Frequently Asked Questions

The Pala Tribal Court hearings are heard at 34890 Lilac Extension Road, Pala, CA 92059. (map)

NOTICE: This address is not the Tribal Court’s mailing address nor the Court Clerk’s Office. The Court is not responsible for documents mailed to the incorrect address.

If submitting documents by mail, please use the Court Mailing Address listed below. Confirm the address before mailing to ensure timely receipt and filing by the Tribal Court.

The Pala Tribal Court will only receive documents via mail through the Court Mailing Address.

Pala Tribal Court
Attn: Clerk of Courts
PMB 348, 35008 Pala Temecula Road
Pala, CA 92059

The Pala Tribal Court can receive documents in person at the Court Clerk’s Office; this is not the mailing address.

Pala Tribal Clerk’s Office
35002 Pala Temecula Road
Pala, CA 92059

The Court Clerk’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.* Court filings are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. [see the Court Filings section] 

*Except holidays and emergencies.

Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.*
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.*
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

*The Pala Tribal Court hearings are held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The clerk will be at the courthouse and not be in the Court Clerk’s Office at these times.

Please refer to the Pala Tribal Court Calendar for court hearings and dates.*

*The Pala Tribal Court hearings are held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The clerk will be at the courthouse and not be in the Court Clerk’s Office at these times.

You may reach the Pala Tribal Court Clerk directly at (760) 742-0583 and gvillegas@palatribe.com

View the Ordinance & Polices and Forms & Documents pages for important Pala Tribal Court documents.

The Court accepts mailed, in-person, and electronic filing of petitions and requests.

• To file electronically, send completed and signed petitions and forms, along with any exhibits, to gvillegas@palatribe.com.
• To file in person, visit the Court Clerk’s office at 35002 Pala Temecula Rd. Pala, CA 92059 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• To file by mail, mail to: 35008 Pala Temecula Rd. PMB 348 Pala, CA 92059.

The Pala Tribal Court hearings are held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and are subject to holidays.

Please refer to the Pala Tribal Court Schedule for court hearings and dates.

• November 2025 Dates: November 18 and 19, 2025, in observance of Thanksgiving
• December 2025 Dates: December 16 and 17, 2025, in observance of Christmas Eve and Christmas

Thursday, November 27, 2025, Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 28, 2025, After Thanksgiving
Thursday, December 25, 2025, Christmas Day
Friday, December 26, 2025, After Christmas Day
Friday, January 1, 2025, New Year’s Day

The Pala Tribal Court will consider requests for emergency hearings between scheduled court dockets.

Please complete, sign, and submit to the Court Clerk a Request for an Emergency Hearing, with a clear explanation of the reasons for your request and dates and times you are unavailable. The Court will make every effort to meet the needs of litigants.

Requests should be submitted in person or via email to gvillegas@palatribe.com to ensure a timely response.

The Pala Tribal Court exercises civil jurisdiction over all visitors, residents, and Pala Tribal Members of the Pala Indian Reservation, including the Pala Casino and Resort, pursuant to the Pala Peace and Security Ordinance.

If you are cited for violating the Ordinance, the Court can impose a civil citation fine against you. The Schedule of Fines can be found here.

Please note that if you fail to appear for a scheduled hearing, you may be found in default and subject to a doubled fine pursuant to Peace and Security Ordinance §6.H.3.

The Pala Tribal Court strongly encourages you to contact the Court Clerk and Request a Continuance to avoid additional fines.

Please refer to the Jurisdiction page for more details.

The Pala Tribal Court exercises jurisdiction in Family law matters involving at least one of the following:

• An enrolled Pala Band Tribal member.
• An enrolled Pala Band Tribal member child(ren).
• Children who are eligible for Tribal membership in the Pala Band.
• Children with at least one biological parent who is an enrolled Pala Band Tribal member (direct descendants).

