DISC-001, Form Interrogatories—General, is a Judicial Council of California form of pre-approved written questions that one party in a civil case sends to another party to be answered under oath. The asking party checks the boxes next to the questions it wants answered, and the answering party responds to each one checked. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF and its revision are published by the California courts at courts.ca.gov.
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What is DISC-001?
Form Interrogatories—General (DISC-001) is the Judicial Council of California form containing numbered written questions, approved under Code of Civil Procedure section 2033.710, that a party to a civil action may send to another party to be answered under oath.
The form is for optional use. Its instructions say it is designed for unlimited civil cases where the amount demanded exceeds $35,000. The asking party checks the box beside each interrogatory it wants answered and may add its own definition of INCIDENT in Section 4(a)(2) when the action arises from a course of conduct or a series of events over a period of time. Additional interrogatories may be attached.
The questions are grouped by topic: identity of persons answering (1.0), background of an individual (2.0) or a business entity (3.0), insurance (4.0), injuries (6.0), property damage (7.0), loss of income (8.0), other damages (9.0), medical history (10.0), other and previous claims (11.0), investigation (12.0 and 13.0), statutory violations (14.0), denials and defenses (15.0), defendant's contentions in personal injury cases (16.0), responses to requests for admission (17.0), how a motor vehicle incident occurred (20.0) and contract disputes (50.0).
Other subjects have their own forms. The contents list sends unlawful detainer to DISC-003, economic litigation to DISC-004, employment law to DISC-002 and family law to FL-145. DISC-004 is the separate set, with no subparts, designed for limited civil cases of $35,000 or less, though it may also be used in unlimited cases.
Who needs to file DISC-001?
The main users are parties to a civil action in California, in two roles. The asking party prepares the interrogatories and sends them to another party. The answering party is the party who receives them and must answer under oath.
For the asking party, the form's instructions say it is designed for optional use in unlimited civil cases where the amount demanded exceeds $35,000. Use care in choosing the interrogatories that apply to the case; section 16.0, Defendant's Contentions—Personal Injury, should not be used until the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to investigate or conduct discovery of the plaintiff's injuries and damages.
Do not use this form for limited civil cases of $35,000 or less if you want questions without subparts: the form points to DISC-004 for those, although DISC-004 may also be used in unlimited cases. The form also refers unlawful detainer actions to DISC-003, employment law cases to DISC-002 and family law cases to FL-145.
For the answering party, the form states that answers can draw on information held by your attorneys or agents, and that you must make a reasonable and good faith effort to get information you do not personally know. The form names no one else who may answer or sign for a party.
When to file DISC-001
The form is used when a party in a civil case wants written answers from another party and serves the interrogatories on that party. The form prints no due date for the asking party; for time limitations and requirements for service, it refers to Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.010–2030.410 and the cases construing them.
The answering party has a printed time limit. As a general rule, within 30 days after being served, you must serve your responses on the asking party and serve copies on all other parties who have appeared in the action. The form refers to Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.260–2030.270 for details.
One timing rule applies to the asking party: the section 16.0 interrogatories should not be used until the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to investigate or conduct discovery of the plaintiff's injuries and damages.
Documents you need
- Documents referred to in an answer, only if you answer an interrogatory by referring to a document: attach it as an exhibit to your response and, for a multi-page document, cite the page and section holding the answer.
- A separate sheet labeled "Sec. 4(a)(2)", only if your definition of INCIDENT does not fit in the space on the form.
- Any additional interrogatories, only if the asking party chooses to add its own beyond the form's questions.
How to fill out DISC-001
Enter the attorney or party details
At the top, fill in Attorney or Party Without Attorney: state bar number, name, firm name, street address, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number, fax number and email address. Add the name of the party you represent in Attorney for (name).
Identify the court and the case
Enter the county in Superior Court of California, County of, the short title of the case and the case number.
Name the asking and answering parties
In the title block, enter the Asking Party, the Answering Party and the Set No. for this set of interrogatories.
Check one definition of INCIDENT
In Section 4(a), check (1) to use the printed definition of INCIDENT, or (2) to insert your own definition or attach a sheet labeled "Sec. 4(a)(2)". Use your own only where the action arises from a course of conduct or a series of events over a period of time.
