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Civil Procedure

Nov. 2, 2026

Statements of decision get a makeover in 2027

Effective Jan. 1, 2027, AB 515 will simplify California's procedures for requesting statements of decision in bench trials, clarifying deadlines and requirements while leaving some uncertainties that the Judicial Council may address through revised rules and forms.

Claudia Ribet

Of Counsel
California Appellate Law Group LLP

appellate law (certified) and family law (certified)

811 Wilshire Blvd 17th Floor
Los Angeles , California 90017

Phone: (213) 878-0404

Antioch School of Law

California Appellate Law Group LLP is an appellate boutique with offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Claudia is one of only three attorneys in California certified by the State Bar as a specialist in both family law and appellate law. Find out more about Claudia and the California Appellate Law Group LLP at www.calapplaw.com. Appellate Zealots is a monthly column on recent appellate decisions and appellate issues written by the attorneys of the California Appellate Law Group LLP.

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Michael von Loewenfeldt

Partner
Complex Appellate Litigation Group LLP

Certified Appellate Specialist

UC Berkeley SOL; Berkeley CA

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Statements of decision get a makeover in 2027

Few procedural issues in California are as confusing for litigators as the statement of decision rules for cases tried to the bench (Code Civ. Proc., § 632; Cal. Rules of Court, rules 3.1590 and 3.1591). Obtaining a proper statement of decision is critical to appellate review, but many practitioners, and even some courts, are unclear about when a statement of decision is available or when and how to request it. Fortunately, at least one of those problems is about to change. Effective Jan. ...

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