Updated September 2026. A practical guide to the Los Angeles Superior Court's Court Reservation System, remote appearances, and related scheduling tools. Official portal instructions, current court pages, and dated notices were checked in September 2026. Your assigned department's instructions and the court's orders control your case.
Quick answer: The LA Superior Court Reservation System, usually called CRS, lets people reserve and manage motion hearing dates in participating courtrooms. It is used in many civil departments. A CRS reservation, filing the motion, and checking in for a remote appearance are separate steps. Start with the official CRS portal, confirm that your assigned department participates, and follow its instructions. For a remote appearance at an already scheduled hearing, use LACourtConnect. Criminal hearings, traffic matters, family-law requests, probate motions, and clerk appointments have their own routes.
Which LA Court Service Do You Need?
| What you are trying to do | Start here | What to keep separate |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve a motion date in a participating civil courtroom | Court Reservation System and its department list | Reserving the date does not file or serve the motion. |
| File court papers | The court's electronic filing information and the instructions for your case type | A filing transaction is different from a reservation. |
| Attend an existing hearing remotely | LACourtConnect and the applicable appearance requirements | Checking in does not create or continue the hearing. |
| Confirm a criminal court date | Your attorney and the court's Criminal Division resources | A civil CRS reservation does not replace a required criminal appearance. |
| Arrange a traffic hearing | Traffic Hearings & Appointments | Schedule the hearing before arranging the eligible remote appearance. |
| Meet with a clerk | Clerk's Office appointments | An appointment for counter service is different from a hearing before a judge. |
| Find the rules for your courtroom | The court's courtroom information service | Instructions can differ between departments in the same courthouse. |
In this guide: what CRS does · case-type differences · before you reserve · reservation steps · filing and confirmation · changes and cancellations · remote hearings · technical problems · criminal dates · accessibility · checklist · how Bail Hotline can help · FAQ · sources.
What Is the LA Superior Court Reservation System?
CRS is a scheduling tool for motion hearings within the choices and limits established by a participating courtroom. The court's March 17, 2025 notice explains that parties assigned to those departments use CRS to make and manage reservations instead of routinely calling or emailing for a slot.
The department is the courtroom assigned to the case. It is not simply a room you choose because its calendar looks convenient. Before reserving, confirm the case's current assignment and check for any transfer or reassignment.
The portal's surrounding branding refers to the Journal Technologies court portal and electronic filing. That does not make every service in it the same transaction. Keep three records straight: the reservation record, the court's filing confirmation, and any remote-appearance check-in confirmation. Each answers a different question.
The participating-department list is the place to check whether your courtroom allows online reservations. If it is not listed, follow the department's own procedure. A search result that describes CRS generally as a civil service should not replace checking the actual assignment.
Does Every Case Use CRS?
No. Los Angeles Superior Court handles multiple case types, and a familiar word such as “reservation” can refer to different activities. The following distinctions were checked against official guidance in September 2026.
Civil motions and civil ex parte applications
For a civil motion, check whether the assigned department uses CRS and whether there are prerequisites for that motion. Discovery disputes, reconsideration requests, and other proceedings may have specific instructions. Start with the Civil Division and your courtroom's published information.
The CRS portal separately states that ex parte hearings are not reserved through CRS. Its instructions direct users to the applicable electronic-filing process, through which the clerk schedules the hearing. Ex parte notice, filing, and appearance requirements still apply. Use the assigned department's current instructions, including any permitted filing alternative, rather than selecting an unrelated motion type to obtain a slot.
Family law
The Family Law Division provides its own filing resources and Request for Order information. Its RFO hearing-date sheet, revised September 18, 2026 when checked, gives approximate scheduling timeframes by location and department. It expressly says it is not a reservation system and that the dates are not guaranteed.
A week shown on that sheet is not your assigned hearing date. Obtain the date through the applicable filing and court process, then keep the court-issued notice or order. Remote appearance, if appropriate, is a separate question.
Probate
The court's current probate motion instructions demonstrate why case type and location matter. For a case assigned to Stanley Mosk Courthouse, they direct the moving party to contact the assigned department to reserve a motion date and put the date, time, and department on the motion's cover page. In the North District, the instructions say the clerk assigns a motion hearing date when the motion is filed, without a prior reservation.
That is a different process from assuming every motion belongs in civil CRS. The Probate Division also separates motions, ex parte applications, filing documents, proposed orders, and probate notes. Use the resource that matches your filing.
