Service on the Attorney General

The following is an informational guide for the service of court filings upon the Attorney General. In most cases, service may be made at any one of the Attorney General's offices listed below. However, there may be instances where service on the Attorney General must be made at the Sacramento office only or to the designated staff as listed here.

Please check statutes applicable to your case to be sure you are serving the office at the appropriate location.

Except as discussed below, the Attorney General has not agreed to electronic service of summons/complaints in civil cases per the Rule of Court and other applicable laws. In addition, the Attorney General has not agreed to receive service of summons/complaints in civil cases by facsimile.

Please be aware, the Office of the Attorney General cannot advise you whether or not you are required to serve this Office under a specific statute. If you are unsure about the requirements of service, we suggest that you consult with private counsel.

Please refer to the following statutes governing service of process on the Attorney General’s Office:

Code of Civil Procedure sections 414.10, 415.10, et seq.; 416.10, et seq.; 417.10, et seq. and 583.210. Further, instructions for service of court papers on the Judicial Branch of California website can be found at: Service of Court Papers.

See also Government Code sections 955.4; 955.6, and 955.8. Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6

Laws Requiring Service on the Attorney General

Data Security Breach: Civil Codes s. 1798.29(e) and s. 1798.82(e) - California law requires a business or state agency to notify any California resident whose unencrypted personal information, as defined, was acquired, or reasonably believed to have been acquired, by an unauthorized person. As of January 1, 2012, this law now requires a business or state agency to send an electronic sample of the breach notification sent to California residents, if the breach affected more than 500 residents. The sample should exclude any personally identifiable personal information.

Send an electronic sample of the breach notification

Civil Code § 2924m: Residential Foreclosure Sales to Eligible Bidders - California law requires that for foreclosure sales of real property containing one to four residential units where the winning bidder is an eligible bidder, as defined in Civil Code § 2924m, the trustee or an authorized agent must electronically send information to the California Attorney General within 15 days of the sale being deemed final.

Send information required by Civil Code § 2924m

28 U.S.C. § 1715: Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Defendants obligated to provide notice following the filing of a proposed class action settlement can send notice to:

  • CAFA Coordinator
  • Office of the Attorney General
  • Consumer Protection Section
  • 455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 11000
  • San Francisco, CA 94102

Notice Regarding Bankruptcy: Debtor's Store Closing or Going-Out-of-Business Sales 11 USC § 101 et seq. - To give notice to the California Attorney General of a motion or other bankruptcy proceeding that seeks authority for a debtor's store closing or going-out-of-business sales, present service to:

  • Consumer Protection Section, Attn: Bankruptcy Notices
  • California Attorney General’s Office
  • 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000
  • San Francisco, CA 94102-7004

Business & Professions Code § 16750.2 - Requires service of notice on the AG within 3 days, if a violation of B&P § 16700 et seq (Cartwright Act) is alleged or the application or construction of the chapter is in issue in any proceeding in the Supreme Court of California or a state court of appeal, by the person who commenced that proceeding.

Business & Professions Code § 17209 and 17536.5 - Requires the service of briefs and petitions on the Consumer Protection Section of the Attorney General's office in appellate matters involving the construction, application, or alleged violation of Business and Professions Code sections 17200 et seq. and 17500 et seq.

NOTE: Please serve only appellate briefs and petitions; please do not serve records, appendices or other filings.

Serve appellate briefs and petitions electronically (the preferred method).
Or serve by mail to:

  • Appellate Coordinator
  • Office of the Attorney General
  • Consumer Protection Section
  • 300 S. Spring Street
  • Los Angeles, CA 90013-1230

Business & Professions Code § 17508 - District Attorneys and City Attorneys sending advertising substantiation requests must provide a copy of the request to the Attorney General before sending it to the subject of the request. The request should be sent to:

  • 17508 Coordinator
  • Office of the Attorney General
  • Consumer Protection Section
  • 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000
  • San Francisco, CA 94102

California Rules of Court 8.29(c) - Requires service on the AG when a statute's constitutionality is questioned and when suit is brought against, or on behalf of, the state or a county, or when a state officer is sued in his/her official capacity.

In January 2007, the California Rules of Court were reorganized and renumbered. The language of former rule 44.5 was renumbered as Rule 8.29.

Civil Code § 51.1 - Mandatory service on State Solicitor General of each party's brief or petition and brief in causes of action based on violation of specific civil rights statutes. This service is required in any proceeding in the California Supreme Court, a state court of appeal or the appellate division of a superior court (actions under the Unruh, Ralph or Bane Civil Rights Acts; an anti-boycott cause of action; an action for sexual harassment in business or professional relations; and a civil rights action by a district attorney).

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For service on the Attorney General:

    • Office of the Attorney General
    • 1300 "I" Street
    • Sacramento, CA 95814-2919
    • Phone: (916) 445-9555
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • P.O. Box 944255
    • Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000
    • San Francisco, CA 94102-7004
    • Phone: (415) 510-4400
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • 1515 Clay Street
    • Oakland, CA 94612-1499
    • Phone: (510) 879-1300
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • P.O. Box 70550
    • Oakland, CA 94612-0550
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • 2550 Mariposa Mall, Room 5090
    • Fresno, CA 93721-2271
    • Phone: (559) 705-2300
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • 300 South Spring Street
    • Los Angeles, CA 90013-1230
    • Phone: (213) 269-6000
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • 600 West Broadway, Suite 1800
    • San Diego, CA 92101-3702
    • Phone: (619) 738-9000
    • Office of the Attorney General
    • P.O. Box 85266-5299
    • San Diego, CA 92186-5266

Please note, the Office of the Attorney General accepts service of process Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Our Office is closed on weekends and regular State holidays.