Check the interrogatories to be answered
In Section 5, check the box next to each interrogatory you want the answering party to answer, using the topic groups in the contents list. Choose only those that apply to the case.
Select topics that fit your case type
Choose from 2.0 or 3.0 for an individual or a business entity, 6.0 through 11.0 for injuries and damages, 12.0 and 13.0 for investigation, 20.0 for a motor vehicle incident or 50.0 for a contract dispute. Hold 16.0 until the defendant has had time to investigate or conduct discovery.
Add any extra interrogatories
If the form's questions do not cover everything, attach additional interrogatories. Mark them so the answering party can tell them from the checked form questions.
Review the answering party's duties
Section 3 tells the answering party to answer each checked interrogatory, as completely as the information reasonably available permits, and to serve responses within 30 days as a general rule.
Prepare the verification for answers
The answering party's answers must be verified, dated and signed. The form offers a declaration under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California to place at the end of the answers.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the case information, the Set No., the INCIDENT definition and every box you checked. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and serve it as described under How to submit.
How to submit DISC-001
The form names no filing office, portal or mailing address. It is an interrogatory set served on another party, and its instructions send you to the Code of Civil Procedure for service.
- Asking party: complete the form, check the interrogatories you want answered and serve it on the party who must answer. For time limitations, service requirements and other details, see Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.010–2030.410.
- Answering party: serve your responses on the asking party and serve copies on all other parties who have appeared in the action, generally within 30 days after you were served. See Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.260–2030.270.
Your answers must be verified, dated and signed. The form offers a declaration you may use at the end of your answers: "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing answers are true and correct." If you assert a privilege or objection, state it specifically in your written response.
The California courts also list this form with how-to information on discovery at https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/DISC-001. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using this form in a limited civil case when you want questions without subparts; the form points to DISC-004 for cases of $35,000 or less.
- Checking every box instead of only the interrogatories that apply; the instructions tell the asking party to use care in choosing them.
- Using section 16.0, Defendant's Contentions—Personal Injury, before the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to investigate or conduct discovery of the plaintiff's injuries and damages.
- Inserting a definition of INCIDENT in Section 4(a)(2) when the action does not arise from a course of conduct or a series of events over a period of time.
- Answering interrogatories 6.2 through 6.7 after answering "no" to 6.1, or 8.2 through 8.8 after "no" to 8.1; the form says not to.
- Raising a privilege or objection without stating it specifically in the written response.
- Serving answers that are not verified, dated and signed.
- Serving responses on the asking party only, without copies to the other parties who have appeared in the action.
Frequently asked questions
What is DISC-001?
DISC-001 is the Judicial Council of California's Form Interrogatories—General: a set of approved written questions one party in a civil case may send to another party to be answered under oath. The asking party checks the questions it wants answered.
When should I use DISC-001 instead of DISC-004?
The form says it is designed for optional use in unlimited civil cases where the amount demanded exceeds $35,000. DISC-004, Form Interrogatories—Limited Civil Cases (Economic Litigation), has no subparts and is for cases of $35,000 or less, though it may also be used in unlimited cases.
How long do I have to answer DISC-001?
As a general rule, within 30 days after you are served. You must serve your responses on the asking party and serve copies on all other parties who have appeared in the action. The form refers to Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.260–2030.270 for details.
Do answers to the form interrogatories have to be signed?
Yes. Answers must be verified, dated and signed. The form suggests a declaration to use at the end of the answers: that the foregoing answers are true and correct under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California.
Do I have to answer every question on DISC-001?
No. You answer each interrogatory the asking party checked. If you cannot answer completely, answer to the extent possible, and if you assert a privilege or objection, state it specifically in your written response.
Where do I send the completed DISC-001?
The form names no office or address. The asking party serves it on the other party under the rules in Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.010–2030.410. The answering party serves responses on the asking party, with copies to other parties who have appeared.
Can I add my own questions to DISC-001?
Yes. The form says additional interrogatories may be attached. You may also insert your own definition of INCIDENT in Section 4(a)(2), but only where the action arises from a course of conduct or a series of events over a period of time.
Can I fill out DISC-001 online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the fillable PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service: it does not serve the interrogatories or file anything with a court, so you serve the form through the channels the Code of Civil Procedure describes.
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