Small claims
The California courts' small-claims filing guide explains that the clerk supplies a case number and court date when the claim is filed. Follow Los Angeles's current small-claims filing instructions and the resulting notice. A civil motion reservation is not how a claimant simply chooses the initial small-claims trial date.
Traffic
Los Angeles has a separate traffic hearing and appointment page. It directs users to ticket searches by driver's license or citation number, or the Traffic Call Center, to schedule an arraignment. It says the hearing must be scheduled before the person signs up for an eligible remote appearance.
The same page lists remote-appearance exceptions, including appeals, red-light camera trials, hearings involving documents shown to the judicial officer, and matters where identity is in question. Do not assume every traffic hearing can be attended by phone or video.
Criminal, juvenile, and other matters
For a criminal case, confirm the hearing with counsel and the court rather than reserving a new civil slot. The Criminal Division provides calendar and case-summary resources and explains how to contact the assigned courthouse.
Juvenile proceedings require particular attention to the notice and the participant's role. The live LACourtConnect welcome page, checked September 2026, still identifies a Juvenile Dependency remote-appearance pilot for Departments 413 and 416 at Edmund D. Edelman Children's Courthouse. The court's April 29, 2026 notice says that pilot began May 4, 2026. It should not be described as an unrestricted remote option for every juvenile case.
For another case type, use the corresponding division from the court's official home page, then follow the assigned department's instructions.
What to Have Ready Before Making a Reservation
A little preparation helps you avoid choosing a slot that does not fit the case. Gather:
- The complete case number and the names needed to identify the case correctly.
- The current courthouse, department, and any relevant reassignment notice.
- The precise motion or proceeding you intend to schedule.
- Your draft documents and the dates that affect filing, service, notice, discovery, or trial.
- The department's instructions and any prerequisite conference or other required step.
- A reliable email address for notifications and a place to save the receipt and confirmations.
The CRS user instructions identify motion-specific issues, including discovery prerequisites and using the correct reservation category. They also warn that an inactive session can expire. Prepare the information before beginning, and keep a separate copy of anything you need to retain.
Ask counsel or the court's appropriate self-help resource about legal deadlines or which motion to file. A list of available dates is a scheduling tool; it does not decide whether a date satisfies every rule applicable to your case.
How to Use the LA Court Reservation System
1. Enter through the official court route
Use the CRS portal linked by the court. Check that you are in the Los Angeles Superior Court service before entering case or account information. The portal's instructions and department list are available to read before a reservation is made.
2. Complete the required account registration
The court made one-time CRS registration mandatory effective March 21, 2025. Its dated notice describes creating a username and password, providing identity-verification information, and selecting the appropriate user type, including self-represented users, law firms, and attorney service firms.
Follow the live account prompts for your role. Give yourself time to resolve account access before a filing deadline. Avoid relying on an older guide that suggests every user can proceed without the current registration process.
3. Confirm the assigned department and reservation type
Match the department to the case and select the category that actually describes the motion. If the needed category is missing or the assignment is unclear, consult the department's instructions or contact it before making a substitute selection.
Keep distinct motions and filings organized. Do not reserve several alternative dates for the same motion as placeholders; the CRS portal prohibits duplicate hearing dates for the same motion.
4. Choose a date that works procedurally
Consider the applicable filing, service, and notice requirements, the trial date if one is set, and the department's instructions. Check the court's current holiday calendar through its official website. A holiday example left on an older notice is not a complete calendar for the current year.
If no suitable date is available, use the fallback route below promptly. Waiting for a convenient opening does not preserve a deadline by itself.
5. Review and save the result
Check the case number, department, motion type, date, time, and contact information. Save the reservation identifier and the receipt or notification produced by the system. Then complete the separate filing and service work.
What Must Happen After You Reserve a Date?
The live CRS portal, checked September 2026, instructs users to file the motion within three business days of making the reservation, or the reservation will be automatically canceled. It states an exception for motions for sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 128.7. Include the CRS reservation number in the filing submission, and use the allowed filing route if exempt from electronic filing.
Treat that reservation rule as one requirement among the requirements governing your motion. It does not replace notice, service, or other legal deadlines.
California Rules of Court, rule 2.259, distinguishes confirmation that the court received an electronic document from confirmation that it was filed. The filing confirmation supplies the filing date and time and associated information. The rule puts responsibility on the electronic filer to verify receipt and filing.
