You fill out California Form CM-010, the Civil Case Cover Sheet, by entering your party and attorney information at the top, checking exactly one case type box that best fits your claim, marking whether the case is complex, listing the remedies you seek, stating the number of causes of action, and signing the form before filing it with your first paper. The form is required by California Rules of Court, Rule 3.220 for almost every civil case in superior court, and a missing or wrong cover sheet can delay your case or trigger sanctions.
The problem is simple. Courts handle hundreds of thousands of new civil filings each year, and judges need a fast way to sort, route, and assign each case to the right department. According to the Judicial Council’s 2024 Court Statistics Report, California superior courts received over 4.8 million new filings, and the cover sheet is the single page that tells the clerk where your case belongs.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to complete every line and box on Form CM-010 the right way
- ⚖️ When to mark a case as complex under Rule 3.400 and what happens if you do
- 💵 The current filing fees, jurisdictional limits, and remedy choices that affect your form
- 🚫 The most common mistakes filers make and the real consequences of each one
- 📚 Real examples, scenario tables, and FAQs that answer the questions clerks hear most
What Form CM-010 Is and Why It Exists
Form CM-010 is the official Civil Case Cover Sheet published by the Judicial Council of California. It is a one-page intake document that travels with the very first paper you file in a civil case, usually the complaint or the petition. The form gives the clerk and the presiding judge a quick snapshot of the case so the court can assign the right department, set the right schedule, and apply the right rules.
The cover sheet is mandatory in almost every limited, unlimited, and complex civil case under Rule 3.220 of the California Rules of Court. The plain-English meaning of that rule is that the first party who files a paper in a civil case must also file a completed cover sheet. The consequence of skipping it is that the clerk can reject your filing, or the court can hit you with sanctions under Rule 2.30, which include monetary fines and case-management delays. A common misconception is that small cases under $10,000 need a cover sheet, but small claims cases filed under Code of Civil Procedure § 116.220 do not use CM-010.
The form also feeds the court’s data system. The case category you check on CM-010 helps the Judicial Council gather statewide statistics under Government Code § 68150. When you mishandle the form, you skew those numbers, and you can also lose access to early case management benefits like the complex case program. A real-world example is a contract case wrongly coded as an Other PI/PD/WD tort, which can route the case to a personal-injury department that may not handle commercial disputes well.
Where to Get the Current Form
Always download the most recent CM-010 directly from the official Judicial Council form library so you do not file an outdated version. The form was last revised effective September 1, 2021, and California rejects forms that show an older revision date in the bottom-left corner. Many self-help filers grab a stale PDF off a third-party site, and the clerk then bounces the filing.
The form is fillable in any modern PDF reader, and you can also e-file it through your county’s portal, such as Los Angeles eCourt. Always save a copy before submitting because some browsers strip the data from PDF forms during upload. Filing online does not change the substance of the form, only the delivery method.
The Top Caption Block: Lines 1 Through 4
The top of CM-010 is the caption block. It mirrors the caption on your complaint and tells the clerk who is suing whom, in which court, and through which lawyer. Every word here must match your complaint exactly because mismatched names trigger rejection at the clerk’s window.
Attorney or Party Without Attorney
The first box asks for the name, State Bar number, and address of the attorney or self-represented party. Self-represented filers write “In Pro Per” or “Self-Represented” where the bar number would go. The consequence of leaving the bar number blank when you are an attorney is that the court may treat the filing as defective under Rule 1.4 of the California Rules of Court.
You must include a working email address and telephone number under Code of Civil Procedure § 1010.6 so the court and other parties can serve you electronically. A common mistake is using a paralegal’s email by accident, which then routes critical service notices away from the lawyer of record. Named example: Attorney Jane Park, SBN 215431, lists her firm address, direct line, and firm email, and she signs only on her own cases.
Superior Court of California, County of ____
You write the name of the county where you are filing, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, or Alameda. Venue is governed by Code of Civil Procedure §§ 392–396b, and filing in the wrong county can lead to a motion to transfer venue under § 397. The consequence is paying the transfer fee and losing weeks of case time.
Case Name and Case Number
The Case Name line lists the short title, like Smith v. Jones. Leave the Case Number blank if you are filing the complaint because the clerk assigns the number when the case is opened. If you are filing CM-010 with an amended pleading, write the existing case number exactly as it appears on the docket.
