Rule 5.522.Remote filing

Division 3. Juvenile Rules · Chapter 2. Commencement of Juvenile Court Proceedings · Last amended 2021 · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.522 allows fax and electronic filing in juvenile court where local rules provide for it, and imposes confidentiality safeguards on the receiving clerk.

Full Text of Rule 5.522

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Applicability and definitions

(1) This rule applies to juvenile court proceedings in courts that permit fax or electronic filing by local rule.

(2) As used in this rule, “fax,” “fax transmission,” “fax machine,” and “fax filing” are defined in rule 2.301. A fax machine also includes any electronic device capable of receiving a fax transmission, as defined in rule 2.301.

(3) As used in this rule, “electronic filing” is defined in rule 2.250. Rule 2.250 also defines other terms used in this rule related to electronic filing, such as “document,” “electronic filer,” and “electronic filing service provider.”

(b) Electronic filing

A court may allow for the electronic filing of documents in juvenile proceedings in accordance with section 212.5.

(1) Juvenile court documents that may be filed by fax The following documents may be filed in juvenile court by the use of a fax machine: petitions filed under sections 300, 342, 387, 388, 601, 602, 777, and 778. Other documents may be filed by the use of a fax machine if permitted by local rule as specified in (a).

(2) Persons and agencies that may file by fax Only the following persons and agencies may file documents by the use of a fax machine, as stated in (c)(1):

(A) Any named party to the proceeding;

(B) Any attorney of record in the proceeding;

(D) The probation department;

(E) The office of the district attorney;

(F) The office of the county counsel; and

(G) A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer appointed in the case.; and

(H) An Indian tribe.

(3) Procedures for fax filing A person described in (c)(2) may file by fax directly to any juvenile court that has provided for fax filing by local rule. The local rule or other written instruction must provide the fax telephone number or numbers for filings and the business hours during which fax filings will be accepted.

(4) Mandatory cover sheet A fax filing must be accompanied by Fax Filing Cover Sheet (form JV-520). The cover sheet must be the first page of the transferred document. The court is not required to retain or file a copy of the cover sheet.

(5) Signatures Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a signature produced by fax transmission is an original signature.

(6) Confidentiality requirements To secure the confidentiality of the documents subject to filing by fax, the following procedures are required:

(A) The clerk’s office designated to receive such documents must have either a separate fax machine dedicated solely to the receipt of the documents described in (c)(1) or a fax machine that is set up with a protocol to preserve the confidentiality of the documents described in (c)(1); and

(B) Any document received for fax filing must be filed or submitted to the court immediately on receipt and must not be placed or stored where anyone not entitled to access may examine it.

End

Plain-English Summary

The rule applies in courts that permit fax or electronic filing by local rule. Electronic filing is permitted in accordance with the juvenile electronic service statute; fax filing is spelled out in more detail because it involves paper arriving in a shared office.

Only certain documents may be faxed — the listed dependency and delinquency petitions, plus anything else local rules allow — and only certain people may file them: a named party, an attorney of record, the county child welfare department, probation, the district attorney, county counsel, an appointed CASA volunteer, and an Indian tribe.

A mandatory cover sheet must be the first page, and the court need not retain it. One provision removes a common doubt: notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a signature produced by fax transmission is an original signature.

The confidentiality requirements are the substantive part. The receiving clerk’s office must have either a fax machine dedicated solely to these documents or one set up with a protocol preserving their confidentiality — and any document received must be filed or submitted to the court immediately on receipt, never placed or stored where anyone not entitled to access could examine it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can juvenile petitions be filed by fax?

Yes, in courts that provide for fax filing by local rule — petitions under sections 300, 342, 387, 388, 601, 602, 777, and 778, plus anything else local rules permit.

Is a faxed signature valid?

Yes. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a signature produced by fax transmission is an original signature.

How is confidentiality protected?

The clerk’s office must have a fax machine dedicated solely to these documents or one with a protocol preserving confidentiality, and any document received must be filed or submitted to the court immediately and never stored where anyone not entitled to access could examine it.

Amendment History

Rule 5.522 amended effective January 1, 2021; adopted as rule 1406.5 effective January 1, 1999; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2019.

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2019; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2015.) (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2019; adopted effective January 1, 2015.) (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2021; previously subd (b)-(g); previously amended effective January 1, 2007; previously adopted and amended effective January 1, 2015.)

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California. Last verified September 10, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: fax filing juvenile court CaliforniaJV-520 fax filing cover sheetelectronic filing juvenile petition