How to Fill Out California Form MC-020 (w/Examples) + FAQs

California Form MC-020 is the Judicial Council’s universal “Additional Page” attachment used to add overflow text, facts, causes of action, exhibits, or declarations to almost any California court filing. You fill it out by typing your case caption at the top, naming which form and item it attaches to, writing your continuation text in the lined body, numbering the page at the bottom, and stapling it behind the parent form before filing with the clerk under California Rules of Court 2.100–2.119.

The problem MC-020 solves is simple but serious. Most California Judicial Council forms give you only a few short lines for facts, causes of action, or argument, and judges reject filings that cram extra text into the margins, tape on loose sheets, or use unapproved formatting. According to the Judicial Council’s 2023 court statistics report, California trial courts processed over 4.6 million case filings, and clerks across counties reject thousands of documents each year for formatting defects that MC-020 is designed to fix.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

📝 How to complete every field on Form MC-020 line-by-line, including caption, attachment label, page numbering, and footer
⚖️ Which “parent” forms MC-020 attaches to across civil, family, probate, small claims, and unlawful detainer cases
🧾 Three real-world scenarios with named litigants showing exactly what to type and where
🚫 The seven most common mistakes that trigger clerk rejection or sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure § 128.7
📤 How to e-file MC-020 under California Rules of Court 2.253–2.259 without triggering rejection by county portals

What Form MC-020 Is and Why It Exists

Form MC-020, titled “Additional Page,” is a one-page Judicial Council form approved for optional use under California Rule of Court 1.31. The “MC” prefix stands for “Miscellaneous,” meaning the form is not tied to one case type. Any litigant in any California superior court case may attach it to extend the writing space on a parent form. The form is published and updated by the Judicial Council of California, and the current revision is dated January 1, 2009, but it remains active and accepted statewide in 2026.

The form exists because California’s mandatory and optional Judicial Council forms are designed to fit standard fact patterns, and many cases need more space than the printed lines allow. Without MC-020, a litigant writing a long declaration, a complex statement of facts, or several causes of action would have to either squeeze text into tiny margins or draft a separate pleading on numbered legal paper, which often confuses self-represented parties. The consequence of skipping MC-020 and using random blank pages is clerk rejection at the filing window or e-filing portal, because non-conforming attachments violate California Rule of Court 2.100, which sets the format of papers presented for filing.

A common misconception is that MC-020 is only for civil complaints. It is not. The form is approved for use across the full range of case types. A real-world example helps: when Marisol Reyes files a domestic violence restraining order request on Form DV-100 and runs out of space describing the abuse, she attaches MC-020 to continue her narrative, references the attachment in item 21 of DV-100, and files both together. The plain-English consequence of using the right attachment is that her statement is read in full by the judge instead of being cut off mid-sentence.

How MC-020 Differs From MC-025

Many filers confuse Form MC-020 with Form MC-025, titled “Attachment.” Both are universal attachment pages, but they are not identical. MC-020 is a lined continuation page intended for free-form narrative text, much like ruled legal paper with line numbers down the left margin. MC-025 is an unlined attachment page used to add labeled attachments referenced by item number on the parent form, such as “Attachment 10a” listing additional defendants on a civil complaint.

The consequence of using the wrong one is rarely fatal, but it can cause confusion in the record. If Daniel Kim uses MC-025 when his county’s local rule prefers numbered-line declarations, his declaration paragraphs lose the line-citation anchor that judges and opposing counsel rely on. The safe rule is to use MC-020 whenever you are continuing narrative or sworn-statement text, and to use MC-025 when you are listing items, parties, or short labeled attachments.

When and Where MC-020 Is Used

MC-020 is used any time a litigant needs more writing space than the parent Judicial Council form provides. It is filed in every California superior court, in every department, and in every case type, from limited civil collections in San Bernardino County to complex family law in Los Angeles County to probate in San Francisco. The California Courts Self-Help Center lists MC-020 as an accepted attachment for self-represented litigants statewide.

The “where” matters because each of California’s 58 counties has its own local rules and e-filing vendor. For example, Los Angeles Superior Court uses File & ServeXpress and Odyssey eFileCA, while San Diego uses One Legal and File & Serve. Each portal accepts MC-020 as a PDF attachment, but each enforces its own bookmarking, page-size, and OCR rules. The consequence of ignoring local rules is portal rejection, which can blow a statute-of-limitations deadline if filed late.

A common misconception is that MC-020 changes the deadline calculation. It does not. The attachment is treated as part of the parent document for filing-deadline purposes under Code of Civil Procedure § 1010.6. A real-world example: when Aisha Thompson files a civil complaint on the last day before the two-year personal injury statute runs under CCP § 335.1, her MC-020 attachments must be in the same submission. If she files the complaint on day one and the attachments on day two, the attachments may be stricken as untimely.

