Civil Division

Civil Cases

Civil cases involve a lawsuit in which one party sues another to:

• Recover money or property.
• To enforce a contract.
• To collect damages for injury.
• To protect some civil right.

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Limited Civil Cases

Limited Civil casesare those involving $35,000 or less except small claims cases.

Unlimited Civil Cases

Unlimited Civil casesare all other cases except family law or probate cases.

Interpreting Services

Fresno Superior Court provides interpreting services to all trial court proceedings in criminal, traffic, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. For more information, click the button below.

Interpreter Services

Attorneys for Civil Proceedings

In an effort to secure the right to access to the court without a personal appearance the Court is creating a list of attorneys willing to accept pro bono appointments.

The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno is currently seeking applications from individuals interested in accepting appointments to represent parties pro bono in their civil proceedings. The Court is predominantly seeking attorneys interested in assisting incarcerated individuals with their civil actions. The Court is also seeking attorneys who may be interested in representing patients at the Coalinga State Hospital.

If you are interested in being placed on the civil indigent panel please complete the
application  and return to:

Superior Court of California, County of Fresno

Research Division
1130 O Street, 5th Floor
Fresno, CA 93724-0002

Jeannie Goshgarian

Managing Research Attorney

Trial Readiness Calendar

Pursuant to  Local Rule 2.5.8 , all parties to Unlimited and Limited Civil Cases set for trial, absent prior approval from the CJAP or Civil Presiding Judge, are required to attend a Trial Readiness Hearing occurring the Friday immediately preceding their trial date at 9:30 a.m., in Department 501.

Inquiry will be made as to the case status, time estimates, whether a jury is still requested etc., and the parties will be assigned to a further mandatory settlement conference (see  Local Rule 2.6.2 ). The settlement conference shall be subject to the provisions of  Local Rule 2.5.5 .

The parties will be expected to acknowledge that they have met and conferred as directed in  Local Rule 2.6.1. , and are prepared to provide all pre trial documents to the court including Trial Briefs, in limine motions, jury instructions etc.

The Trial Readiness hearing will be conducted in accordance with  Local Rule 2.6.2.  All parties, whether represented or in pro per, are expected to be familiar, and to comply, with the rules cited herein.

Electronic Service

Effective July 1, 2025, pursuant to Code Civ. Proc. §1010.6, a person represented by counsel, who has appeared in an action or proceeding, shall accept electronic service of a notice or document that may be served by mail, express mail, overnight delivery, or facsimile transmission. An unrepresented party may consent to receive service electronically. The necessary forms to confirm the appropriate electronic service address are available at our  website in the Civil section . Please note that parties subject to mandatory electronic service, as well as unrepresented parties who consent to it, will receive electronic notices from a Fresno Superior Court email address.