Item 1: Check One Box Only for the Case Type
Item 1 is the heart of CM-010. You pick exactly one case type from a long list grouped under three headings, Auto Tort, Other PI/PD/WD Tort, and Non-Tort. Picking more than one box, or picking the wrong one, can misroute your case and trigger reclassification under Rule 3.403.
Auto Tort (Code 22)
Use Auto (22) when your case is a personal-injury or property-damage claim arising out of a motor-vehicle collision. The plain-English meaning is “car crash case.” Subrogation cases by insurers are also coded as Auto when the underlying claim arose from a vehicle collision. The consequence of miscoding a slip-and-fall as Auto is that your case may be assigned to a fast-track auto panel that lacks the right discovery rules.
Other PI/PD/WD Tort
This group covers asbestos (04), product liability (24), medical malpractice (45), and other personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death cases (23). Medical malpractice has special pre-suit notice rules under Code of Civil Procedure § 364, and miscoding a malpractice case as a generic PI case can defeat the special MICRA protections under Civil Code § 3333.2. A common misconception is that any injury at a doctor’s office is malpractice, but a slip-and-fall in the lobby is ordinary premises liability.
Non-Tort Cases
Non-tort categories include Breach of Contract/Warranty (06), Collections (09), Insurance Coverage (18), Real Property (eminent domain, wrongful eviction, or other), Unlawful Detainer (residential, commercial, or drugs), Judicial Review (writs and agency appeals), Employment (wrongful termination or other), and a long Provisionally Complex group. Each box maps to a specific track and a specific filing fee under the Uniform Civil Fees Schedule. The consequence of marking Collections (09) when you really have a breach of contract over $25,000 is that you lose the streamlined rules for collections cases under Rule 3.740.
Provisionally Complex Civil Litigation
The provisionally complex categories include Antitrust/Trade Regulation (03), Construction Defect (10), Mass Tort (40), Securities Litigation (28), Environmental/Toxic Tort (30), and Insurance Coverage Claims arising from Provisionally Complex (41). Marking one of these boxes does not automatically make your case complex, but it flags the case for early review by the presiding judge under Rule 3.400(c). The misconception here is that provisionally complex means complex; it actually means presumed complex unless the court decides otherwise.
Item 2: The Complex Case Designation
Item 2 asks whether the case requires exceptional judicial management. You check the yes box only if your case meets the factors in Rule 3.400(b). Those factors are numerous parties, large numbers of pretrial motions, voluminous documentary evidence, many witnesses, coordination with related actions in other counties, and substantial post-judgment supervision.
Sub-Items a Through f
You then check every applicable sub-factor box. Each factor maps to a real management cost. The consequence of designating a case as complex is that you pay an extra complex case fee under Government Code § 70616, which is currently $1,000 per party with a $10,000 cap per side. The benefit is access to a dedicated complex-litigation judge who can issue case-management orders that streamline discovery and trial.
A real example comes from the J.C.C.P. coordination orders used in mass torts like the talcum-powder cases, where one judge manages thousands of related filings. A common mistake is checking complex on a single-plaintiff employment case to “get a better judge,” which the court will strike under Rule 3.403 and which can draw sanctions.
When NOT to Mark Complex
Do not check complex if your case is a routine two-party contract, a single-vehicle accident, or a standard unlawful detainer. The court can declassify the case on its own motion, and you will still have paid the $1,000 fee with no refund under Government Code § 70616(d). Named example: Carlos Mendez sues his former landlord for $14,000 in security-deposit damages and wisely leaves Item 2 blank because no Rule 3.400 factor applies.
Item 3: Remedies Sought
Item 3 has three checkboxes for the relief you want. You check every one that applies, and you may check more than one. The choices are monetary, nonmonetary, declaratory or injunctive relief, and punitive.
Monetary Damages
Check this box when you ask for money. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 425.10, an unlimited civil complaint may not state the amount in personal-injury or wrongful-death cases, but you still check the monetary box because money is the relief sought. Failing to check it can cause the clerk to misclassify the case as nonmonetary and route it to the wrong fee tier.
