What is the
Contra Costa County Superior Court?



The Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa
County, California will typically be heard before the Contra Costa County
Superior Court.



The Contra
Costa County Superior Court currently is comprised of 5 locations, which are
determined in accordance with the specific hearing. The main courthouse is
located in Contra Costa County, California:



900 Ward Street

Second Floor

Martinez, California 94553

(925) 957-2200



Contra Costa County Superior Court Jurisdiction



The following cities, municipalities, and towns in
the State of California are under the jurisdiction of the Contra Costa County
Superior Court. However, the Contra Costa County Court System is apportioned
into 5 locations with regard to the respective legal service provided at
applicable facilities:



Antioch



Brentwood



Clayton



Concord



Danville



El Cerrito



Hercules



Lafayette



Martinez



Moraga



Oakley



Orinda



Pinole



Pittsburg



Pleasant Hill



Richmond



San Pablo



San Ramon



Walnut Creek



Contra Costa County Superior Court Judges and
Personnel



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



Diana Becton: Presiding Judge.



Legal Issues Managed at the Contra Costa County
Superior Court



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



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



The Establishment of Paternity and Guardianship



Domestic Violence and Domestic Partnerships



The Regulation of Child Support Payments



Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulment, and Alimony
Payments



The Establishment of Visitation and Child Custody



Restraining Orders: Legal statutes forbidding the
encroachment of an individual within the expressed vicinity of another
individual.



Dispute
Resolution and Mediation: Measures of alternative forms of conflict resolution,
including Mediation, are defined as legal procedures undertaken in lieu of
arbitration through court hearings. This is commonly referred to as Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR).



Small Claims Court: The Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County may be heard.

Guide to the State of California’s Contra Costa County Superior Court


Small Claims
Court in Contra Costa County will only undertake matters not exceeding $7,500
in valuation. Contra Costa County Small Claims Court undertakes claims
involving borrowers and guarantors.



Probate
Court: A legal venue in which the appropriation of the estate belonging to a
deceased individual takes place.



Juvenile and
Minor Law: This legal field undertakes hearings involving children and
individuals not considered to be legal adults.



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



Felony and Misdemeanor Charges



Criminal Expungement



Civil Law in the Contra Costa County Superior
Court



With regard to legal matters involving a resident
of Contra Costa 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.



Contra Costa County Superior Court Administration
and Fees



The Contra Costa 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: This may include the appointment of residents to
Grand Jury service, which may exceed the duration of service inherent to
standard Jury Duty.