Parent Forms That Commonly Use MC-020

MC-020 attaches to dozens of parent forms. The most common are listed below.

Civil: PLD-C-001 Complaint – Contract; PLD-PI-001 Complaint – Personal Injury; MC-030 Declaration
Family: FL-100 Petition – Marriage; FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration; DV-100 DV Restraining Order Request
Probate: DE-111 Petition for Probate; GC-210 Petition for Guardianship
Small Claims: SC-100 Plaintiff’s Claim
Unlawful Detainer: UD-100 Complaint – Unlawful Detainer

Each parent form has different item numbers, so the attachment label on MC-020 must reference the correct item. The consequence of mislabeling is judicial confusion. A real-world example: Carlos Mendoza attaches MC-020 to UD-100 to describe additional grounds for eviction. He labels it “Attachment 17,” but UD-100 has no item 17, only items up to 16. The judge cannot tell what the attachment supplements, and the unlawful detainer hearing is continued, costing Carlos two more weeks of unpaid rent.

Line-by-Line Walkthrough of Form MC-020

Form MC-020 has only a handful of fillable areas, but each one matters. Below is the full walkthrough.

The Caption Box at the Top

The top of MC-020 contains a standard California court caption. You must enter the short title of the case, exactly as it appears on the parent form, in the box labeled “SHORT TITLE.” The short title is usually the first plaintiff versus the first defendant, such as Reyes v. Acme Corp. The case number goes in the box labeled “CASE NUMBER,” and it must match the parent form character-for-character.

The consequence of a mismatched caption is that the clerk’s office may not associate your attachment with the correct case file. Under California Rule of Court 2.111, every paper filed must show the case number and short title at the top. A common misconception is that you can shorten “Acme Corporation, a Delaware corporation” to “Acme Corp.” on the attachment to save space. You cannot. The short title must match.

The Attachment Label Line

Just below the caption, MC-020 contains a line that reads “ATTACHMENT (Number):” followed by a fill-in space, then the words “(This Attachment may be used with any Judicial Council form.)” You must write the item number from the parent form that this attachment supplements. For example, if you are continuing item 10 of PLD-C-001 (the Contract cause of action), you write “10” in the blank.

If the parent form item is a sub-item, write it the same way the parent form labels it, such as “GC-1” for the General Negligence cause-of-action attachment. The consequence of leaving this blank is that the judge and clerk will not know which item the attachment expands. In Sandra Patel v. Westside Medical Group, the plaintiff left the attachment number blank, the defendant moved to strike, and the court granted the motion under CCP § 436.

The Lined Body for Continuation Text

The largest part of MC-020 is the lined body, which contains 28 numbered lines down the left margin. This is where you type or write your continuation text. The lines are numbered for easy citation in briefs and orders, consistent with California Rule of Court 2.108, which requires line numbering on pleadings and motions.

You should single-space your text or one-and-a-half space it, never double-space, because the printed line numbers are pre-set at single-spaced intervals. The font must be 12-point Times New Roman, Arial, or another essentially equivalent serif or sans-serif typeface under Rule of Court 2.104. A common misconception is that you can use Comic Sans or decorative fonts to stand out. You cannot. Non-conforming fonts are grounds for rejection.

The Page Number Footer

At the bottom of MC-020 is a footer that reads “Page ___ of ___” followed by the form number “MC-020 [Rev. January 1, 2009].” You must fill in both blanks. If MC-020 is the third page of a five-page complaint, write “3” and “5.” Page numbering must be continuous across the parent form and all attachments, per Rule of Court 2.109.

The consequence of skipping page numbering is that pages can be lost in the file, and the court has no way to reassemble them. Jerome Walker once filed a 40-page probate petition without page numbers; the clerk lost five pages, and Jerome had to refile the entire petition and pay a second filing fee.

Step-by-Step Filing Process

Filling out MC-020 is one part of a five-step process to get your filing accepted. Each step has its own consequences.

Step 1: Identify the Parent Form and Item Number

Before you touch MC-020, identify exactly which parent form and which item you are continuing. Read the parent form’s instructions at the Judicial Council forms page. For example, if you are continuing the “Statement of Facts” on MC-030, the item number is 2.

The consequence of misidentifying the item number is that the judge may not consider your continuation text. A common misconception is that “Attachment 2” and “Exhibit 2” are interchangeable. They are not. Attachments are part of the pleading; exhibits are separate evidentiary documents.

