Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 6. Of References and Trials by Referees · Last amended 2002 · Last verified July 28, 2026
(a) When the parties do not consent, the court may, upon the written motion of any party, or of its own motion, appoint a referee in the following cases pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 640:
(1) When the trial of an issue of fact requires the examination of a long account on either side; in which case the referees may be directed to hear and decide the whole issue, or report upon any specific question of fact involved therein.
(2) When the taking of an account is necessary for the information of the court before judgment, or for carrying a judgment or order into effect.
(3) When a question of fact, other than upon the pleadings, arises upon motion or otherwise, in any stage of the action.
(4) When it is necessary for the information of the court in a special proceeding.
(5) When the court in any pending action determines that it is necessary for the court to appoint a referee to hear and determine any and all discovery motions and disputes relevant to discovery in the action and to report findings and make a recommendation thereon.
(b) In a discovery matter, a motion to disqualify an appointed referee pursuant to Section 170.6 shall be made to the court by a party either:
(A) Within 10 days after notice of the appointment, or if the party has not yet appeared in the action, a motion shall be made within 10 days after the appearance, if a discovery referee has been appointed for all discovery purposes.
(B) At least five days before the date set for hearing, if the referee assigned is known at least 10 days before the date set for hearing and the discovery referee has been assigned only for limited discovery purposes.
(c) When a referee is appointed pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), the order shall indicate whether the referee is being appointed for all discovery purposes in the action.
(d) All appointments of referees pursuant to this section shall be by written order and shall include the following:
(1) When the referee is appointed pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (a), a statement of the reason the referee is being appointed.
(2) When the referee is appointed pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), the exceptional circumstances requiring the reference, which must be specific to the circumstances of the particular case.
(3) The subject matter or matters included in the reference.
(4) The name, business address, and telephone number of the referee.
(5) The maximum hourly rate the referee may charge and, at the request of any party, the maximum number of hours for which the referee may charge. Upon the written application of any party or the referee, the court may, for good cause shown, modify the maximum number of hours subject to any findings as set forth in paragraph (6).
(6)
(A) Either a finding that no party has established an economic inability to pay a pro rata share of the referee's fee or a finding that one or more parties has established an economic inability to pay a pro rata share of the referee's fees and that another party has agreed voluntarily to pay that additional share of the referee's fee. A court shall not appoint a referee at a cost to the parties if neither of these findings is made.
(B) In determining whether a party has established an inability to pay the referee's fees under subparagraph (A), the court shall consider only the ability of the party, not the party's counsel, to pay these fees. If a party is proceeding in forma pauperis, the party shall be deemed by the court to have an economic inability to pay the referee's fees. However, a determination of economic inability to pay the fees shall not be limited to parties that proceed in forma pauperis. For those parties who are not proceeding in forma pauperis, the court, in determining whether a party has established an inability to pay the fees, shall consider, among other things, the estimated cost of the referral and the impact of the proposed fees on the party's ability to proceed with the litigation.
(e) In any matter in which a referee is appointed pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), a copy of the order appointing the referee shall be forwarded to the office of the presiding judge of the court. The Judicial Council shall, by rule, collect information on the use of these references and the reference fees charged to litigants, and shall report thereon to the Legislature by July 1, 2003. This subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2004.
When the parties don't agree to a reference, the court can still order one, but only in the situations subdivision (a) lists: an account too long to try conveniently, an accounting needed before judgment or to carry one out, a factual question arising outside the pleadings, information the court needs for a special proceeding, or — the category courts use most often — appointing a referee to hear and decide discovery motions and disputes and report recommendations.
Discovery references get their own procedural safeguards. A party can move to disqualify the assigned referee under § 170.6, generally within 10 days of the appointment notice or the party's appearance, or on a tighter timeline if the referee is known shortly before a scheduled hearing. Every appointment order, regardless of category, has to be in writing and state the reason for the reference (or, for discovery referees, the case-specific exceptional circumstances requiring it), the subject matter covered, the referee's name and contact information, and the referee's maximum hourly rate and, on request, a cap on hours.
Cost sits at the center of this section. The court can't appoint a referee at the parties' expense unless it finds either that no party has shown an inability to pay a pro rata share of the fees, or that a party who can't pay has another party willing to cover that share voluntarily. In judging inability to pay, the court looks only at the party's own resources, not counsel's — and a party proceeding in forma pauperis is deemed unable to pay as a matter of law.
Amended by Stats 2000 ch 644 (AB 2912), s 2.5, eff. 1/1/2001. Amended by Stats 2001 ch 362 (SB 475), s 1, eff. 1/1/2002.