Nonmonetary Relief
Check this box for declaratory judgments, injunctions, specific performance, or quiet-title relief. The plain-English meaning is “I want a court order, not just a check.” Real-property quiet-title cases under Code of Civil Procedure § 760.020 almost always need this box.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages require proof of malice, oppression, or fraud under Civil Code § 3294. The consequence of checking this box without pleading facts to support malice, oppression, or fraud is a successful motion to strike under Code of Civil Procedure § 435. A common misconception is that punitive damages apply to breach-of-contract cases; under Civil Code § 3294(a), they do not, except in narrow insurance bad-faith situations.
Item 4: Number of Causes of Action
Item 4 is one short blank where you write the number of causes of action stated in the complaint. The number must match exactly the count of separately stated causes in the complaint. If your complaint has First Cause of Action – Negligence, Second Cause of Action – Negligence Per Se, and Third Cause of Action – Loss of Consortium, you write 3.
The consequence of writing the wrong number is minor but annoying. Some clerks reject the filing as inconsistent with the pleading, especially when the count is off by more than one. Named example: Priya Shah files a four-count employment complaint and writes “4” in Item 4 to match the headings in her complaint.
A common mistake is counting prayer paragraphs or factual allegations as causes of action. Causes of action are the numbered legal theories under headings like First Cause of Action, not the bullet items in the prayer for relief.
Item 5: Class Action
Item 5 asks if the case is a class action. You check yes if you plead a class under Code of Civil Procedure § 382 or under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. The consequence of checking yes is that the case is presumed complex under Rule 3.400(c)(6), which adds the complex-case fee.
A common misconception is that any case with multiple plaintiffs is a class action. Joinder under Code of Civil Procedure § 378 is not a class action.
Item 6: Related Cases (Form CM-020)
Item 6 asks if you know of any related cases. If you do, you must also file a Notice of Related Case (Form CM-020). Related means the cases share parties, property, transactions, or events under Rule 3.300.
The consequence of hiding a related case is that the court can later relate the cases sua sponte and may sanction the party that failed to disclose. Named example: Aaron Goldstein files a fraud action against the same defendant he sued last year for breach, so he files CM-020 along with his CM-010 and saves himself a contempt motion.
The Signature Block
The bottom of the form has a signature line and a typed-name line. Your signature certifies, under Rule 3.220(c), that the information is true and that you understand the consequences of misclassification. Unsigned cover sheets are routinely rejected at the clerk’s window.
The “Notice” paragraph at the bottom warns that if you fail to file the cover sheet with the first paper, you may be subject to sanctions under Rules 2.30 and 3.220. Sanctions are usually in the $150 to $1,500 range, plus attorney’s fees, and they come out of the offending lawyer’s pocket, not the client’s.
Three Common Filing Scenarios
The fastest way to learn CM-010 is to see it in action. Here are the three most common patterns and exactly what each filer should mark.
Scenario 1: Auto Accident in Los Angeles
| Filing Step | Correct CM-010 Entry |
|---|---|
| Caption County | Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles |
| Item 1 Case Type | Auto (22) |
| Item 2 Complex | Leave blank |
| Item 3 Remedies | Monetary |
| Item 4 Causes | 1 (Negligence) |
| Item 5 Class | No |
| Item 6 Related | No, unless prior crash claim |
Scenario 2: Breach of Commercial Lease, $300,000 at Stake
| Filing Step | Correct CM-010 Entry |
|---|---|
| Caption County | Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara |
| Item 1 Case Type | Breach of Contract/Warranty (06) |
| Item 2 Complex | Maybe – check Rule 3.400 factors |
| Item 3 Remedies | Monetary and Nonmonetary (declaratory) |
| Item 4 Causes | 3 (Breach, Declaratory Relief, Account Stated) |
| Item 5 Class | No |
| Item 6 Related | Yes if prior eviction filed |
Scenario 3: Wrongful Termination Class Action
| Filing Step | Correct CM-010 Entry |
|---|---|
| Caption County | Superior Court of California, County of Alameda |
| Item 1 Case Type | Wrongful Termination (36) |
| Item 2 Complex | Yes (large number of class members) |
| Item 3 Remedies | Monetary, Nonmonetary, and Punitive |
| Item 4 Causes | 5 |
| Item 5 Class | Yes |
| Item 6 Related | Yes if PAGA case pending |
Filing Fees Tied to Your CM-010 Choices
Filing fees follow directly from the boxes you check. The main civil first-paper fee is $435 for an unlimited case under Government Code § 70611. The limited-jurisdiction fee under Government Code § 70613 is $370 when the amount in controversy is over $10,000 but not more than $25,000, and $225 when it is $10,000 or less.
