Sarah P. Burdick
Family Law Judge
Department Information
Sarah P. Burdick, Family Law Judge
Department 21
Courtroom 8B
Southern Court, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 261-5121
Dept21@sanmateocourt.org
Effective July 8, 2024, Status Conferences and Mandatory Settlement Conferences will be heard before the Family Law Commissioner.
- Due to e-filing delays, please simultaneously e-file and send a courtesy copy to dept21@sanmateocourt.org
- Paper courtesy copies may be dropped off in the courtroom; please e-mail the department to verify the courtroom is staffed
- Parties shall contact the Family Law Commissioner Department to schedule an Informal Discovery Conference
- All court trials and short-cause hearings – hearings on a Request for Order lasting less than one day – are held in person absent timely-filed and noticed Request for Remote Appearance (RA-010) and Order Granting Remote Appearance (RA-020) signed by the trial judge
- Remote appearances must be approved by the court prior to the hearing date
- Parties are to file and exchange exhibit lists, witness lists, and trial briefs at least 7 days in advance of the hearing date
- Follow the guidelines in FL-23 – Long Cause Trial Checklist – Local Rules - Division V, Appendix 2
- Each party shall submit the FL-12 – Mandatory Short Cause Trial Statement in advance of their short-cause hearing
- The California Rules of Court related to Family Law Proceedings are found at: Local Rules | Superior Court of California | County of San Mateo
- Local Forms for the Superior Court, County of San Mateo are found at: Local Forms | Superior Court of California | County of San Mateo
- Parties shall have at least 4 complete identical sets of exhibits (Court Copy, Opposing Copy, Witness Copy, Personal Copy)
- Exhibits shall be organized and labeled in a tabbed binder
- Petitioner shall use numbers for each exhibit. For example: Petitioner’s 1, 2, 3
- Respondent shall use letters for each exhibit. For example: Respondent’s A, B, C
- Exhibits shall be date stamped
- Exhibits shall be dropped off 1 week before the hearing date
- The Court’s copy may be dropped off to the Department in the Courtroom. Please contact the Department via e-mail (dept21@sanmateocourt.org) in advance, to ensure the courtroom is open/staffed if you are planning on delivering exhibits to the courtroom
- Do Not Place Exhibits in the Family Law Clerk’s Drop Box
- USB Flash Drives – Any electronic evidence that the parties/counsel would like viewed by the Court during the trial will need to be on a flash drive
- USB Flash Drives are to be labeled, placed in an envelope with the case name and number, and dropped off to the Courtroom along with exhibits, as instructed above
- USB’s are to be included on the parties’ exhibit list
- The Request For Order (“RFO”) Calendar is held in person and via Zoom
- Remote Appearance approval is not required for the RFO Calendar
- Please see the Remote Appearance Information and Procedures
- The Domestic Violence Prevention Act/Temporary Restraining Order (“DVPA/TRO”) Calendar is held in person and via Zoom
- Remote Appearance approval is not required for the DVPA/TRO Calendar
- Please see the Remote Appearance Information and Procedures
Remote Appearance Information and Procedures
- Counsel and parties shall sign in on to Zoom at least 15 minutes before the hearing start time
- All remote hearings and conferences are conducted through Zoom
- All participants must use their full first and last name when signing on to Zoom
- Counsel shall “rename” themselves on zoom to include the name of the party they represent
- Participants should mute themselves until their matter is called
- Participants must have video capability with a functioning camera
Any recording of a court proceeding held by video or audio conference, including screen-shots or other visual or audio copying of a hearing or conference, is PROHIBITED. Violation of this prohibition may result in sanctions, including restricted entry to future hearings and conferences, denial of entry to future hearings and conferences, removal of Court-issued media credentials, or any other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Court
| Click on this link to join the Zoom meeting (no meeting ID or passcode required): CLICK TO JOIN NOW
Dial in: |
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
| 9:00 a.m. |
RFO (Zoom Audio & Video) *Functioning Camera Required |
Trial or Short Cause In Person* |
Trial or Short Cause In Person* | Status Conference/ Trial Setting
(Zoom Audio & Video) *Functioning Camera Required |
Family Law Calendar Prep |
| 1:30 p.m. |
DVPA/TRO (Zoom Audio & Video) *Functioning Camera Required |
RFO (Zoom Audio & Video) *Functioning Camera Required |
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| 2:00 p.m. |
Trial or Short Cause In Person* |
Trial or Short Cause In Person* |
Trial or Short Cause In Person* |
In Person * - In Person appearances are required for trials and short-cause hearings, absent a timely-filed and noticed Request for Remote Appearance (RA-010) and Order Granting the Remote Appearance (RA-020) signed by the judge