Step 2: Draft the Continuation Text

Draft your continuation text in plain English, in the present tense, in the active voice, and in numbered paragraphs if you are continuing a pleading. For declarations, write in the first person and end with a CCP § 2015.5 penalty-of-perjury statement on the final page.

The consequence of vague drafting is that the judge cannot tell what facts you are alleging. A real-world example: Priya Shah writes “Defendant was bad to me” on her MC-020 attached to FL-300. The judge denies her request because she did not allege specific facts.

Step 3: Number the Pages and Attachments

Number each MC-020 page in the footer, and number every attachment in the body. If you have three MC-020 pages continuing item 10, label them “Attachment 10, page 1 of 3,” “Attachment 10, page 2 of 3,” and so on. This complies with Rule of Court 2.110.

The consequence of poor numbering is that the clerk may not staple the pages in order. A common misconception is that the clerk will sort your pages for you. The clerk will not.

Step 4: Attach to the Parent Form

Place each MC-020 page immediately behind the parent form item it supplements. Staple the entire packet in the upper left corner if filing in paper, or combine into a single PDF if e-filing. Most counties require a single PDF under Rule of Court 2.256.

The consequence of separating the parent form and attachment is that the clerk will treat them as two filings, charging two fees. Lin Chen once filed a complaint and a stack of MC-020 pages as separate documents through One Legal, and was charged two filing fees totaling over \$900.

Step 5: File With the Clerk

File the packet at the courthouse filing window, by mail, or through your county’s e-filing portal. Pay the filing fee listed on the statewide fee schedule or apply for a fee waiver on Form FW-001. Keep a conformed copy.

The consequence of not keeping a conformed copy is that you have no proof of filing if the court loses the original. A common misconception is that an emailed filing receipt is the same as a conformed copy. It is not.

Three Real-World Scenarios

Below are three named scenarios showing how MC-020 works in different case types.

Scenario 1: Civil Contract Complaint

Filing Step	Result for Mateo Alvarez
Mateo files PLD-C-001 alleging breach of a \$75,000 software contract and runs out of room on the breach-of-contract cause of action	Mateo attaches MC-020 labeled “Attachment BC-2” to continue the breach-of-contract facts
Mateo writes 22 numbered paragraphs of facts on MC-020, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman	The clerk accepts the filing and assigns case number 24STCV12345 in Los Angeles Superior Court
Mateo forgets to number the MC-020 page in the footer	The clerk rejects the filing under Rule of Court 2.109, and Mateo refiles the next day

Scenario 2: Family Law Declaration

Filing Step	Result for Yolanda Brooks
Yolanda files MC-030 supporting a request for order on FL-300 to modify child custody	Yolanda runs out of space at item 2 (Facts) on MC-030
Yolanda attaches MC-020 labeled “Attachment 2” and writes 18 paragraphs about the other parent’s conduct	The judge reads the entire declaration at the hearing
Yolanda forgets the penalty-of-perjury statement on the last MC-020 page	The judge strikes the declaration under CCP § 2015.5 and continues the hearing

Scenario 3: Unlawful Detainer Complaint

Filing Step	Result for Rajesh Iyer
Rajesh files UD-100 to evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent in San Diego County	Rajesh attaches MC-020 to describe the rent ledger from January 2025 to April 2026
Rajesh labels the attachment “Attachment 7d” because item 7 of UD-100 covers nonpayment	The clerk accepts the filing through the San Diego e-filing portal
Rajesh attaches a screenshot rather than typed text	The judge questions admissibility under Evidence Code § 1521, the secondary evidence rule

Mistakes to Avoid

Below are the seven most common errors that derail MC-020 filings.

Leaving the attachment number blank. The clerk cannot link your text to the parent item, and the court may strike the attachment under CCP § 436.
Mismatched short title or case number. Under Rule of Court 2.111, the caption must match the parent form, or the clerk will reject the filing.
Wrong line spacing. The pre-printed line numbers on MC-020 are single-spaced, and double-spacing your text throws off citations.
Wrong font or size. Anything other than 12-point essentially equivalent type violates Rule of Court 2.104.
Skipping the page-of-pages footer. Lost pages cannot be reassembled, and the clerk may reject under Rule of Court 2.109.
Filing the parent form and attachment separately in e-filing. Most county portals charge a second filing fee and may misroute the documents.
Omitting the penalty-of-perjury statement on declarations. Under CCP § 2015.5, an unsigned or unsworn declaration has no evidentiary weight.
Using MC-020 to add new causes of action without leave to amend. The court will strike them under CCP § 472 once the time to amend has passed.
Including legal argument in a fact attachment. Judges may disregard or strike argumentative material in declarations per Evidence Code § 702.

