The rules in this title may be referred to as the Civil Rules.
Rule 3.1.Title
Division 1. General Provisions · Chapter 1. Preliminary Rules · Adopted 2007 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.1 gives Title 3 of the California Rules of Court its short name — the Civil Rules — the label used throughout the rules that follow to refer to this entire title.
Full Text of Rule 3.1
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.1 is the doorway to Title 3. It does one job: it tells you what to call everything that follows. Every rule numbered 3-something, from this section through the rules on filing fees and beyond, belongs to a body of rules that courts, attorneys, and litigants can refer to collectively as the Civil Rules.
That label earns its keep because the California Rules of Court span dozens of titles covering everything from appellate procedure to court administration to family law. Naming Title 3 the Civil Rules gives everyone a shorthand for citing the rules that govern ordinary civil litigation in the superior courts, distinct from the titles that govern family, probate, juvenile, or appellate matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "the Civil Rules" mean in California court practice?
It refers to Title 3 of the California Rules of Court, the set of rules the Judicial Council adopted to govern civil litigation in the superior courts. Rule 3.1 assigns that name.
Does Rule 3.1 create any substantive requirement?
No. Rule 3.1 only names Title 3; the substantive requirements on scope, attorneys, fee waivers, and filing appear in the rules that follow it.
Amendment History
Rule 3.1 adopted effective January 1, 2007.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: what are the Civil Rules CaliforniaCalifornia Rules of Court Title 3 nameCRC rule 3.1 short title