SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF ORANGE
SELF-HELP CENTER
www.occourts.org/self-help

ANSWERING ANY CIVIL

COMPLAINT, EXCEPT A VERIFIED
COLLECTION COMPLAINT

The Self-Help Center provides a free document review

service. To obtain an appointment to have your documents
reviewed, you must first fully complete the forms. 
Please use black ink. 

Self-Help Center Locations:

Lamoreaux Justice Center  Central Justice Center  North Justice Center 

Room C-190  Room G‐100  Room 355 
341 The City Drive  700 Civic Center Drive  1275 N. Berkeley Avenue 
Orange, CA  Santa Ana, CA  Fullerton, CA

     

Harbor Justice Center   Superior Court   West Justice Center 

Room 107, Self‐Help Window  Service Center  1st Floor 
4601 Jamboree Road  27573 Puerta Real  8141 13th Street 
Newport Beach, CA  Mission Viejo, CA  Westminster, CA 

Please visit our Self-Help Portal at: https://selfhelp.occourts.org

SHC-CIV-04 (Rev. 01/01/2020)

 PLD-050
ATTORNEY OR PARTY WITHOUT ATTORNEY (Name, State Bar number, and address): FOR COURT USE ONLY

TELEPHONE NO.: FAX NO. (Optional):

E-MAIL ADDRESS (Optional):

ATTORNEY FOR (Name):

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF

STREET ADDRESS:

MAILING ADDRESS:

CITY AND ZIP CODE:

BRANCH NAME:

PLAINTIFF/PETITIONER:

DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT:
CASE NUMBER::
GENERAL DENIAL

If you want to file a general denial, you MUST use this form if the amount asked for in the complaint or the value of the property
involved is $1,000 or less.
You MAY use this form for a general denial if:
1. The complaint is not verified; or
2. The complaint is verified and the case is a limited civil case (the amount in controversy is $25,000 or less),
BUT NOT if the complaint involves a claim for more than $1,000 that has been assigned to a third party for collection.
(See Code of Civil Procedure sections 85–86, 90–100, 431.30, and 431.40.)

1. DEFENDANT (name):
generally denies each and every allegation of plaintiff's complaint.
2. DEFENDANT states the following FACTS as separate affirmative defenses to plaintiff's complaint (attach additional
pages if necessary):

Date:

(TYPE OR PRINT NAME) (SIGNATURE OF DEFENDANT OR ATTORNEY)

If you have a claim for damages or other relief against the plaintiff, the law may require you to state your claim in a special pleading
called a cross-complaint or you may lose your right to bring the claim. (See Code of Civil Procedure sections 426.10–426.40.)
The original of this General Denial must be filed with the clerk of this court with proof that a copy was served on each plaintiff's
attorney and on each plaintiff not represented by an attorney. There are two main ways to serve this General Denial: by personal
delivery or by mail. It may be served by anyone at least 18 years of age EXCEPT you or any other party to this legal action. Be sure
that whoever serves the General Denial fills out and signs a proof of service. You may use the applicable Judicial Council form (such
as form POS-020, POS-030, or POS-040) for the proof of service.
Page 1 of 1
Form Adopted for Mandatory Use Code of Civil Procedure, §§ 431.30, 431.40
Judicial Council of California GENERAL DENIAL www.courtinfo.ca.gov
PLD-050 [Rev. January 1, 2009]
 POS-030
ATTORNEY OR PARTY WITHOUT ATTORNEY (Name, State Bar number, and address): FOR COURT USE ONLY

TELEPHONE NO.: FAX NO. (Optional):

E-MAIL ADDRESS (Optional):

ATTORNEY FOR (Name):

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF

STREET ADDRESS:

MAILING ADDRESS:

CITY AND ZIP CODE:

BRANCH NAME:

PETITIONER/PLAINTIFF:

RESPONDENT/DEFENDANT:

CASE NUMBER:
PROOF OF SERVICE BY FIRST-CLASS MAIL—CIVIL

(Do not use this Proof of Service to show service of a Summons and Complaint.)
1. I am over 18 years of age and not a party to this action. I am a resident of or employed in the county where the mailing
took place.

