Case Types and Numbering

The following information is provided to assist users in identifying the type of case that they are involved in. The case types are presented as they are used in the Superior Court of California – County of San Joaquin for purposes of case processing, scheduling, and trial assignment.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your case type, please call the court’s main telephone line, (209) 992-5555 for assistance.

  • Small Claims (seeking damages under $10,000)
  • Civil and other Non-Criminal – A civil case is an action brought to enforce, redress, or protect private rights. Civil actions include:
    • General Civil (seeking damages over $25,000)
    • Limited Civil (seeking damages under $25,000)
  • Family Law (includes dissolution or annulment of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, child custody, spousal support, and domestic violence restraining orders).
  • Probate (matters regarding estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust)
  • Criminal – A criminal case is an action brought by the government against a person who has broken penal law. Criminal cases are separated into three main categories, felony, misdemeanors, and infractions.
  • Case numbering scheme
    • STK-CR-FE-2019-0000055 or CR-2019-55 or CR-2019-0000055 are the same
      • STK – the location where the case was originally filed
        • STK – Stockton, CA
        • MAN – Manteca, CA
        • LOD – Lodi, CA
        • JJC – Juvenile Justice Center in French Camp, CA
      • CR – case type
        • CR – Criminal
        • PS – Parole
        • CS – Post Release
      • FE – case subtype
        • FE – Felony
      • 2019 – the year of filing
      • 0000055 – number sequence of the case filed in 2019.  Each new year, the sequence within each case type starts over at 1.
    • STK-CV-LCCR-2019-0000066 or CV-2019-66 or CV-2019-0000066 are the same
      • STK – the location where the case was originally filed
        • STK – Stockton Main Courthouse
        • STA – Stockton Annex
        • MAN – Manteca Courthouse
        • LOD – Lodi Courthouse
        • JJC – Juvenile Justice Center
      • CV – case type
        • CV – Civil
      • LCCR – case subtype
        • LCCR – Limited Civil Collections Rule 3.740
      • 2019 – the year of filing
      • 0000066 – number sequence of the case filed in 2019.  Each new year, the sequence within each case type starts over at 1.
    • STA-FL-DVW-2019-0000077 or FL-2019-77 or FL-2019-0000077 are the same
      • STA– the location where the case was originally filed
        • STK – Stockton, CA
        • STA – Stockton Annex
        • MAN – Manteca, CA
        • LOD – Lodi, CA
        • JJC – Juvenile Justice Center in French Camp, CA
      • FL – case type
        • FL – Family Law
      • DVW – case subtype
        • DVW – Domestic Violence with Children
      • 2019 – the year of filing
      • 0000077 – number sequence of the case filed in 2019.  Each new year, the sequence within each case type starts over at 1.
    • STK-PR-GP-2019-0000088 or PR-2019-88 or PR-2019-0000088 are the same
      • STK – the location where the case was originally filed
        • STK – Stockton Main Courthouse
        • STA – Stockton Annex
        • MAN – Manteca Courthouse
        • LOD – Lodi Courthouse
        • JJC – Juvenile Justice Center
      • PR – case type
        • PR – Probate
      • GP – case subtype
        • GP – Probate Guardianship Person Only
      • 2019 – the year of filing
      • 0000088 – number sequence of the case filed in 2019.  Each new year, the sequence within each case type starts over at 1.