Complex cases add the $1,000 fee per party under Government Code § 70616, capped at $10,000 per side. Unlawful-detainer fees are reduced when the demand is $1,000 or less under Government Code § 70614. Filers who cannot afford the fee can apply for a waiver using Form FW-001.
The consequence of underpaying is rejection at the clerk’s window, which means your statute of limitations clock keeps ticking. Named example: Linda Tran files what she thinks is a $20,000 limited case but writes “Breach of Contract” in Item 1 and demands $40,000 in damages; the clerk demands the unlimited fee, and Linda must pay the $65 difference before the case opens.
Mistakes to Avoid
These are the seven most common CM-010 errors and the exact consequence of each one.
- Checking two case-type boxes: The clerk will reject the form because Rule 3.220 requires one selection.
- Marking Auto when the crash was an intentional assault with a vehicle: The case is really an Other PI (23) tort, and miscoding can defeat insurance coverage arguments.
- Forgetting to check punitive damages when the complaint pleads malice: The clerk may flag the inconsistency, and the case may route to the wrong department.
- Calling a single-plaintiff case a class action: The court will declassify and may impose sanctions under Rule 3.403.
- Missing the related-case disclosure: A later-discovered related case can lead to consolidation orders and a contempt finding.
- Filing an outdated form revision: The clerk rejects forms older than the September 1, 2021 revision.
- Leaving the signature blank: An unsigned cover sheet is treated as no cover sheet, and the case will not open.
- Designating complex without Rule 3.400 factors: You pay $1,000 per party with no refund.
- Counting prayer items as causes of action: Item 4 will not match the complaint, drawing a meet-and-confer letter from the defense.
Do’s and Don’ts for CM-010
- Do download the form fresh from the Judicial Council forms site every time, because revisions happen.
- Do match the case caption to the complaint word-for-word, because mismatches trigger clerk rejection.
- Do use the court’s case-type code chart when you are unsure, because each county may have an addendum.
- Do sign in blue or black ink for paper filings, because some counties reject light-color signatures.
- Do keep a copy with the conformed stamp, because you will need it for proof of service.
- Don’t check more than one Item 1 box, because the rule allows only one.
- Don’t guess on the complex designation, because the $1,000 fee is non-refundable.
- Don’t leave Item 4 blank, because the clerk uses the count for statistics.
- Don’t file CM-010 alone; it must accompany a complaint or first paper, because Rule 3.220 ties them together.
- Don’t rely on a third-party PDF, because outdated revisions are routinely rejected.
Pros and Cons of California’s Cover-Sheet System
- Pro – Fast routing: The form lets the clerk assign the case in minutes, which speeds your first hearing.
- Pro – Statistical accuracy: Accurate case codes give the Judicial Council better data for resource allocation.
- Pro – Early complex track: Marking complex when appropriate gets you a dedicated judge under Rule 3.400.
- Pro – Reduced fees for collections cases: Coding a Rule 3.740 collection case correctly cuts pretrial steps.
- Pro – Notice to opponents: The cover sheet tells opposing counsel the theory and remedies on day one.
- Con – Easy to misclassify: The 50-plus case-type codes confuse pro se filers.
- Con – Costly complex fee: The $1,000 per-party complex fee is non-refundable.
- Con – Inconsistent local addenda: Counties like Los Angeles require a local cover-sheet addendum, which doubles the paperwork.
- Con – Sanctions risk: Errors can lead to monetary sanctions under Rule 2.30.
- Con – No grace period: A missing cover sheet can mean a missed statute of limitations because the case never opens.
Key Entities You Should Know
The Judicial Council of California is the policymaking body that drafts and updates CM-010. The Administrative Office of the Courts supports the Council and publishes the case-type code list. The California Superior Courts are the trial-level courts that receive your filing and route it based on the cover sheet. The State Bar of California regulates the attorneys whose bar numbers appear on the form.
The presiding judge of each superior court has the authority under Rule 3.400(c) to declare a case complex or non-complex regardless of how Item 2 is checked. County clerks operate the filing windows and apply the local addenda. Plaintiffs are the filers who must complete CM-010, and defendants may file their own CM-010 under Rule 3.220(b) when their first paper is a cross-complaint.
