Mojave is an unincorporated desert community in eastern Kern County. The Census Bureau counts it as a Census-designated place, with 4,699 residents in 2020, and there is no city hall: the County of Kern is the local government. What Mojave does have is a courthouse, and for most everyday cases that's where a Mojave matter is filed and heard.
We serve summonses and complaints, eviction papers, family law petitions, small claims and subpoenas at Mojave homes, rentals, businesses and outlying parcels. Mojave requests are handled from our Sacramento office, about 309 miles north in a straight line.
A courthouse in town
The Kern County Superior Court's Mojave Multi-Divisional Courthouse stands at 1773 State Highway 58 Business. Measured from the map point on the court's own page, it's about 2.7 miles from the Census center point of the Mojave CDP. The clerk's hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to noon on Friday, and the phone is (661) 610-7400.
Kern assigns cases to courthouses by ZIP Code under Local Rule 1.7.4, using a table published as Appendix A. That table lists three names under ZIP 93501: Mojave, Sanborn and Wonder Acres. All three go to this building. The Mojave sheet, marked changed effective March 12, 2025, lists four groups of cases heard there:
| Group | Case types on the Mojave sheet |
|---|---|
| Civil | Civil harassment, limited civil, name change, small claims, unlawful detainers |
| Family law | Divorce, legal separation, annulment, domestic violence, paternity, custody petitions, child, spousal and family support |
| Criminal | Felony and misdemeanor |
| Traffic | Infractions and juvenile traffic |
The same sheet covers a wide stretch of eastern Kern: Tehachapi, Boron, California City, Rosamond, Edwards AFB, Cantil and others. A Mojave landlord and a tenant who moved to Tehachapi still end up in this courthouse.
What leaves Mojave for Bakersfield
Kern Local Rule 1.7.5 pulls some cases to the Metropolitan Division whatever the ZIP Code. For a Mojave party, these are the ones that change the trip:
- Unlimited civil, over $35,000: filed in Bakersfield; the Justice Building at 1215 Truxtun Avenue is about 53 miles away in a straight line.
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship and trusts: the venue table lists the Juvenile Justice Center, 2100 College Avenue, for the whole county, about 51 miles from Mojave.
- Child support cases brought by the local child support agency: filed in the Metropolitan Division's family law department under Rule 1.7.5(e). The Mojave sheet doesn't list them.
- Appeals in eviction and limited civil cases: Rule 1.7.5(a) lets the notice be filed in the original division, but these appeals are heard in the Metropolitan Division.
On the criminal side, Rule 1.7.5(d) lets prosecutors file some felonies in the Metropolitan Division even when the incident happened elsewhere, and requires felony cases with four or more defendants to be filed there. A witness from Mojave may be subpoenaed to Bakersfield rather than to the local building, so check the department and address on the subpoena before we serve it. Our post on serving a subpoena in California covers fees and timing.
The 93501 ZIP Code area reaches into California City
The 93501 ZIP Code area is large. In the Census Bureau's 2020 relationship file it covers about 222 square miles of land, and only a fifth of that sits inside the Mojave CDP. The rest splits like this:
- About 72.5% lies outside any city or Census-designated place.
- About 6.3% is inside California City, an incorporated city with 14,973 residents at the 2020 Census.
- About 1.1% falls in the Rosamond CDP.
So a "Mojave, CA 93501" address can belong to California City rather than to the unincorporated county. For the court it makes no difference: Kern's venue table sends California City (93505) to the same Mojave courthouse. It does matter when a government is the defendant. In Mojave proper the local government is the County of Kern, while inside California City limits it's the City of California City. Under CCP § 416.50, a summons to a public entity goes to its clerk, secretary, president, presiding officer or other head of its governing body. Most damages claims against a public entity must also go through a government claim first, and your attorney handles that step.
Census ZIP Code areas approximate postal ZIP Codes, and the Census places Mojave's own land partly outside any ZIP Code area.
Papers to serve in Mojave?
Kern's eviction rules, step by step
A Mojave unlawful detainer is filed at the Mojave courthouse, or e-filed there; Kern Local Rule 1.10 makes e-filing mandatory for attorneys in eviction cases. Rules 3.15 through 3.15.16 then set a timetable of their own, and several of its deadlines run from the filing date, so service has to move.
When the complaint is filed (Rule 3.15.1). The original notice that ended the tenancy goes in as an exhibit. For a residential unit, a copy of any written lease or rental agreement goes in too, with amendments, unless one of the listed exceptions applies. The clerk then issues an order to show cause re dismissal, set no more than 90 days out.
