If your case needs a process server in San Ramon, Valpro Attorney Services serves summonses, complaints, subpoenas, family law papers, small claims and eviction papers on people and businesses across the city. San Ramon counted 84,605 residents at the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau's estimate for July 2025 is higher, at 86,209. That's an increase of about 1,600 people in five years.
We run San Ramon requests from our Sacramento office, about 63.2 miles away. We don't have a San Ramon office. Requests arrive online, and every update comes by email.
San Ramon cases are filed in Martinez
San Ramon is in Contra Costa County, and that court concentrates most filing in the county seat. Its where-to-file page lists San Ramon's ZIP Codes, 94582 and 94583, under the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez.
| San Ramon matter | Where it's filed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, limited or unlimited | Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court St, Martinez | Limited cases ($35,000 or less) were reassigned to Dept. 14 in Richmond on January 5, 2026 |
| Small claims | Wakefield Taylor, under the city-where-it-started rule | Heard in Martinez |
| Unlawful detainer | Wakefield Taylor, same rule | Martinez department |
| Probate, guardianship, conservatorship | Wakefield Taylor | Filed and heard there |
| Family law, including DVROs | Spinetta Family Law Center, 751 Pine St, Martinez | All family law filings |
| Juvenile | Walnut Creek Juvenile and Traffic Center only | 640 Ygnacio Valley Road |
From the Contra Costa County Superior Court's where-to-file, limited civil and location pages, read in October 2026.
The drive is the hard part. Martinez is about 20.7 miles from central San Ramon in a straight line, and both the main courthouse and the family law center are there.
The courthouse four miles away is the wrong one
San Ramon's southern neighbor, Dublin, has a courthouse about 4.2 miles from central San Ramon: the East County Hall of Justice on Gleason Drive. It belongs to the Alameda County court, a separate court from Contra Costa's, and it hears only criminal and traffic cases. A San Ramon lawsuit can't be filed there.
The same county line runs through the rest of the Tri-Valley. Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore cases go to Alameda County's courthouses in Hayward and Oakland. San Ramon, Danville and the unincorporated areas around them go to Martinez. When a dispute involves parties on both sides of the line, where the case belongs is a venue question for you or your attorney. We serve on both sides either way.
Filing at Wakefield Taylor from San Ramon
For a paper filing, the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse page gives three times to work with:
- 4:00 p.m., when the clerk windows close, Monday through Friday.
- 5:00 p.m., the drop box cutoff. Anything deposited between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. is deemed filed that day.
- Court Records, Room 103, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for file review and copies.
The court's phones are answered only until 3:00 p.m., and the same page lists the Martinez law library as open until 4:45 p.m.
Attorneys mostly skip the counter. Under Local Rule 2.87 and the court's Ninth Amended Standing Order, e-filing has been mandatory for represented parties since July 5, 2022, in unlimited, limited and complex civil cases, unlawful detainers, small claims and family law. Self-represented filers can still choose paper. We do both, and our Contra Costa County court filings page lists what to send.
Limited civil cases and the Richmond department
One change from 2026 surprises San Ramon filers. The court's limited civil page says that, effective January 5, 2026, every limited civil case, meaning $35,000 or less, was reassigned from Department 34 to Department 14 in Richmond. The case is still filed through Martinez. A San Ramon collection action or a small contract dispute can end up with hearings in Richmond, on the far side of the county.
Read the department on every notice. If papers or a courtesy copy have to reach Richmond, tell us on the Service Request.
Offices at Bishop Ranch
A lot of San Ramon service happens at work. Bishop Ranch, which describes itself as the heart of San Ramon, lists 585 acres, about 5 million square feet of Class A office space and about 1 million square feet of retail and entertainment space. The site also lists two on-site hotels and about 8,000 homes planned.
A campus that size can mean a long walk between the right building and the wrong one. For a workplace attempt, give us:
- The company name and the person's role, if known.
- The building and suite, not just the street address.
- Their usual hours in the office, and whether they work remotely some days.
- Lobby rules, if you know them. Some buildings check visitors in before anyone goes upstairs.
A home address is still the better first attempt for most people. Use the office as the backup.
Papers to serve in San Ramon?
San Ramon ZIP Code areas and unincorporated land
The Census matches two ZIP Code areas to San Ramon, and neither is all city:
- 94582 is about 77% San Ramon by land area. The rest lies outside any city or Census-designated place.
- 94583 is only about 39% San Ramon. About 17% is Norris Canyon, an unincorporated Census-designated place in Contra Costa County, and about 44% is outside any place. A small sliver is in Danville.
Both ZIP Code areas are entirely in Contra Costa County under the Census Bureau's 2020 relationship files. So a "San Ramon, CA" address outside city limits still goes to the same court. The difference shows up on the ground. An address outside city limits can mean a longer approach or a private gate, so send a cross street, a gate code or a photo if you have one.
Neighbors that share the Martinez courthouse
San Ramon's unincorporated neighbors follow the same routing. The where-to-file table lists Blackhawk (94506), Diablo (94528) and Alamo (94507) under the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, alongside Danville (94506 and 94526). A request that covers several defendants spread between San Ramon and these communities can go on a single Service Request, with one filing destination. List each address separately, with the community name the papers use.
San Ramon evictions and small claims
Contra Costa hears small claims and evictions in the courthouse serving the city where the dispute started. For San Ramon, that's Martinez. The court's landlord-tenant page lists Department 57 as the Martinez department for remote appearances, and it sets a rule worth noting: for a remote hearing, documents must be served and delivered to the clerk's office in person, by drop box or by overnight delivery at least 3 court days before the hearing. Electronic delivery isn't allowed for those.
Small claims limits are $12,500 for a person, including a sole proprietor, and $6,250 for a corporation, LLC or partnership. A claimant can't file more than two claims over $2,500 anywhere in California in a calendar year.
Once the claim or the unlawful detainer is filed, it has to be served. Our proof of service guide covers what the proof must show. From January 1, 2027, AB 747 adds steps to substituted service, and the AB 747 guide explains them.
Family law papers from San Ramon
All Contra Costa family law cases, domestic violence restraining orders and adoptions included, are filed at the Spinetta Family Law Center, 751 Pine Street, Martinez. The center's page says the court encourages filing by drop box or mail. The drop box sits in front of the building, and mailed filings need the original, at least two copies, the fee or a fee waiver request, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
When papers have to be served on a San Ramon spouse or parent, tell us the hearing date and anything about the person's schedule.
Serving a San Ramon company
Look up the company on the California Secretary of State's bizfile Online and send us the agent for service of process exactly as listed. A receptionist usually isn't authorized to accept. A company with a San Ramon office may name a commercial registered agent somewhere else in the state. Our serving corporations page explains each route, with pages for CSC and CT Corporation.
Sending San Ramon papers
- Open a Service Request and attach up to 5 PDFs.
- Name each person or company to be served.
- Add every address: home, office, suite.
- Pick Rush or Standard, and add a Martinez filing if you need one.
Questions go to 855-582-5776 or Service@ValproAttorneyServices.com. We make no guarantees for service. If the person no longer lives in San Ramon, our skip tracing service can look for a current address.
Near San Ramon
Straight-line distances from central San Ramon:
- Danville (3.8 miles) and Walnut Creek (11.2), in Contra Costa County
- Dublin (3.9) and Pleasanton (7.3), across the line in Alameda County
- Castro Valley (8.2), also in Alameda County
Every city we serve is on the Contra Costa County page.