Companion Forms You May Need
Form CM-010 rarely travels alone. The Summons (SUM-100) is filed with the complaint and CM-010 to start the case. The Notice of Related Case (CM-020) is required whenever you check yes in Item 6. The Case Management Statement (CM-110) is filed at least 15 days before the first case-management conference under Rule 3.725.
The consequence of skipping CM-110 is that the court may issue an order to show cause for sanctions, and the offending party may be ordered to pay the other side’s preparation costs. Named example: Hannah Becker, a paralegal at a small firm, calendars CM-110 the moment she files CM-010, so the firm never misses the 15-day deadline.
Recap of Key Rulings
In Hung v. Wang (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 908, the court of appeal stressed that a defective cover sheet does not by itself void a complaint, but it can invite sanctions and delay. In Ford v. Superior Court (1973) 34 Cal.App.3d 338, the court explained that classification decisions are committed to the trial court’s discretion under what is now Rule 3.403. The Judicial Council’s Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement of Location (LACIV 109) survived challenge as a permissible local rule under Government Code § 68070.
These rulings teach one big lesson: courts care about the cover sheet, but they also care about substance. A filer who acts in good faith to fix a coding error rarely faces serious sanctions. The consequence falls hardest on filers who repeatedly miscode or who hide related cases.
Step-by-Step Filing Walkthrough
Begin by drafting your complaint so the cover sheet matches it. Open the latest CM-010 PDF in your reader. Type the attorney or self-represented party block, the county, the case name, and the case number if any. Move to Item 1 and check exactly one case type. Move to Item 2 and decide on complex.
Continue to Item 3 and mark every remedy you seek. Type the number of causes of action in Item 4. Answer Items 5 and 6. Sign and date the form. Save the file under a clear name like Smith-v-Jones-CM010.pdf. File the form with your complaint, your summons, and any local addendum through the county’s e-filing portal or at the clerk’s window.
Pay the correct fee under the statewide fee schedule or submit a fee waiver. Keep the conformed copy. Calendar the case-management conference deadline. Serve the summons, complaint, CM-010, and any related notices on the defendants under Code of Civil Procedure § 415.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Form CM-010 required in every California civil case?
No. Small claims, family law, probate, and juvenile cases use their own intake forms; CM-010 is required for limited, unlimited, and complex civil cases under Rule 3.220.
Can I file CM-010 by itself?
No. The cover sheet must accompany a first paper such as a complaint, petition, or cross-complaint, because Rule 3.220 ties the cover sheet to the underlying pleading.
Do defendants ever file a CM-010?
Yes. A defendant who files a cross-complaint as the first paper from that party must file a cover sheet under Rule 3.220(b).
Will checking complex speed up my case?
No. It only routes the case to a complex-litigation judge; the case still follows ordinary deadlines unless the court issues a special case-management order.
Is there a fee just for filing CM-010?
No. The cover sheet has no separate fee, but the underlying first paper triggers the civil filing fee, which is $435 for most unlimited cases.
Can I e-file CM-010?
Yes. Most counties accept the form through their e-filing portals under Code of Civil Procedure § 1010.6; a few mandate e-filing for represented parties.
What happens if I check the wrong case type?
Yes, there are consequences; the court can reclassify under Rule 3.403, and you may pay additional fees or face sanctions if the error is willful.
Do I need a separate addendum in Los Angeles County?
Yes. Los Angeles requires the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum (LACIV 109) to identify the proper courthouse under Local Rule 2.3.
Is the complex case fee refundable if the court rejects the designation?
No. Government Code § 70616(d) makes the complex fee non-refundable once paid, even if the court later declassifies the case.
Can I amend CM-010 after filing?
Yes. You can file an amended cover sheet at any time, and you should do so promptly when the complaint is amended to add or remove causes of action.
Does CM-010 affect the statute of limitations?
No. The cover sheet does not change limitations periods, but a clerk’s rejection for a defective cover sheet can effectively cause a missed deadline if you do not refile in time.
Is CM-010 used in federal court?
No. Federal court uses the JS-44 Civil Cover Sheet, not CM-010, which is a California state form only.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Form CM-010 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form CM-110 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form POS-020 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form ADR-100 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form DISC-020 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Civil Case Cover Sheet + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form CIV-010 (w/Examples) + FAQs