Within 20 days (Rule 3.15.2(a)). A proof of service, or an application to serve by posting and mailing under CCP § 415.45, is due within 20 days of filing unless the tenant has answered.
Before posting (Rule 3.15.2(b)). The court treats due diligence as met when the declaration of attempted service shows at least three separate attempts on three different dates. No more than two may fall on a holiday, and at least one must come before noon and one after noon.
After a posting order (Rule 3.15.2(c)). The proof of posting and mailing is due within 10 days of the order.
Trial or default (Rules 3.15.5 and 3.15.8). The plaintiff files a request to set trial within 25 days of filing, unless a default or dismissal request is on file, and trial is set no more than 20 days after that request. A request for entry of default is due within 45 days if no answer is filed.
For service, send the summons, the complaint, the notice and the names of every adult occupant, with the unit or space number. A tenant handed the summons personally has 10 court days to answer, according to the state court self-help page, with more time when papers are left with another adult or posted. Starting January 1, 2027, AB 747 adds that three good-faith attempts on three different days at three different times show reasonable diligence for substituted service (CCP § 415.20(b)(2)). Our AB 747 guide explains the change. We make no guarantees for service.
Edwards Air Force Base
Kern's venue table lists Edwards AFB, North Edwards and Aerial Acres, all ZIP 93523, under the Mojave courthouse, so a case involving someone at the base is usually filed in the same building as a Mojave case. Base access is controlled, so give us an off-base address for the person whenever you can: a home in Mojave or another nearby community, or a regular stop off the base. If the base is the only address in the file, say so in the request, and we'll talk it through with you before anything goes out.
Outlying parcels around Mojave
With most of 93501 outside any named place, plenty of Mojave addresses are desert lots off the main roads. Remote areas are subject to different timelines. These notes in the Letter of Instruction save repeat trips:
- The street address and the parcel number, if the lot has no posted number.
- A map pin for the driveway or gate.
- Which structure the person lives in when a lot has more than one, such as a house and a trailer.
- Gates, fences and dogs, and whether the gate is usually locked.
- The person's schedule, including shift work, since an early or late attempt can find someone a midday one misses.
Family law papers for a Mojave household
The Mojave sheet lists divorce, legal separation, annulment, paternity, custody, support and domestic violence, so a Mojave family case is filed and heard in town. Rule 1.7.5(g)(1) ties the first family law filing to the petitioner's ZIP Code under Appendix A. Once the petition is filed, we serve the respondent wherever they live, in Mojave or anywhere else in California. Kern's family law page also lists the Family Law Facilitator for parties without a lawyer. Our proof of service guide shows what the server's declaration contains.
Small claims and name changes in Mojave
Small claims are filed in person at the courthouse where the claim will be heard, by mail, or by e-filing through an approved provider, according to the court's civil and small claims page, and individuals can claim up to $12,500. For a Mojave defendant, that's the Mojave building. Kern Local Rule 2.2 offers clerk service by certified mail or personal service by a non-party adult, a process server or the sheriff. Rule 2.3 is the one to watch: a claim with no proof of service on file three calendar days before the court date comes off calendar and is dismissed without prejudice. Send the filed claim, the hearing date and the defendant's address early enough to leave room for that.
Name changes and civil harassment petitions are on the Mojave sheet too. When you send a civil harassment or name change paper for service, include the hearing date and department so the proof can be filed in time.
Serving a Mojave business
For a corporation or LLC, look up the agent for service of process on the Secretary of State's bizfile Online and send us the name and address listed. A local business may name its owner at a Mojave address. Others name a commercial agent such as CSC or CT Corporation, and we can serve that office instead. Our serving corporations page explains each route. If the person or business has left the area, skip tracing looks for a current address.
Sending Mojave papers
- Open a Service Request and attach up to 5 PDFs.
- Name each person or entity exactly as the papers do.
- Give every address with the parcel, lot or unit details above.
- Choose Rush or Standard, and add a Kern County court filing if papers also need to reach the Mojave or Bakersfield counter.
Get every update by email, call 855-582-5776, or email Service@ValproAttorneyServices.com.
Near Mojave
Rosamond is 10.4 miles south and Edwards 15.7 miles east, both under the Mojave courthouse. Tehachapi is 17 miles west and California City 20.3 miles northeast. Across the county line, Lancaster is 22.2 miles south. Every place we serve in the county is on our Kern County page.