Notice of Related Case Template: Case Link and Transfer

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE TEMPLATE FAQ

What is a notice of related case?

A notice of related case is a court filing used to inform the court and the other parties that another case is related to the current case. California’s CM-015 form description states that it tells the court and the other party that there is another court case related to the current case.

Why do you need a notice of related case?

You need a notice of related case to help the court identify overlapping matters and decide whether coordination, assignment to one judge, or other case-management steps may be appropriate. California Rule 3.300 requires the notice to identify the related cases and describe how they are related, while the Northern District of California’s related-case rule focuses on overlapping parties, property, transactions, or events and the risk of duplicated work or conflicting results if different judges handle the matters.

When should you use a notice of related case?

Use a notice of related case as soon as you know or learn that another case is related to the one you are handling. In California civil cases, the notice must be served and filed as soon as possible, but no later than 15 days after the facts concerning the existence of related cases become known, and the duty to provide notice is continuing.

How to write a notice of related case?

Start with the court caption, case number, and the current case information. Then list each related case by court, case name, case number, and filing date, identify the earliest-filed case, and explain how the cases are related. Those are the core content items California Rule 3.300 requires.

Can AI Lawyer help if counsel, staff, and clients all need to review?

AI Lawyer can help by organizing the notice into clear sections so each reviewer can find the case numbers, overlap explanation, and filing details quickly. It can also add internal reference fields, review notes, and placeholders that make revisions easier to track. A consistent structure helps reduce repeated edits and lowers the chance of missing key details like the earliest-filed case, the basis for relatedness, or service information before filing.