Eviction/Unlawful Detainer
Unlawful Detainer Mediation Program
The Superior Court of Monterey County has partnered with the Monterey College of Law and Mandell-Gisnet Center for Conflict Management to offer mediation for Small Claims and Unlawful Detainer (eviction) cases before filing, after filing, or on the day of trial. The program is voluntary and at no cost to the litigants, but is only available if both parties are self-represented.
Requests for mediation prior to the trial date may be done by completing a Request for Mediation – Unlawful Detainer and faxing to the ADR Coordinator at the Monterey College of Law at 831-582-4095 or by email at courtadr@mandellgisnetcenter.org. For more information, call the Monterey College of Law at 831-582-5234.
Participant feedback is greatly appreciated, please, click here to access Feedback Form. If you wish to make a formal complaint about a court mediator, please click here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A: A stay may be requested electronically (online). A judge will review the request.
A stay request, may also be submitted to the Courthouse at 1200 Aguajito Rd., Monterey, CA 93940 or the drop box at any location. You may request the forms in person if you are not able to access them online. Drop box and US Mail are currently being processed next day, not same day. (Note: use of the Drop Box locations at Salinas and Marina locations may add one additional day to court processing and review.)
A Request for Stay is an extraordinary remedy and must be submitted AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after a residence is posted by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Please allow at least 48 hours for the processing of any request by the Court.
New orders and rules are occurring frequently. For information you may also contact the Self-Help Center at (831)-647-5800 X 3005 or by email at selfhelpcenter@monterey.courts.ca.gov.
A: You can file your papers electronically (online) or by depositing the documents at the drop box outside any courthouse. If you need to file an Answer (or response) to an Unlawful Detainer Complaint, you can use the Guide and File system found under the Self-Help tab and accessed by this link. You may also contact the Self-Help Center for information at (831)-647-5800 X 3005 or by email at selfhelpcenter@monterey.courts.ca.gov.
A: No. Nothing in the orders relieves a tenant from the obligation or liability to pay rent.