(a) Announcement and service of tentative decision On the trial of a question of fact by the court, the court must announce its tentative decision by an oral statement, entered in the minutes, or by a written statement filed with the clerk. Unless the announcement is made in open court in the presence of all parties that appeared at the trial, the clerk must immediately serve on all parties that appeared at the trial a copy of the minute entry or written tentative decision. (Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2010; previously amended effective January 1, 1969, July 1, 1973, January 1, 1982, January 1, 1983, and January 1, 2007.)
Rule 3.1590.Announcement of tentative decision, statement of decision, and judgment
Division 15. Trial · Chapter 9. Statement of Decision · Last amended 2016 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.1590 lays out the full sequence a bench trial follows, from the judge’s tentative decision through a party’s request for a statement of decision, the drafting and objection process, and the court’s signed judgment, including a shortened track for trials that finish in a single day.
Full Text of Rule 3.1590
(b) Tentative decision not binding The tentative decision does not constitute a judgment and is not binding on the court. If the court subsequently modifies or changes its announced tentative decision, the clerk must serve a copy of the modification or change on all parties that appeared at the trial. (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2010; adopted as part of subd (a); previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(c) Provisions in tentative decision The court in its tentative decision may:
(1) State that it is the court’s proposed statement of decision, subject to a party’s objection under (g);
(2) Indicate that the court will prepare a statement of decision;
(3) Order a party to prepare a statement of decision; or
(4) Direct that the tentative decision will become the statement of decision unless, within 10 days after announcement or service of the tentative decision, a party specifies those principal controverted issues as to which the party is requesting a statement of decision or makes proposals not included in the tentative decision. (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2010; adopted as part of subd (a); previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2007.)
(d) Request for statement of decision Within 10 days after announcement or service of the tentative decision, whichever is later, any party that appeared at trial may request a statement of decision to address the principal controverted issues. The principal controverted issues must be specified in the request. (Subd (d) adopted effective January 1, 2010.)
(e) Other party’s response to request for statement of decision If a party requests a statement of decision under (d), any other party may make proposals as to the content of the statement of decision within 10 days after the date of request for a statement of decision. (Subd (e) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2010; adopted as subd (b); previously amended effective January 1, 1969, and January 1, 1982; previously amended and relettered as subd (d) effective January 1, 2007.)
(f) Preparation and service of proposed statement of decision and judgment If a party requests a statement of decision under (d), the court must, within 30 days of announcement or service of the tentative decision, prepare and serve a proposed statement of decision and a proposed judgment on all parties that appeared at the trial, unless the court has ordered a party to prepare the statement. A party that has been ordered to prepare the statement must within 30 days after the announcement or service of the tentative decision, serve and submit to the court a proposed statement of decision and a proposed judgment. If the proposed statement of decision and judgment are not served and submitted within that time, any other party that appeared at the trial may within 10 days thereafter:
(1) prepare, serve, and submit to the court a proposed statement of decision and judgment or (2) serve on all other parties and file a notice of motion for an order that a statement of decision be deemed waived. (Subd (f) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2010; adopted as subd (c); previously amended effective January 1, 1969, July 1, 1973, and January 1, 1982; previously amended and relettered as subd (e)effective January 1, 2007.)
(g) Objections to proposed statement of decision Any party may, within 15 days after the proposed statement of decision and judgment have been served, serve and file objections to the proposed statement of decision or judgment. (Subd (g) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2010; adopted as subd (d); previously amended effective January 1, 1969, and January 1, 1982; previously relettered as subd (f) effective January 1, 2007.)
(h) Preparation and filing of written judgment when statement of decision not prepared If no party requests or is ordered to prepare a statement of decision and a written judgment is required, the court must prepare and serve a proposed judgment on all parties that appeared at the trial within 20 days after the announcement or service of the tentative decision or the court may order a party to prepare, serve, and submit the proposed judgment to the court within 10 days after the date of the order. (Subd (h) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2010; previously amended effective January 1, 1969; previously amended and relettered as subd (e) effective January 1, 1982, and as subd (g) effective January 1, 2007.)