2. My residence or business address is:

3. On (date): I mailed from (city and state):

the following documents (specify):

The documents are listed in the Attachment to Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil (Documents Served)
(form POS-030(D)).
4. I served the documents by enclosing them in an envelope and (check one):
a. depositing the sealed envelope with the United States Postal Service with the postage fully prepaid.
b. placing the envelope for collection and mailing following our ordinary business practices. I am readily familiar with this
business’s practice for collecting and processing correspondence for mailing. On the same day that correspondence is
placed for collection and mailing, it is deposited in the ordinary course of business with the United States Postal Service in
a sealed envelope with postage fully prepaid.
5. The envelope was addressed and mailed as follows:
a. Name of person served:
b. Address of person served:

The name and address of each person to whom I mailed the documents is listed in the Attachment to Proof of Service
by First-Class Mail—Civil (Persons Served) (POS-030(P)).
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

Date:

(TYPE OR PRINT NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING THIS FORM) (SIGNATURE OF PERSON COMPLETING THIS FORM)

Form Approved for Optional Use Code of Civil Procedure, §§ 1013, 1013a
Judicial Council of California PROOF OF SERVICE BY FIRST-CLASS MAIL—CIVIL www.courtinfo.ca.gov
POS-030 [New January 1, 2005] (Proof of Service)
 INFORMATION SHEET FOR PROOF OF SERVICE BY FIRST-CLASS MAIL—CIVIL

(This information sheet is not part of the Proof of Service and does not need to be copied, served, or filed.)

NOTE: This form should not be used for proof of service of a summons and complaint. For that purpose, use Proof of
Service of Summons (form POS-010).
Use these instructions to complete the Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil (form POS-030).
A person over 18 years of age must serve the documents. There are two main ways to serve documents:
(1) by personal delivery and (2) by mail. Certain documents must be personally served. You must determine whether
personal service is required for a document. Use the Proof of Personal Service–Civil (form POS-020) if the documents
were personally served.
The person who served the documents by mail must complete a proof of service form for the documents served. You
cannot serve documents if you are a party to the action.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PERSON WHO SERVED THE DOCUMENTS
The proof of service should be printed or typed. If you have Internet access, a fillable version of the Proof of Service
form is available at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms.
Complete the top section of the proof of service form as follows:
First box, left side: In this box print the name, address, and telephone number of the person for whom you served the
documents.
Second box, left side: Print the name of the county in which the legal action is filed and the court’s address in this box.
The address for the court should be the same as on the documents that you served.
Third box, left side: Print the names of the Petitioner/Plaintiff and Respondent/Defendant in this box. Use the same names
as are on the documents that you served.
First box, top of form, right side: Leave this box blank for the court’s use.
Second box, right side: Print the case number in this box. The case number should be the same as the case number on
the documents that you served.
Complete items 1–5 as follows:
1. You are stating that you are over the age of 18 and that you are not a party to this action. You are also stating that
you either live in or are employed in the county where the mailing took place.
2. Print your home or business address.
3. Provide the date and place of the mailing and list the name of each document that you mailed. If you need more
space to list the documents, check the box in item 3, complete the Attachment to Proof of Service by First-Class
Mail—Civil (Documents Served) (form POS-030(D)), and attach it to form POS-030.
4. For item 4:
Check box a if you personally put the documents in the regular U.S. mail.
Check box b if you put the documents in the mail at your place of business.
5. Provide the name and address of each person to whom you mailed the documents. If you mailed the documents to
more than one person, check the box in item 5, complete the Attachment to Proof of Service by First-Class
Mail—Civil (Persons Served) (form POS-030(P)), and attach it to form POS-030.
At the bottom, fill in the date on which you signed the form, print your name, and sign the form. By signing,
you are stating under penalty of perjury that all the information you have provided on form POS-030 is true
and correct.

POS-030 [New January 1, 2005]

PROOF OF SERVICE BY FIRST CLASS MAIL—CIVIL
(Proof of Service)