The Tribal Court hears the following Family Law subject areas:

• Child Welfare (Dependency)
• Child Support
• Parentage
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Adoptions and Guardianships

The Pala Tribal Court exercises jurisdiction over both the Person (individual) and the Estate (money, property) for those individuals who meet the criteria of a vulnerable or incompetent adult pursuant to the Tribe’s Adult Protection Ordinance.

The Pala Tribal Court issues restraining orders for the prevention of domestic violence and civil harassment.

The Pala Tribal Court follows strict Rules of Decorum as adopted by the Pala Tribal Court.

Please refer to the Rules of Decorum page for more details.

Citations can be found in Ordinance 10 – Pala Peace and Security, Amended May 11, 2016. Pertinent section listed below. 

Notice of Civil Infraction (Section 10)

The Tribal Court will mail a Notice of Civil Infraction to respondents alleged to have violated the Tribe’s Peace and Security Ordinance. A Civil Citation becomes final thirty (30) calendar days following service of the Notice of Civil Infraction.

Civil Penalties (Section 11)

Civil penalties are due ten (10) calendar days following the date upon which the citation becomes final.  The schedule of civil penalties is located in the Pala Peace and Security Ordinance.

Scheduling of Hearings (Section 12)

Respondents may contest the Notice of Civil Citation and must do so within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of service of the Civil Citation. Information on contesting a citation will be provided on the Notice of Civil Citation.

If a Respondent requests a hearing to contest their Civil Citation, the Court will calendar such a hearing within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the Respondent’s Request.

Respondents may appear in person or remotely via video conferencing. If a respondent elects to appear by video, please notify the Clerk, who will provide a link before the hearing date.

Please review the Pala Peace and Security Ordinance, Section 12, subsections D-J, for additional information on the hearing process.

Judgments and Minute Orders (Section 13)

Within 30 calendar days of the hearing on Respondent’s challenge to the Civil Citation, the Tribal Court will issue a written minute order documenting the Court’s decision and the amount of the civil penalty, if any. The Notice of Entry of Judgment will be provided to the Respondent within seven (7) calendar days of its issuance.

The Pala Tribal Court only accepts cash, money order, check, physical VISA, and MASTERCARD debit and credit card payments at the Clerk of Court’s Office. The Payee must provide a valid ID matching the name on the card.

Card payments are processed on a Square device, and a 2.6% fee is added to your payment amount. The charge name will appear as “Pala Band of Mission Indians.”

Cash payments are to be made at the Pala Finance Department, located at the Pala Administration Building, 12196 Pala Mission Road, Pala, CA 92059. (map)

The Payee is responsible for providing the Pala Finance Department with the case file number to which the payment is to be applied.

The Pala Tribal Court does not accept pre-paid cards as a form of payment.

The Pala Tribal Court does not accept online or app-based payments such as Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, etc.

The Pala Tribal Court and the Pala Tribal Government offer payment arrangements for Respondents to pay their civil penalties. The Respondent must sign a payment arrangement form with the Pala Finance Department and leave a 10% down payment. The Pala Tribal Court imposes a $10 late fee for all late payments under a payment arrangement.

The Respondent is responsible for contacting the Pala Finance Department to arrange a payment plan. Respondents will need the case file number to which the payment is to be applied.

Any judgment, including civil penalties and child support payments, can be satisfied through both voluntary and involuntary paycheck and payment deductions.

Voluntary deductions are amounts that Tribal Employees and Tribal Members choose to have withheld from their paychecks and per capita to satisfy judgments and child support obligations.

Involuntary deductions are mandatory withholdings that employees cannot opt out of, as they are required by federal, state, or tribal laws. Civil penalties incurred by Tribal employees and Tribal members may be withheld from their paychecks or per capita to satisfy judgments and child support obligations.

“Pala Band of Mission Indians” will appear on your bank or credit card statement.

If you believe you have been overcharged for a Civil Penalty or other judgment, please contact the Tribal Court Clerk. Documented overcharges will be refunded.

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