(i) Preparation and filing of written judgment when statement of decision deemed waived If the court orders that the statement of decision is deemed waived and a written judgment is required, the court must, within 10 days of the order deeming the statement of decision waived, either prepare and serve a proposed judgment on all parties that appeared at the trial or order a party to prepare, serve, and submit the proposed judgment to the court within 10 days. (Subd (i) adopted effective January 1, 2010.)
(j) Objection to proposed judgment Any party may, within 10 days after service of the proposed judgment, serve and file objections thereto. (Subd (j) adopted effective January 1, 2010.)
(k) Hearing The court may order a hearing on proposals or objections to a proposed statement of decision or the proposed judgment. (Subd (k) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2010; adopted as subd (f) effective January 1, 1982; previously relettered as subd (i) effective January, 2007.)
(l) Signature and filing of judgment If a written judgment is required, the court must sign and file the judgment within 50 days after the announcement or service of the tentative decision, whichever is later, or, if a hearing was held under (k), within 10 days after the hearing. An electronic signature by the court is as effective as an original signature. The judgment constitutes the decision on which judgment is to be entered under Code of Civil Procedure section 664. (Subd (l) amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted as part of subd (e); previously amended and relettered as subd (h) effective January 1, 2007, and as subd (l) effective January 1, 2010.)
(m) Extension of time; relief from noncompliance The court may, by written order, extend any of the times prescribed by this rule and at any time before the entry of judgment may, for good cause shown and on such terms as may be just, excuse a noncompliance with the time limits prescribed for doing any act required by this rule. (Subd (m) relettered effective January 1, 2010; previously amended effective January 1, 1969, and July 1, 1973; previously amended and relettered as subd (g) effective January 1, 1982, and as subd (j) effective January 1, 2007.)
(n) Trial within one day When a trial is completed within one day or in less than eight hours over more than one day, a request for statement of decision must be made before the matter is submitted for decision and the statement of decision may be made orally on the record in the presence of the parties. (Subd (n) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2010; adopted as subd (h) effective January 1, 1983; previously amended and relettered as subd (k) effective January 1, 2007.)
Plain-English Summary
After a judge decides a case tried without a jury, the ruling does not become final overnight. Rule 3.1590 choreographs the steps between the judge’s first announced decision and a signed, enforceable judgment, giving every party a chance to flag the issues that matter most before the court commits to a final written explanation.
It starts with a tentative decision, announced in court or served in writing, that does not bind the court and can still change. From there, any party who appeared at trial can ask, within ten days, for a statement of decision addressing the specific controverted issues that concern them, and the other side gets a chance to respond with its own proposals. The court, or a party the court designates, then drafts a proposed statement of decision and judgment, and every party gets a further window to object before the document becomes final. If nobody asks for a statement of decision, the case moves straight to a proposed judgment instead.
The rule closes with a firm deadline: absent a hearing on objections, the court must sign and file the judgment within fifty days of the tentative decision, though it can extend its own deadlines for good cause. A separate, compressed version of the whole process applies to trials completed within a single day or in under eight hours spread over more than one day, where a party must request a statement of decision before the case is submitted, and the court may deliver it orally on the record instead of in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tentative decision in a California civil trial?
The court’s initial ruling after a bench trial, announced orally or served in writing under Rule 3.1590(a). It does not bind the court and is not itself a judgment.
How long do I have to request a statement of decision after a bench trial?
Ten days after the tentative decision is announced or served, whichever is later, under Rule 3.1590(d), and the request must specify the controverted issues at stake.
How soon must a California court sign the final judgment after a bench trial?
Generally within fifty days of the tentative decision, or within ten days of a hearing on objections if one is held, under Rule 3.1590(l).
Does a short trial follow the same statement-of-decision timeline?
No. Rule 3.1590(n) shortens the process for trials completed in one day or in under eight hours over multiple days: the request must come before the case is submitted, and the court may state its decision orally on the record.
Amendment History
Rule 3.1590 amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted as rule 232 effective January 1, 1949; previously amended and renumbered as rule 3.1590 effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 1969, July 1, 1973, January 1, 1982, January 1, 1983, January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2010.
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: how to request statement of decision Californiatentative decision versus statement of decisiondeadline to sign judgment after bench trial California