Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

You can file a motion to continue the matter. A court may grant a continuance for good cause. You would need to show the court that you have a good reason as to why you cannot appear at trial and that you requested the continuance as soon as you discovered that you would need the continuance. There is no guarantee that the court will grant the continuance.

You sould immediatley contact the other side to see if they will stipulate (agree) to a continuance. Plaintiff's in evictions do not typically agree to continuances but it is worth a try. Courts rountinely grant continuances when the parties have agreed to do so however the court does not have to continue the matter simply because the parties wish to do so.It depends on the judge. Since the continuance may not be granted you should do what you can to make yourself availavble for trial since failing to appear will most likely result in a judgment entered against you.