How to File a Notice of Remote Appearance in California: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents#

1. What Is a Notice of Remote Appearance?
2. Eligibility: When Can You Appear Remotely in California Courts?
3. Pre-Filing Requirements to Confirm First
4. Step-by-Step Process to File Your Notice
5. Fees, Fee Waivers, and Filing Deadlines
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
7. What to Do After Filing Your Notice
8. FAQs About Remote Court Appearances
9. References

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What Is a Notice of Remote Appearance?#

A Notice of Remote Appearance is a formal legal document that notifies the court and all other parties in your case that you plan to attend a scheduled hearing via video conference or phone call, instead of appearing in person. Filing this document is mandatory for remote attendance: if you fail to file it and do not show up to an in-person hearing, the judge may issue a bench warrant, dismiss your claim, or rule against you by default. Since January 1, 2022, California uses a statewide standard form for remote appearances:

• RA-010 (Notice of Remote Appearance): The mandatory Judicial Council form for all civil cases, including family law, small claims trials, probate, and general civil matters.

Some counties may also have local procedures or online portals for giving notice—always check your county court's website before filing.

Eligibility: When Can You Appear Remotely in California Courts?#

Per California Rule of Court 3.672 and Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75, remote appearances are permitted by right for most civil case types, including:

• Family law (divorce, custody, support)
• Probate and conservatorship
• Civil law and motion hearings (demurrers, motions to compel, summary judgment)
• Case management conferences and status conferences
• Restraining order hearings (non-evidentiary)
• Small claims trials (subject to specific small claims rules)

You cannot appear remotely for the following hearings unless the judge explicitly approves an exception:

• Criminal trials (defendants have a constitutional right to in-person appearances under AB 199)
• Evidentiary hearings where witness credibility is a central issue
• Hearings where a court order explicitly requires your in-person attendance
• Proceedings involving classified or confidential information that cannot be securely transmitted remotely

Note: Always confirm your county court's local rules first, as some courts restrict remote access for specific hearing types or require use of local online portals instead of Form RA-010.

Pre-Filing Requirements to Confirm First#

Before filling out Form RA-010, confirm these details to avoid delays or denials:

1. Your full case number, hearing date, time, and court department number (listed on your official hearing notice)
2. That your hearing type is eligible for remote attendance via your county court's website
3. Whether your county has an online portal for remote appearance notices (some courts accept notice through their website instead of the RA-010 form)
4. Up-to-date contact information for all other parties in the case (plaintiffs, defendants, their attorneys) to serve them a copy of your notice
5. That no existing court order requires you to appear in person for this hearing
6. Whether your hearing is evidentiary (testimony may be given) or non-evidentiary, as this affects your filing deadline

Step-by-Step Process to File Your Notice#

Step 1: Fill out Form RA-010#

Download Form RA-010 (Notice of Remote Appearance) from the California Courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov. The form is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Required fields include:

• Court county, branch name, and case number
• Full names of plaintiff/petitioner and defendant/respondent
• Your name and role in the case (plaintiff, defendant, attorney, witness)
• Hearing date, time, and court department number
• Whether you intend to appear by videoconference or audio only (including telephone)
• Your contact information: name, address, telephone, email
• Your signature and date

If you intend to appear remotely throughout the entire case (not just one hearing), check item 2a so you only need to file once.

Step 2: Serve the form to all other parties#

California law requires you to share a copy of the notice with every party in the case before or at the same time as filing it with the court. Acceptable service methods include:

• Mail (first-class)
• Overnight delivery
• Email or text message (electronic notice)
• Phone call or voicemail
• In-person delivery

After serving the form, complete the Declaration of Notice section on page 2 of Form RA-010, or file a separate Proof of Service (Form POS-040 or POS-050 for electronic service).

Step 3: File the form with the court#

You can file your completed Form RA-010 and proof of service via one of these methods:

1. E-file (recommended): Many California courts use e-filing portals such as Odyssey eFileCA. Check your court's website to confirm whether e-filing is available and which portal to use. Upload your form as a PDF, pay any filing fee online, and save the confirmation email.
2. In-person drop-off: Bring two copies of your form to the court clerk's office during business hours. The clerk will stamp your copy as proof of filing.
3. Mail: Send your completed form and proof of service to the court clerk's office. Mail at least 7 days before your filing deadline to account for mail delays.

Note: Some courts have daily e-filing cutoff times (often 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM). Documents filed after the cutoff are deemed filed the next court day—plan accordingly.

