(a) General requirements A motion filed in the trial court under this rule must specify the matters required by rule 3.521(a) and must be made in the manner provided by law for motions in civil actions generally. (Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 1983, and January 1, 2005.)
Rule 3.520.Motions filed in the trial court
Division 4. Parties and Actions · Chapter 7. Coordination of Complex Actions · Article 3. Petitions and Proceedings for Coordination of Complex Actions · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.520 requires a trial-court motion relating to coordination to meet ordinary civil-motion practice and cover the matters rule 3.521(a) requires, and lets a party without direct petition rights under Code of Civil Procedure section 404 ask the presiding judge for permission to submit a coordination petition, including a short stay of related actions while that petition is prepared.
Full Text of Rule 3.520
(b) Permission to submit a petition for coordination
(1) Request for permission to submit coordination petition If a direct petition is not authorized by Code of Civil Procedure section 404, a party may request permission from the presiding judge of the court in which one of the included actions is pending to submit a petition for coordination to the Chair of the Judicial Council. The request must be made by noticed motion accompanied by a proposed order. The proposed order must state that the moving party has permission to submit a petition for coordination to the Chair of the Judicial Council under rules 3.521–3.523.
(2) Order to be prepared If permission to submit a petition is granted, the moving party must serve and file the signed order and submit it to the Chair of the Judicial Council.
(3) Stay permitted pending preparation of petition To provide sufficient time for a party to submit a petition, the presiding judge may stay all related actions pending in that court for a reasonable time not to exceed 30 calendar days. (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 1983, January 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006.)
Plain-English Summary
Subdivision (a) sets the baseline for motions filed in the trial court under this article: they must specify the matters rule 3.521(a) requires and be made in the manner ordinary civil motions use, tying trial-court practice back to the content requirements that govern the coordination petition itself.
Subdivision (b) addresses parties who cannot go straight to the Judicial Council. Code of Civil Procedure section 404 limits who has a direct right to submit a coordination petition, and a party outside that group must first ask the presiding judge of a court where one of the included actions is pending for permission, by noticed motion accompanied by a proposed order stating that the moving party has permission to submit a petition for coordination under rules 3.521 through 3.523. If the presiding judge grants that permission, the moving party must serve and file the signed order and submit it to the Chair of the Judicial Council. To give the party time to prepare the petition, the presiding judge may also stay related actions pending in that court for a reasonable period of up to thirty calendar days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a trial-court motion under this article contain?
The matters rule 3.521(a) requires, made in the manner ordinary civil motions use.
Who needs permission before submitting a coordination petition?
A party that does not have a direct right to submit a petition under Code of Civil Procedure section 404 must first obtain the presiding judge's permission.
How is that permission requested?
By noticed motion accompanied by a proposed order stating that the moving party has permission to submit a petition for coordination under rules 3.521 through 3.523.
Can the presiding judge pause related actions while the petition is being prepared?
Yes, for a reasonable time not to exceed thirty calendar days.
Amendment History
Rule 3.520 amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 1520 effective January 1, 1974; previously amended effective January 1, 1983, January 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006.
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: permission to file coordination petition californiacal rule of court 3.520 trial court motionpresiding judge stay pending coordination petitiondirect petition rights ccp 404 coordination