Keep these records together:
| Record | The question it answers |
|---|---|
| CRS reservation receipt or identifier | Which hearing slot was requested or reserved? |
| Electronic submission or receipt confirmation | Was the document transmitted to or received by the filing system? |
| Court filing confirmation and filed document | Was the document filed, and on what date and time? |
| Service records | What was served, on whom, and when? |
| Court calendar, notice, or order | What hearing is now scheduled, and has anything changed? |
| Remote check-in confirmation, if applicable | Has the participant completed the separate remote-hearing check-in? |
The practical safeguard is to verify the completed chain rather than stopping at the first email. If a filing is rejected, address the stated reason promptly and check the reservation's status. Keep the rejection and transaction information when asking for help.
What the CRS status labels mean
The portal's FAQ distinguishes Reserved, Confirmed, Completed, and Canceled. A confirmed hearing is associated with the filed document; completed means the hearing was held and has a result. A changed date may retain Reserved or Confirmed status, so read the reservation history too.
How to Reschedule, Cancel, or Correct a Reservation
Use the reservation-management tools and follow your department's instructions. Recheck the date and notification history afterward. A change in CRS does not resolve every separate obligation to notify others or obtain an order.
As checked in September 2026, the CRS FAQ says online rescheduling is available only up to 10 days before the scheduled hearing. It also says a reservation type cannot be changed after creation, and that once a hearing has been held and continued, the reservation can no longer be managed through CRS. Those situations require attention to the court's directions, not an improvised replacement booking.
If the case moved to another department, contact the receiving department about the pending hearing. Preserve the old reservation and filing records. If the reservation is no longer needed, complete the proper cancellation process so the record reflects that change.
The portal distinguishes reservation activity from filing and continuance fees. Check the current fee and fee-waiver instructions for the particular transaction. A payment receipt by itself is not proof that the desired calendar change was granted.
How LACourtConnect Differs From a Court Reservation
CRS concerns a motion hearing date. LACourtConnect concerns attending a hearing remotely. Begin with the hearing already scheduled in the case and determine whether a remote appearance is appropriate under the applicable rules and court instructions.
The court's current LACourtConnect welcome page presents separate entry points for Traffic, the identified Juvenile Dependency pilot, and other case types. Its current Check In and Join reference guide describes same-day check-in, case selection, participant identification, confirmation, and joining through Microsoft Teams.
Follow the current guide linked from the welcome page. Older saved instructions may describe an earlier interface or registration process. The court's current workflow requires the participant to review the applicable restrictions and terms, identify the correct hearing and role, and use the resulting joining information.
Permission, check-in, and joining are different
For civil matters covered by California Rules of Court, rule 3.672, notice and procedure depend on the hearing and applicable local requirements. The court may require an in-person appearance in the circumstances described by the rule. A technology page does not override an order to attend in person.
For a criminal appearance, confirm the arrangement with counsel and the assigned court. For traffic, the court's dedicated page says to schedule the hearing first and identifies exceptions to remote attendance. For confidential proceedings, use the participant instructions provided for that case.
After check-in, the current guide directs the participant to use Join and enter the Teams lobby. Being checked in is not the same as being admitted to the hearing. Stay available for the court, follow its instructions, and make sure any change of department is reflected in the joining information.
Technology to prepare
The court's Ways to Connect guide describes joining through the Microsoft Teams application or its browser option. Prepare your device, camera and microphone permissions, power, internet connection, and a quiet setting before the hearing. Follow the guide and any case-specific requirement about audio or video.
Use the joining information for your hearing. If an audio option is provided, it includes the corresponding connection details. Do not substitute an old meeting link or assume an audio-only connection satisfies an order requiring video or physical presence.
The current LACC guide explains that Teams chat is not monitored by the court. If a problem needs the court's attention, use the stated court or service-desk route rather than relying on an unattended chat message.
Who can use the remote courtroom?
The LACC FAQ identifies litigants, attorneys, and witnesses with a role in the case as its intended users. It says there is no remote option for the media or general public to observe proceedings. Public access to a nonconfidential hearing and participant access through LACC are different questions.
The court also prohibits photographing, recording, or broadcasting the hearing under the cited court rules. Review the restrictions before joining.
