Downtown Superior Court in San Jose, CA

Address: 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Phone (Civil): (408) 882-2100

Phone (Probate): (408) 882-2654

Phone (Small Claims): (408) 882-2352

Building Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

Phone Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Friday

Court System: Santa Clara County Superior Court

The Downtown Superior Court (DTS) is the Santa Clara County Superior Court’s central facility for civil, probate, and small claims cases, located in downtown San Jose on First Street between Family Justice Center (201 N. First) and the Old Courthouse (161 N. First). Criminal cases in Santa Clara County are heard at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on West Hedding Street, not here.

Types of Cases Heard

The Downtown Superior Court handles:

• Civil cases — contract disputes, property damage, personal injury, business litigation, and other civil matters
• Probate cases — wills, estate administration, trust matters, conservatorships, guardianships
• Small claims — civil disputes for $5,000 or less (or higher limits for individuals) where the parties represent themselves

Criminal cases — both misdemeanors and felonies — are heard at the Hall of Justice. Family law cases are heard at the Family Justice Center, also on First Street.

What to Expect at a Hearing

Civil and probate hearings typically have set calendar times that vary by department. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early for security screening, especially Monday mornings.

A few things to know before your hearing:

• Dress appropriately — business attire is expected even for civil matters.
• Security screening operates like airport TSA — no weapons or recording devices.
• Phones must be silenced. Some courtrooms prohibit them entirely.
• Tentative rulings on civil motions are typically posted online the day before the hearing — check before traveling to confirm whether oral argument will be needed.

For complex civil litigation matters, the court operates two dedicated complex litigation departments (1 and 5) at the Downtown Superior Court that follow specialized case management procedures.

Parking and Logistics

There is no court-operated parking at DTS. Use one of the downtown San Jose public parking garages — rates and availability are listed on the city’s downtown parking map at 511.org. Plan extra time to find parking and walk to the courthouse, especially during business hours.

Juror parking: The Court validates parking only at the Victory Mitchell Parking lot at 64 N. Market Street (an open lot, not a garage) for jurors. Parking is first-come, first-served. After parking, jurors should note their license plate number and proceed directly to the Jury Commissioner’s office, where they’ll receive a link to process validated ($0.00) parking online by entering their license plate and cell phone number.

For public transit, the courthouse is well-served by VTA light rail (Convention Center and Santa Clara stations are nearby) and numerous VTA bus routes through downtown San Jose.

If you have a civil, probate, or small claims case at the Downtown Superior Court, an attorney can help you understand procedures, deadlines, and your options for resolving the case. Learn how we serve Santa Clara County clients.

Contact us for a confidential case evaluation.