))

*The Case Management Program mostly applies to unlimited civil cases.