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.
