Superior Court of Kern County announced changes coming to process for unlawful detainer

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Superior Court of Kern County announced Monday changes coming to the process for a summons or default in an unlawful detainer action.

According to the court, due to the actions taken by the state and the CDC in response to COVID-19, in order to process a summons or default in an unlawful detainer action, the court must have case information that will allow the court to screen and process cases.

The court has issued a standing order which requires an Unlawful Detainer Supplemental Cover Sheet to be filed for any currently filed or new case in which a summons is requested or any currently filed case in which a default is requested.

Between March 23 and April 6, defaults were delayed in processing due to a reduction in court services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective April 6, the Judicial Council adopted Emergency Rule 1, which prohibited the court from issuing summons or processing defaults in unlawful detainer cases with limited exceptions.

Emergency Rule 1 expired on September 1. On August 31, 2020, the California Legislature adopted Assembly Bill 3088, the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020, which was adopted as urgency legislation with an effective date of September 2.

A copy of the supplemental cover sheet is available here.