Do I need a local form to file a civil complaint in San Mateo County?

No county-specific form is required. The Civil Case Cover Sheet (CM-010), Summons (SUM-100), and complaint are the filing set.

Filing a civil complaint in San Mateo County, California: what the clerk requires

Q: What must be served with the summons in San Mateo County?

The summons, complaint, and cover sheet plus Appropriate Dispute Resolution Information Sheet (ADR-CV-8), Notice of Case Management Conference.

Where to file

Hall of Justice and Records400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063all civil (address from ADR-CV-1 form caption)

What San Mateo County requires with the complaint

Beyond the statewide Civil Case Cover Sheet (CM-010), Summons (SUM-100), and your complaint.

No county-specific form is required with a new civil complaint in San Mateo County. The statewide set (Civil Case Cover Sheet CM-010, Summons SUM-100, and the complaint) is what the clerk expects.

Some of this county's local rules could not be read in full when last checked (2026-10-09); confirm with the civil clerk before relying on it.

What to serve with the summons

Appropriate Dispute Resolution Information Sheet (ADR-CV-8)
Notice of Case Management Conference

Official copies: Appropriate Dispute Resolution Information Sheet (ADR-CV-8)

What filers get caught by here

Local Rule 2.1.7 (cited on ADR-CV-1): all parties except self-represented litigants must e-file in civil limited and unlimited cases.
Stipulation to ADR (ADR-CV-1) must be filed at least 12 days before CMC to vacate it (Rule 3.805(f)); 21 days after CMC/order to ADR (Rule 3.904(b)).

What SimpleCase generates for a San Mateo County filing

From one uploaded complaint, reviewed on one screen before anything downloads.

CM-010 Civil Case Cover Sheet
SUM-100 Summons
POS-010 Proof of Service (Personal)

See it on a San Mateo County case

A sample case is waiting with this county's forms. No credit card, first three cases free.

Try it with a San Mateo County sample

SimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.