Article 2. Establishing Standing As Newspaper Of General Circulation of California Government Code >> Division 7. >> Title 1. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.

Whenever a newspaper desires to have its standing as a newspaper of general circulation ascertained and established, it may, by its publisher, manager, editor or attorney, file a verified petition in the superior court of the county in which it is established, printed and published, setting forth the facts which justify such action.

The petition or the substance thereof, together with a notice that the petitioner intends on a named day to apply for an order declaring it to be a newspaper of general circulation, shall be published pursuant to Section 6062:
  (a) In the petitioning newspaper, and
  (b) In some other newspaper of general circulation published in the same city as the petitioning newspaper if there is one, and if there is none, or if publication in such newspaper is refused, then in some other newspaper of general circulation published in the same county, if there is one, and if there is none, or if publication in such newspaper is refused, then, in lieu thereof, in some other newspaper of general circulation published in an adjacent county or in such other newspaper as the court shall direct.

Upon proof of the publication of the petition and notice, the court shall set the petition for hearing. Any person may appear and contest the petition either prior to or on the day set for the hearing or the day to which it is continued.

The court shall hear the proofs of the petitioner and contestant, if there be any. Within 10 days thereafter it shall render its decision and judgment and the clerk shall enter it in the records of the court.

(1) The decision and judgment may be vacated, modified or set aside by the court on its own motion, or on the motion of any person, whether a party to the original proceeding or not upon:
  (a) A verified statement of facts being made to the court.
  (b) Ten days' notice to the petitioner.
  (c) A satisfactory showing made to the court that the newspaper has ceased to be a newspaper of general circulation.
  (2) The decision and judgment may be modified by the court on its own motion, or on the motion of any person interested, whether a party to the original proceeding or not, upon a similar verified statement and the same notice and a satisfactory showing made to the court that the newspaper has modified its name without any substantial change in its character or identity as a newspaper of general circulation.

All publications made in a newspaper during the period it was adjudged to be a newspaper of general circulation are valid and sufficient.

An appeal may be taken to the supreme court from any final decision or judgment, or from any final order vacating, modifying or setting aside a decision or judgment previously entered.

On and after July 1, 1952, a newspaper shall not be in fact or in law a newspaper of general circulation unless it obtains or has theretofore obtained a judicial decree establishing it as having such status pursuant to the provisions of this article.