California Small Claims Court

Claim limit

$12,500

Court

Small Claims Court

File online

Yes (statewide)

Appeal window

30 days

Serving the defendant

The plaintiff arranges and pays for service and may not serve the papers personally. Service is made by any adult 18 or older who is not a party, by the county sheriff or marshal for a fee, by a registered process server, or by the court clerk by certified mail where that option is offered.

• Personal service - an adult 18 or older who is not a party hands the forms to the defendant
• Substituted service - leave the forms with an adult at the defendant's home or usual mailing address (not a P.O. box) or workplace, then mail a copy
• Certified mail sent by the court clerk (offered only in some courts; a $15 clerk fee, and it often fails because the defendant can refuse to sign)
• Service by the county sheriff or marshal for a fee
• Service by a registered process server for a fee

Clerk certified mail is complete only if the defendant actually signs for it; a refused or unsigned certified-mail service does not count and will delay the case, so most filers use personal service by a sheriff or process server.

Common questions

How much can I sue for in small claims court in California?

Up to $12,500, individual limit; an entity or other non-natural person may claim only up to $6,250, and a person may bring no more than two claims over $2,500 statewide in a calendar year. If your claim is larger, you can sue for the limit and waive the rest.

What court hears small claims in California?

Small Claims Court. Cases are filed in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened.

Who can file a small claims case in California?

Any individual 18 or older (a minor or incapacitated person files through a guardian ad litem); Sole proprietor or person doing business under a fictitious name; Partnership; Corporation, LLC, or other business entity (capped at $6,250; must appear through a regular employee, officer, or director, not an attorney); Certain governmental entities and, with limits, an assignee of a claim.

Can I file small claims online in California?

California offers statewide e-filing through No uniform statewide small claims e-filing mandate; e-filing is offered court-by-court, and self-represented litigants may e-file where their court provides it.. Some counties also accept in-person or mail filing.

How long do I have to appeal in California?

Generally 30 days from the judgment. Confirm the exact window for your court.