Fees, Fee Waivers, and Filing Deadlines#

Fees#

Filing fees for a Notice of Remote Appearance vary by county and case type. Some courts charge no fee for filing Form RA-010, while others may charge a nominal fee. Check your county court's fee schedule for the exact amount. If you cannot afford the fee, you can submit a Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001) along with your notice. You qualify for a waiver if you receive public benefits (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, CalWORKs, General Assistance), have a household income below the limits listed on Form FW-001, or can prove that paying the fee would cause severe financial hardship.

Deadlines#

Filing deadlines depend on whether your hearing is evidentiary (testimony may be given) or non-evidentiary:

For non-evidentiary hearings (motions, case management conferences, status conferences):

• File and serve at least 2 court days before the hearing
• If filing with moving papers for the same hearing date, you may file simultaneously

For evidentiary hearings and trials (including small claims trials):

• File and serve at least 10 court days before the hearing or trial date
• If you received less than 15 court days' notice of the hearing, file at least 5 court days before

For ex parte applications:

• File with the application (no minimum lead time)

Court days exclude weekends and California state holidays. If your deadline falls on a court holiday, the deadline moves to the prior court day.

For emergency last-minute requests, you can call the court clerk before the hearing or make an oral request to the judge at the start of the hearing, but approval is not guaranteed. If you miss the deadline, you may still ask the court for permission to appear remotely.

Common Mistakes to Avoid#

1. Using outdated forms: The old forms FL-679, SC-105, and CM-030 are no longer used for remote appearances. Use Form RA-010 (Notice of Remote Appearance) for all civil cases.
2. Missing the filing deadline: Late submissions are often denied, forcing you to appear in person or risk a default ruling. Know whether your hearing is evidentiary (10 court days) or non-evidentiary (2 court days).
3. Failing to serve all parties: The court may deny your request if you do not prove you shared the notice with every party in the case.
4. Providing incorrect contact information: If you list a wrong email or phone number, you will not receive the remote access link for your hearing.
5. Assuming all hearings are eligible: Always confirm remote access is allowed for your specific hearing type before filing.
6. Forgetting to check local rules: Some counties have online portals or specific procedures that supplement or replace the standard RA-010 filing process.

What to Do After Filing Your Notice#

1. Wait for court confirmation: For non-evidentiary hearings, absent a court order denying your request, you may generally appear remotely—silence is often treated as consent. For evidentiary hearings, the court may issue an order approving or denying the request before the hearing. Check your case docket and the court's website for any orders. If approved, you will receive a Zoom/Teams link, phone number, and meeting ID for your hearing.
2. Test your technology: 24 hours before your hearing, test your internet connection, camera, and microphone if you are joining via video. Save the access link and meeting ID to an easily accessible location. Have the court's call-in number ready as a backup.
3. Attend the hearing: Log in or call 10-15 minutes early to avoid delays. Mute your microphone when you are not speaking, have all relevant documents ready to share, and state your full name clearly when the judge calls your case. Dress professionally and use a clean, neutral background.

FAQs About Remote Court Appearances#

Q: Do I need an attorney to file a Notice of Remote Appearance?#

A: No, self-represented litigants can complete and file Form RA-010 on their own. Most county courts have free self-help centers to help you fill out the form if you need assistance.

Q: Can I switch to in-person attendance after filing a remote notice?#

A: Yes, just notify the court clerk and all other parties in the case at least 24 hours before the hearing.

Q: What if I don't receive a remote access link after my notice is approved?#

A: Call the court clerk immediately to request the link. Check your spam/junk email folder. Do not wait until the day of the hearing to follow up.

Q: Can witnesses appear remotely with me?#

A: Yes, witnesses may appear remotely. You must list their information on your Notice of Remote Appearance or notify the court and other parties of their remote attendance by the applicable deadline.

Q: Can other parties oppose my remote appearance?#

A: For non-evidentiary hearings, there is no formal opposition process. For evidentiary hearings and trials, other parties may file Form RA-015 (Opposition to Remote Proceeding at Evidentiary Hearing or Trial) within 5 court days of receiving your notice.

Q: What if I miss the filing deadline?#

A: You may still ask the court for permission to appear remotely by filing Form RA-010 late, calling the clerk, or making an oral request at the start of the hearing. Approval is discretionary.

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References#

1. California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 367.75: Remote Appearances. https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/code-of-civil-procedure/ccp-sect-367-75/
2. California Rules of Court, Rule 3.672: Remote Proceedings. https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_672
3. California Courts Self-Help Guide: Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010). https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/RA-010
4. California Courts Self-Help Guide: Ask for a Fee Waiver. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/fee-waiver