Do’s and Don’ts

Below are five Do’s and five Don’ts for MC-020 filings.

Do’s

Do match the parent form’s case caption character-for-character to comply with Rule of Court 2.111, because mismatches cause clerk rejection.
Do use single-spaced 12-point text aligned to the pre-printed line numbers, because that is the only spacing that lets line citations work.
Do number every page in the footer continuously across the entire packet, because clerks rely on page numbers to keep filings together.
Do verify your county’s e-filing rules at the court locator page, because each county has unique bookmarking and OCR requirements.
Do sign and date every MC-020 declaration page under penalty of perjury, because CCP § 2015.5 requires it for evidentiary use.

Don’ts

Do not leave the attachment number line blank, because the court has no way to know which parent item your text supplements.
Do not use MC-020 as a substitute for an amended pleading, because new causes of action without leave to amend are stricken under CCP § 472.
Do not file MC-020 separately from the parent form when e-filing, because most counties will charge a second filing fee.
Do not include legal argument in a factual attachment, because judges disregard argument inside fact declarations.
Do not handwrite MC-020 in cursive that the clerk cannot scan, because OCR-illegible text fails Rule of Court 2.256 e-filing standards.

Pros and Cons of Using MC-020

Below are five pros and five cons.

Pros

Pro: MC-020 is universal and accepted in every California superior court, which avoids county-by-county form differences.
Pro: The pre-printed line numbers make citation easy in briefs and at hearings, which saves judges time.
Pro: MC-020 is free to download and reproduce from the Judicial Council forms page, which keeps litigation costs low.
Pro: The form qualifies as a “Judicial Council form” for purposes of Rule of Court 1.31, which means clerks may not refuse it for being non-standard.
Pro: MC-020 lets self-represented parties expand fact narratives without drafting custom pleading paper, which lowers the entry barrier to court.

Cons

Con: MC-020 has only 28 lines per page, which means long declarations require many separate sheets.
Con: The form is dated January 1, 2009, and uses an older font layout, which can clash with modern word-processor templates.
Con: Mislabeling the attachment number is easy and common, which leads to clerk rejection.
Con: MC-020 cannot add new causes of action after the deadline to amend, which limits its usefulness late in a case.
Con: E-filing portals sometimes flatten the line numbers during PDF conversion, which breaks line citations.

Process and Form Nuances by Case Type

The decisions you make on MC-020 depend on the case type. Below are the nuances.

Civil Cases

In civil cases, MC-020 most often attaches to PLD-C-001 (Contract), PLD-PI-001 (Personal Injury), or MC-030 (Declaration). Each cause-of-action attachment, such as PLD-C-001(1) for breach of contract, has its own item-number scheme. The consequence of mislabeling is a motion to strike under CCP § 435.

A common misconception is that MC-020 may add a new defendant. It cannot. New parties require a Doe amendment under CCP § 474 or a formal amended complaint. Brendan Walsh tried to add a fourth defendant on MC-020 in his civil complaint; the court struck the addition and required him to file an amended pleading instead.

Family Law Cases

In family law, MC-020 attaches to FL-100, FL-150, FL-300, and DV-100. The decisions matter because family law follows Elkins v. Superior Court, the 2007 California Supreme Court ruling that procedural rules must protect access to justice for self-represented family litigants.

The consequence of skipping a sworn statement on a family-law MC-020 is dismissal of the request. A common misconception is that family law judges read attachments more leniently. They do not. Under Family Code § 217, live testimony is the default, and written attachments must meet evidentiary standards.

Probate Cases

In probate, MC-020 attaches to DE-111 (Petition for Probate), DE-160 (Inventory and Appraisal), and GC-210 (Guardianship). Probate items are often dollar-figure asset descriptions, so attachments must be precise. Under Probate Code § 8800, inventories must be filed within four months of letters issuing.

The consequence of an inaccurate MC-020 inventory attachment is personal liability for the personal representative. A real-world example: Helena Costa underreported a brokerage account on MC-020 attached to DE-160, and the court surcharged her under Probate Code § 9601.

Small Claims Cases

In small claims, MC-020 attaches to SC-100 (Plaintiff’s Claim) when the facts of the dispute exceed the small box on the form. Small claims rules under CCP § 116.220 limit individual claims to \$12,500.

The consequence of a vague MC-020 attachment is that the judge dismisses the claim at trial for failure of proof. Eric Nguyen attached MC-020 to SC-100 with three sentences and no dates; the court entered judgment for the defendant.

