(a) In superior courts, upon the trial of a question of fact by the court, written findings of fact and conclusions of law shall not be required. The court shall issue a statement of decision explaining the factual and legal basis for its decision as to each of the principal controverted issues at trial upon the request of any party appearing at the trial. The request must be made within 10 days after the court announces a tentative decision unless the trial is concluded within one calendar day or in less than eight hours over more than one day in which event the request must be made prior to the submission of the matter for decision. The request for a statement of decision shall specify those controverted issues as to which the party is requesting a statement of decision. After a party has requested the statement, any party may make proposals as to the content of the statement of decision.
§ 632.Written Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law; Statement of Decision
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 5. Trial by the Court · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 28, 2026
This section prints two full, separately-dated versions in the official compilation (a pending-amendment straddle); both are shown below.
In one sentenceSection 632 requires a court trying a case without a jury to issue a statement of decision on request explaining its ruling on the principal controverted issues, and exists in two versions -- one effective until January 1, 2027 and a more detailed one operative that same date -- that differ mainly in the request deadline and in adding a formal objection and finalization process.
Full Text of § 632
§ 632. Written Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law; Statement of Decision — Effective Until 1/1/2027
(b) The statement of decision shall be in writing, unless the parties appearing at trial agree otherwise; however, when the trial is concluded within one calendar day or in less than 8 hours over more than one day, the statement of decision may be made orally on the record in the presence of the parties.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
§ 632. Written Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law; Statement of Decision — Operative 1/1/2027
(a) In superior courts, upon the trial of a question of fact by the court, written findings of fact and conclusions of law shall not be required. The court shall issue a statement of decision explaining the factual and legal basis for its decision as to each of the principal controverted issues at trial upon the request of any party appearing at the trial. The request must be made in writing, or orally if there is an official record of the proceeding being transcribed, prior to the submission of the matter for decision. The request for a statement of decision shall specify those controverted issues as to which the party is requesting a statement of decision.
(b) The statement of decision shall be in writing, unless the parties appearing at trial agree otherwise. The written statement of decision shall be served on all parties who appeared at trial. However, when the trial is concluded within one calendar day or in less than eight hours over more than one day, the statement of decision may be made orally on the record in the presence of the parties. The statement of decision need not summarize all evidence admitted at trial.
(c) If a statement of decision is not timely requested under subdivision (a), the court may announce its ruling on all relief sought without a statement of decision. Alternatively, the court may, in its sole discretion, issue a statement of decision even though one has not been requested.
(d) If a party has requested a statement of decision, the court may order a party or parties to prepare a draft statement of decision within a specified time period. The court shall thereafter issue its statement of decision.
(1) Any party may, within 10 days after the statement of decision has been served by the court on the parties, serve and file objections to the statement of decision.
(2) If no objections are filed, the statement of decision becomes final upon the expiration of the time for filing objections.
(3) If objections are timely filed, the court may, but is not required to, set a hearing.
(4) If objections are ruled upon, with or without a hearing, the ruling shall be served on all parties who appeared at the trial. The statement of decision, including any amended statement of decision that the court may issue after sustaining any objection in whole or in part, shall become final upon issuance of the ruling, unless otherwise stated in the statement of decision.
(5) If any objections filed are not ruled upon, unless the court orders otherwise, the objections are deemed overruled and the statement of decision becomes final on the later of the following dates:
(A) Thirty days after the time for objections has expired.
(B) If there was a hearing on objections, 30 days after the hearing.
(1) The court may prepare and serve a proposed judgment or may order a party to prepare, lodge, and serve a proposed judgment, before or after the statement of decision is final.
(2) Any party may, within 10 days after service of the proposed judgment, serve and file objections thereto.
(1) The court may, by written order, extend any of the times prescribed by this section. Further, at any time before the entry of judgment, the court may, for good cause shown and on such terms as may be just, excuse noncompliance with the time limits prescribed for doing any act required by this rule.
(2) In any action under the Family Code, the court may also, by written order and upon a finding of good cause, shorten any of the times prescribed by this section.
(1) The Judicial Council shall adopt or amend all rules of court necessary to implement this section.
(2) The Judicial Council shall prepare forms that a party may use to request a statement of decision and that explain the requirements prescribed by this section on requesting a statement of decision.
(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.
Plain-English Summary
Written findings of fact aren't required in a superior court bench trial, but a statement of decision is, if a party asks for one. That statement has to explain the factual and legal basis for the court's ruling on each of the principal controverted issues at trial, and it has to be in writing unless the parties agree otherwise or the trial was short enough to allow an oral statement on the record.
This section carries two versions with different effective windows, reflecting a 2025 overhaul that takes full effect on January 1, 2027. The version in force until then requires the request within 10 days after the court announces a tentative decision, unless the trial wrapped up in one calendar day or less than eight hours over more than one day, in which case the request must come before the matter is submitted for decision.
The version operative January 1, 2027 simplifies that timing — the request must always be made, in writing or orally with an official record being made, before the matter is submitted for decision, regardless of how long the trial took. But it adds considerably more structure elsewhere: the court can order a party to draft a proposed statement, either side can object within 10 days after service, unopposed statements become final automatically, and the statement's finality — along with a separate proposed-judgment and objection process — follows a detailed timetable the current version doesn't spell out. The newer version also lets a court shorten these deadlines for good cause in Family Code proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a bench trial require written findings of fact?
No, but the court must issue a statement of decision explaining its ruling on the principal controverted issues if any party appearing at trial requests one.
When must a party request a statement of decision under the version in effect now?
Within 10 days after the court announces a tentative decision, unless the trial concluded within one calendar day or less than eight hours over more than one day, in which case the request must come before the matter is submitted for decision.
How does the request deadline change once the 2027 version takes effect?
The request must always be made, in writing or orally on an official record, before the matter is submitted for decision — the trial-length exception in the current version goes away.
What does the version operative January 1, 2027 add that the current version doesn't have?
A formal process for objecting to the statement of decision, deadlines for the statement and any objections to become final, a parallel proposed-judgment and objection procedure, and authority for a court to shorten these timelines for good cause in Family Code cases.
Can the statement of decision be given orally instead of in writing?
Yes, in either version, when the parties agree or when the trial concluded within one calendar day or less than eight hours over more than one day — the statement may then be made orally on the record.
Amendment History
Effective Until 1/1/2027
Amended by Stats 2025 ch 559 (AB 515),s 1, eff. 1/1/2026. Amended by Stats 2002 ch 784 (SB 1316),s 64, eff. 1/1/2003.
Operative 1/1/2027
Added by Stats 2025 ch 559 (AB 515),s 2, eff. 1/1/2026.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: statement of decision californiawritten findings bench trial california