What to Do When the Online Route Is Unavailable
First identify which system failed. A reservation problem, rejected filing, and inability to join a hearing require different help.
| Problem | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| Your department is not in CRS | Read that department's courtroom information and contact it using the listed route. |
| CRS shows no suitable motion slot | Contact the assigned courtroom about scheduling, especially when a deadline or trial date is involved. |
| You cannot access the CRS account or find a reservation | Recheck the identifier and account information; use the portal's recovery or support options. |
| A document was rejected or no filing confirmation arrived | Check the filing provider's record and the court's response; preserve the transaction information and verify the filing status. |
| The remote hearing is missing or the department changed | Recheck the court's notice, case information, and assigned department; contact the appropriate court staff or counsel. |
| LACC has a technical problem | Use the LACC service desk and promptly advise the courtroom or counsel if attendance is affected. |
| You need counter service | Use the clerk-appointment route or contact the courthouse for available service options. |
The court's March 2025 CRS notice directs users who cannot use CRS to consult their courtroom information before calling the department. The portal FAQ also directs users to the courtroom when it cannot find an available motion slot within its search window.
For CRS technical help, Journal Technologies' support page, checked September 2026, lists chat and eFiling-support@journaltech.com, with customer/ADA support hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday.
For LACC technical help, the court's live welcome page lists (213) 830-0400, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except court holidays. It explains that the desk answers technical questions and does not check in a participant, modify or reschedule an appearance, or connect someone directly to a courtroom. Bring scheduling questions to the assigned court contact.
For traffic scheduling questions, the current traffic page lists (213) 633-6300, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays. These contact details were checked September 2026; use the linked official pages for later changes.
Preserve evidence of a time-sensitive problem
Keep the date and time, the error text, the reservation or filing identifier, and correspondence about the problem. A screenshot of a portal error can help explain what happened. This is separate from the prohibition on recording or photographing a court hearing.
An outage does not itself create a new hearing date or excuse attendance. Promptly ask counsel or the appropriate court office what action is needed. Rule 2.259(c) addresses a particular situation where a technical problem with the court's electronic-filing system prevents acceptance and the filer demonstrates a timely attempt; it expressly excludes a complaint or other initial pleading. Do not assume that rule covers every device, reservation, or filing-provider problem.
If Your Question Is About a Criminal Court Date
A person released on bail needs to know the actual criminal hearing date and any appearance requirements. Start with the latest court notice or order and the defense lawyer. The Criminal Division's hearing guidance directs people to counsel, the court website, or the assigned courthouse to confirm a date.
If you received a notice, compare its case number, courthouse, department, date, and instructions with the case information. The separate LA Superior Court official-notice guide addresses that document-focused question. If you were ordered to attend as a witness, the subpoena guide explains why a witness's obligation needs its own attention.
If a date was missed or there may be a warrant, contact counsel promptly and keep the relevant notices. A new online appointment, a civil motion reservation, or a reminder subscription does not by itself recall a warrant or continue the criminal hearing. The warrant and bail guide covers related bail questions.
For bond support and practical help when a court-date issue becomes urgent, see How Bail Hotline Can Help below.
Interpreters, Accessibility, and Help With Forms
The court's LACC page links to Request a Court Interpreter and says courtroom interpreter assistance is provided at no cost. Request the service through the proper court process; a translated webpage and an interpreter at a hearing serve different purposes.
For disability-related access, use the court's Americans with Disabilities Act page and its coordinator information. Raise the need early enough for the court to respond. Technical assistance from a software vendor is a different service from a court accommodation request.
For help identifying forms or a procedural route, start with the court's official self-help resources. Clerks can explain administrative procedures and available records; legal advice about a motion, deadline, or requested court order belongs with an appropriate legal professional or authorized legal-help service.
Your Court-Date Checklist
- Identify the case type and the task: reserve, file, confirm, attend, or meet a clerk.
- Match the case number and current assigned department.
- Read that department's instructions before choosing a date.
- Keep legal deadlines separate from what the software offers.
- Save the reservation identifier, filed documents, confirmations, and service records.
- Recheck the hearing after a transfer, continuance, cancellation, or rejected filing.
- For a remote appearance, complete the correct check-in and joining steps for that hearing.
- If something goes wrong, preserve the details and contact the office that controls the unresolved step.
How Bail Hotline Can Help
Everything above this section is written to be useful whether or not you ever call us. This is the one place we talk about ourselves.
Bail Hotline has been family-owned since 2004. We are licensed through DMCG, Inc., with the California Department of Insurance, license #1845394. Our agents answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (888) 958-1228.
When a court-date problem becomes a bail question
A court notice, a missed hearing, or a loved one's booking can leave a family trying to work out the next step. Our team works with jail and bond information every day and is ready to help, whether or not you are already a client.
- Fast inmate information at no charge. Our agents gather inmate information for all jails, and every office holds jail-system accounts.
- Warrant walk-throughs. When a missed court date needs attention, we help defendants and co-signers work through the warrant and the next steps.
