Judicial Council of California · United States

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Form CM-010: Civil Case Cover Sheet

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JustFill fills the CM-010 PDF for you. It does not file your case, pay filing fees, or give legal advice — you still file the completed sheet with the Superior Court alongside your first paper.JustFill is not affiliated with Judicial Council of California. This is an independent third-party tool to help you complete CM-010. Always download the current blank form from the official source and verify your completed copy before signing or submitting. Official CM-010 from Judicial Council of California

Quick answer

Form CM-010 is the Civil Case Cover Sheet required by the Judicial Council of California. The plaintiff files it together with the first paper in a civil action — typically the complaint — so the court can classify the case and compile filing statistics. It records the case type, whether the case is limited or unlimited (the $35,000 threshold), the remedies sought, and whether the case is complex or a class action. With JustFill you upload the blank CM-010 PDF, the AI auto-detects every field, you fill it in your browser, and you download the completed form free.

Form
CM-010
Issued by
Judicial Council of California
Country
United States
Cost to fill
Free

What is CM-010?

Filing a civil case in California? Form CM-010 is the cover sheet that must accompany your first paper. JustFill turns the official Judicial Council PDF into a fillable form in your browser, so you can complete it without printing or handwriting. The sheet captures who is filing (attorney or self-represented party, with State Bar number where applicable), which Superior Court and county the case belongs to, the case name, and then six numbered items: the case type chosen from a coded list, whether the case is complex under rule 3.400, the remedies sought, the number of causes of action, whether it is a class action, and any known related cases. It is a mandatory form under California Rules of Court, rules 2.30, 3.220 and 3.400–3.403.

Who fills out CM-010?

  • Plaintiffs filing the first paper in a California civil action, including self-represented parties
  • Attorneys filing a complaint or petition on a client’s behalf in a Superior Court
  • Defendants filing a complex case designation as a counter or joinder with their first appearance (rule 3.402)
  • Parties filing a collections case under rule 3.740, who must also serve the sheet on all other parties

Field-by-field breakdown

What each section of CM-010 asks for. JustFill’s AI will detect these fields automatically when you upload the PDF — review the breakdown below so you know what to enter.

Filing party and attorney details

Name of the attorney or party without an attorney, State Bar number, firm name, street address, city, state, ZIP, telephone, fax, email, and who the attorney acts for.

Court and case identity

The Superior Court of California county, its street and mailing address, city and ZIP, branch name, and the case name. The case number, judge and department are completed by the court.

Limited or unlimited (item 1 header)

Unlimited when the amount demanded exceeds $35,000; limited when it is $35,000 or less. There is also a complex case designation with counter and joinder boxes.

Item 1 — case type

Exactly one box from the coded list: auto tort, asbestos, product liability, medical malpractice, employment, breach of contract, rule 3.740 collections, insurance coverage, eminent domain, unlawful detainer, judicial review and others, each with its own number.

Item 2 — complexity

Whether the case is complex under rule 3.400 and, if so, which factors apply: many separately represented parties, extensive motion practice, substantial documentary evidence, many witnesses, coordination with related actions elsewhere, or substantial postjudgment supervision.

Items 3–6 — relief and related matters

Remedies sought (monetary, nonmonetary or declaratory/injunctive relief, punitive), the number of causes of action, whether the case is a class action, and any known related cases — which are noticed separately on form CM-015.

Date and signature

The date, the typed or printed name, and the signature of the party or the attorney for the party.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • 1Not filing the cover sheet with the first paper. Rule 3.220 requires it, and the form states plainly that failure to file may result in sanctions.
  • 2Checking a general case type when a more specific one exists. The instructions say that if the case fits both, you must check the more specific one.
  • 3Filing only CM-010 and skipping a cover sheet required by local court rule — the form is filed in addition to it, not instead of it.
  • 4Getting the limited/unlimited box wrong. The dividing line is an amount demanded of more than $35,000 (unlimited) versus $35,000 or less (limited).
  • 5Forgetting to serve the sheet on every other party in a complex case under rule 3.400 or a collections case under rule 3.740 — in those two situations service is required, not optional.
  • 6Assuming the sheet has no consequences. It is used for statistics only UNLESS the case is a rule 3.740 collections case or is complex, where it carries substantive effect.

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Frequently asked questions

With the first paper you file in the action or proceeding — usually the complaint. Small claims cases and cases filed under the Probate Code, Family Code or Welfare and Institutions Code are excepted.
The form itself warns that failure to file may result in sanctions under California Rules of Court, rule 3.220.
Unlimited if the amount demanded exceeds $35,000; limited if it is $35,000 or less.
Only if the case is complex under rule 3.400 et seq. or is a collections case under rule 3.740. In every other case the sheet is used for statistical purposes.
Item 6 asks you to file and serve a notice of related case; you may use Judicial Council form CM-015 for that.

Official source: CM-010 on Judicial Council of California’s website

Form CM-010 is published by the Judicial Council of California. JustFill is not affiliated with the Judicial Council or any California court.

JustFill is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Judicial Council of California or any government agency. Always verify your completed form on the official version before signing or submitting.