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

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

What must be served with the summons in Merced County?

The summons, complaint, and cover sheet plus Notice of Case Management Conference, ADR Information Package (M-ADR1).

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

Where to file

Old Main Courthouse (Merced District)627 W. 21st Street, Merced, CA 95340Civil/Probate/Juvenile Dependency Clerk's Office (209-725-4111); all civil case management conferences (Courtroom 8, Thursdays 9:30 am), mandatory settlement conferences and jury trials are heard ONLY in the Merced District (Local Rule 1, Proceedings Heard Only in Merced District); unlimited civil law and motion Courtroom 8, limited civil Courtroom 9

Robert M. Falasco Justice Center (Los Banos / West County District)1159 G Street, Los Banos, CA 93635Accepts all small claims, limited and unlimited civil filings (plus probate, conservatorship, guardianship, civil restraining orders, name changes, family law); West County District covers zip codes 95322 Gustine/Santa Nella, 95374 Stevinson, 93620 Dos Palos, 93635 Los Banos, 93665 South Dos Palos; ex parte at 1:15 pm

What Merced 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 Merced County. The statewide set (Civil Case Cover Sheet CM-010, Summons SUM-100, and the complaint) is what the clerk expects.

Checked against the court's local rules and forms pages on 2026-10-09.

What to serve with the summons

Notice of Case Management Conference
ADR Information Package (M-ADR1)

Official copies: Notice of Inclusion in Delay Reduction Program / Notice of Case Manage · ADR Information Packet = ADR Information Guide plus Stipulation and O (M-ADR1)

What filers get caught by here

No local form is required to be filed with the complaint; the clerk issues the CMC/Delay Reduction notice at filing and the plaintiff must serve it (and the ADR packet) with the complaint.
E-filing MANDATORY in limited, unlimited and complex civil (and non-DCSS family and probate) except self-represented parties (Local Rule 2, Electronic Filing). Documents must be e-filed by 5 pm when same-day service is required.
Direct calendar: case assigned to one judge for all purposes; assigned judge is reflected on the first paper filed.
All unlimited civil cases automatically assigned to Early Mediation Program (EMP); $300 EMP fee collected by plaintiff and paid to Civil Clerk within 120 days unless an Opt-Out form is filed within 120 days; EMP fee NOT waived by fee waiver; first CMC set approx. 150 days from filing, CMC held no later than 150 days (Local Rule 3.5).
Ex parte papers due by 2:00 pm the court day before; ex parte heard 1:15 pm (Local Rule 3.1(H)).

What SimpleCase generates for a Merced 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 Merced County case

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

Try it with a Merced 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.