Santa Clara County e-Notice Update
What is the Santa Clara County e-Notice Update?
Santa Clara County has recently updated the manner in which they can send Court Issued Notices.
Effective July 1, 2025, all Family Law Court Issued Notices will be sent via email to attorneys, rather than via mail.
Self-Represented Litigants will continue to receive Court Issued Notices via mail unless they consent to receive them via email.
Prior to July 1, 2025, all Court Issued Notices were sent via mail.
What are Court Issued Notices?
These are Notices that the court self-generates and sends to parties and/or their attorneys. Some examples of Court Issued Notices include (but are not limited to):
Notice of Status Conference
Notice of Hearing
Notice of Case Reassignment
Notice of Change of Venue
These Notices are important to your case because they may include information regarding court dates and times, changes regarding the judge or department your case is assigned to, or even changes to the location (or jurisdiction) of your case.
How do Self-Represented Litigants opt-in to receive Court Issued Notices via email?
If you are a Self-Represented Litigant and wish to receive Court Issued Notices via email, you will need to complete and file a Consent to Electronic Service of Court Documents form (CW-9043) and provide a valid email address therein. You will also need to serve this form on the other party utilizing the Proof of Service attached to the form itself.
Are Self-Represented Litigants required to opt-in to receive Court Issued Notices via email?
NO - Self-Represented Litigants are not required to consent to receive Court Issued Notices via email, this is entirely optional.
On the other hand, attorneys are mandated to receive Court Issued Notices electronically.
Should Self-Represented Litigants consent to receive Court Issued Notices via email?
It depends - This is a personal preference and is not mandatory.
If you prefer to receive information via email, have noticed pieces of mail being lost, or rarely check your mail, then receiving these documents via email may be right for you.
If, contrastingly, you do not consider yourself tech-savvy, lose emails in an overwhelmed inbox regularly, or rarely check your email, then receiving these documents via mail may continue to be right for you.
If I am utilizing Mediation for my divorce, and do not have my own attorney, will my mediator receive my Court Issued Notices via email?
NO - Even if your mediator is a licensed attorney, they are not your personal attorney, and will therefore not receive Court Issued Notices via email on your behalf.
Lea M. Nemeth is a licensed attorney and, as such, can assist you in preparing and filing the Consent to Electronic Service of Court Documents form (CW-9043) should you wish to opt-in to these e-Notices.
Lea M. Nemeth, PC is dedicated to helping you achieve the best possible outcome for your particular circumstance. Mediation can, in part, create a lower stress environment to move through your case, and that may include streamlining receiving your Court Issued Notices via email.
Book a Consultation today to learn more about how Mediation can benefit you and your loved ones.
Related FAQs:
1. Where can I find more information about this?
You can see the court’s announcement regarding the e-Notice update here.
You can review the statute that allows this type of electronic notification here (CCP §1010.6(d)).
2. Is there any other way to know if the court has issued a Notice in my case?
Yes. Regardless of if you opt-in to receive Court Issued Notices via email, it is a good idea to periodically check your case status online to see if the court has issued any Notices that you should be on the lookout for (via mail or email).
You can view your case details online here by searching with your case number or name, and then selecting the “Events” tab. If you see that a Notice has been issued but you have not received it, you should contact the Clerk’s Office to resend.
3. How will I know the email is from the court and is not spam?
The subject line of the email will say “Court Notice” and include your case name and number. The email will contain a link to view the notice. It is possible the email may go to your spam folder until you designate the sender as “not spam”, so double-check your spam folder if you are expecting a Notice.