Unlawful Detainer Cases

In unlawful detainer, MC-020 attaches to UD-100 to add facts about notice, rent ledgers, or property condition. UD-100 has tight summary-procedure timelines under CCP § 1167, so attachments must be ready at filing.

The consequence of a defective UD-100 attachment is dismissal and a fresh notice cycle, which costs the landlord 30 to 60 days of rent. A common misconception is that you can attach the lease itself on MC-020. You should not. Leases attach as exhibits to UD-100, not as MC-020 fact narratives.

Court Rulings That Shape MC-020 Practice

Several California appellate decisions shape how MC-020 is used. The most influential is Elkins v. Superior Court (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1337, which held that local rules cannot strip family law litigants of the right to present live testimony. The ruling means MC-020 declarations are a supplement, not a substitute, for live evidence.

Another key case is Lewis v. Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1232, which addressed the verification of pleadings and confirmed that attachments must be verified to the same standard as the parent. The consequence is that an unverified MC-020 attached to a verified complaint may be stricken.

A third case, Stewart v. Colonial Western Agency, Inc. (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1006, held that pleadings must give fair notice of the cause of action. MC-020 attachments that ramble or fail to plead ultimate facts can be stricken.

E-Filing Nuances Across California Counties

Each California county uses a different e-filing vendor, and each vendor enforces MC-020 rules slightly differently. Los Angeles uses Odyssey eFileCA, which requires PDF/A format and bookmarks for each attachment. San Diego uses One Legal and File & Serve. Orange County uses eFile California.

The consequence of ignoring vendor rules is rejection at the portal level, which never reaches the clerk. A real-world example: Tomás Herrera uploaded an MC-020 as a JPEG image to the LA portal, and the system rejected the filing within minutes. He had to convert to PDF/A and resubmit, losing a day.

A common misconception is that e-filing rules are uniform statewide. They are not. The Judicial Council e-filing rules set a floor, but counties may impose stricter rules.

Sanctions and Consequences for Defective MC-020 Filings

A defective MC-020 can trigger sanctions under CCP § 128.7, which authorizes monetary sanctions for filings made without factual or legal support. Sanctions can include attorney fees and dismissal.

A defective MC-020 attached to a discovery response can also lead to sanctions under CCP § 2023.030, the discovery sanction statute. The consequence is monetary sanctions, issue sanctions, or terminating sanctions in extreme cases.

A common misconception is that self-represented parties are exempt from sanctions. They are not. Under Rodriguez v. Cho (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 742, pro per litigants are held to the same procedural standards as attorneys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is California Form MC-020 mandatory?

No. MC-020 is an optional Judicial Council form approved under Rule of Court 1.31. You may use numbered legal paper instead, but MC-020 is the safest universal attachment.

Can I file MC-020 by itself without a parent form?

No. MC-020 is an attachment by design and has no independent legal effect. It must be filed with a parent Judicial Council form or pleading that it supplements, or the clerk will reject it.

Can I use MC-020 to add a new cause of action after the answer is filed?

No. Adding a new cause of action requires leave of court and an amended complaint under CCP § 473. Slipping it onto MC-020 will be stricken.

Do I need to sign every MC-020 page?

No. You only sign the final MC-020 page of a declaration under penalty of perjury, per CCP § 2015.5. Pleadings only require one signature on the parent form.

Can I handwrite MC-020?

Yes. Handwriting is allowed if legible, but typed MC-020 is strongly preferred because e-filing portals require OCR-readable PDFs under Rule of Court 2.256.

Does MC-020 count toward page limits in motions?

Yes. MC-020 pages count toward memorandum page limits under Rule of Court 3.1113, which caps most memoranda at 15 pages.

Can I attach exhibits to MC-020?

No. Exhibits attach to the parent pleading or to a separate exhibit list. MC-020 is for narrative continuation only, not evidentiary documents.

Is there a filing fee just for MC-020?

No. MC-020 is part of the parent filing and does not carry its own fee. The parent form’s filing fee under the statewide fee schedule covers it.

Can I e-file MC-020 in every California county?

Yes. All 58 California counties accept MC-020 through their e-filing portals as of 2026, though each county uses a different vendor under Rule of Court 2.253.

Does MC-020 work for federal court filings?

No. MC-020 is a California state Judicial Council form. Federal courts use their own pleading paper rules under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10.

Can I use MC-020 for a writ petition?

Yes. MC-020 attaches to writ petitions filed in superior court or the Court of Appeal, subject to formatting rules in Rule of Court 8.486.

Will the clerk fix my MC-020 if I make a mistake?

No. California court clerks are barred from giving legal advice or correcting filings under Government Code § 24004. You must fix and refile yourself.

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