- Court-date reminders for our clients. Text reminders help clients stay informed while the bond is active.
- Dedicated posting agents, 24/7. A large, complicated, or out-of-county bond is not an automatic no.
- An agreement you can understand. We walk every co-signer through the agreement and remain available for bond questions.
Keep your case number and court notice handy when you call. Court staff and counsel handle the court's scheduling and legal decisions; our team provides the jail information, bail services, and ongoing bond support families turn to us for.
Every case is different, the judge makes the final decision on matters before the court, and we cannot promise a particular result. Willful conduct is treated differently from an honest mistake.
| Where you need help | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | Los Angeles Bail Hotline office |
| Another California location or remote arrangements | Call the number above, check all locations, or ask about online bail bonds. |
Call before traveling to confirm arrangements. The Bail Hotline bail FAQ answers related questions about the bond process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LA Superior Court Reservation System?
CRS is the online tool for reserving and managing motion hearing dates in participating courtrooms, including many civil departments. Check the assigned department's participation and instructions. It is separate from filing the motion and attending remotely.
Is Journal Technologies the LA court itself?
Journal Technologies hosts the CRS portal used by Los Angeles Superior Court. Use the service through the official court links and follow the court's procedures. The portal's technical support and the assigned courtroom have different responsibilities.
Does a CRS confirmation email mean my motion is filed?
No. Keep the reservation record separate from the court's filing confirmation and current hearing information. Verify the document was filed and the required service and notice steps were completed.
How soon must I file after reserving a motion date?
The portal instructions checked in September 2026 specify three business days and identify an exception for sanctions motions under Code of Civil Procedure section 128.7. Other deadlines still apply. Read the current portal and department instructions before reserving.
Can I reserve an ex parte hearing in CRS?
The civil CRS instructions say ex parte hearings are not reserved there. Follow the applicable filing, notice, and department procedure. Probate and other divisions have their own instructions, so identify the case type first.
What if CRS has no available dates?
Consult the assigned courtroom's instructions and contact it about the scheduling issue. Tell counsel promptly if a legal deadline or trial date is involved. Do not assume that checking again later extends a deadline.
Is LACourtConnect the same as CRS?
No. LACC is the court's remote-appearance service; CRS concerns motion reservations. An existing hearing, the applicable appearance requirements, check-in, and joining are separate parts of the process.
Can I change a criminal court date using CRS?
Use the criminal case's court and counsel to address a requested date change. A civil CRS booking does not continue a criminal hearing. Keep following the existing order unless the court authorizes a change.
Does a clerk appointment count as appearing before a judge?
No. A clerk appointment is for the relevant counter service. Confirm the actual hearing and appearance instructions separately.
Can I use a phone for a remote hearing?
Use the audio or video options provided for the hearing and follow the court's requirements. The current LACC guides describe Teams app and browser access, with audio connection details where provided. Confirm whether your particular appearance requires video or attendance in person.
What if I cannot connect when my hearing starts?
Record the technical details and promptly contact the designated court contact or counsel and the LACC service desk as appropriate. Keep trying the authorized route while following instructions. A failed connection or help-desk message is not itself a continuance.
Are the Family Law RFO dates online guaranteed?
No. The court's RFO date sheet describes approximate scheduling timeframes and expressly says it is not a reservation system. Use the actual date supplied through the case's court process.
Why We Publish This
Finding the right court tool can prevent a scheduling question from becoming a larger problem. This guide explains what each service does, which records to keep, and where to seek help when the process stops. It provides general information, not legal advice about a particular filing, deadline, appearance, or case.
Sources and Further Reading
Reservations and filing
- Official CRS portal, user instructions, FAQ, participating departments, and support, checked September 2026.
- LA Superior Court's March 17, 2025 CRS registration notice, effective March 21, 2025.
- California Rules of Court, rule 2.259: receipt, filing confirmation, and the specified technical-delay provision.
Case-specific routes
- Family Law RFO hearing-date information, revised September 18, 2026 when checked.
- Probate motion instructions.
- Traffic hearing and appointment instructions.
- Criminal Division hearing and service information.
- California Courts: filing a small-claims case.
Remote appearances and access
- Current LACourtConnect welcome page, its check-in guide, and connection guide.
- California Rules of Court, rule 3.672: covered civil remote proceedings and applicable notice/procedure.
- April 29, 2026 Juvenile Dependency pilot notice, beginning May 4, 2026 in the specified departments.
- Clerk appointments, interpreter requests, and ADA information.