California Small Claims Court

Claim limit

$12,500

Court

Small Claims Court

File online

Varies by court

Appeal window

30 days

Small Claims Courts in California

Small Claims Desk currently supports 19 courts in California. Tap a pin or a court below for its filing details, fees, and forms.

• Superior Court of California, County of Alameda — Small Claims — Alameda County
  1225 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA 94612
• Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa — Small Claims — Contra Costa County
  Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
• Superior Court of California, County of Fresno — Small Claims — Fresno County
  B.F. Sisk Courthouse, 1130 O Street, Fresno, CA 93721
• Superior Court of California, County of Kern — Civil and Small Claims Division (Metropolitan Division/Justice Building) — Kern County
  1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Small Claims Division (Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Central District) — Los Angeles County
  111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Superior Court of California, County of Monterey — Small Claims — Monterey County
  Monterey Courthouse, 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 93940
• Superior Court of California, County of Orange — Small Claims Division (Central Justice Center) — Orange County
  700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
• Superior Court of California, County of Riverside — Small Claims Division — Riverside County
  505 S. Buena Vista Ave. #201, Corona, CA 92882
• Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Small Claims Division (Carol Miller Justice Center) — Sacramento County
  301 Bicentennial Circle, Sacramento, CA 95826
• Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino — Small Claims Division — San Bernardino County
  17780 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana, CA 92335
• Superior Court of California, County of San Diego — Small Claims Division (Central Division) — San Diego County
  330 West Broadway, Room 225, San Diego, CA 92101
• Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco — Small Claims Division (Department 506) — San Francisco County
  400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102
• Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo — Small Claims Division — San Mateo County
  400 County Center, 1st Floor, Room A, Redwood City, CA 94063
• Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara — Small Claims — Santa Barbara County
  Anacapa Division, 1100 Anacapa Street, 2nd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
• Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara — Small Claims Division (Downtown Superior Court) — Santa Clara County
  191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
• Superior Court of California, County of Solano — Small Claims Division — Solano County
  Old Solano Courthouse, 580 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533
• Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma — Small Claims — Sonoma County
  Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
• Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus — Small Claims Division — Stanislaus County
  300 Starr Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380
• Superior Court of California, County of Tulare — Small Claims — Tulare County
  221 S. Mooney Boulevard, Room 201, Visalia, CA 93291

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?

It depends on your court in California — some accept e-filing, others require filing in person or by mail. Pick your county to see the methods it accepts.

How long do I have to appeal in California?

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

Not sure this fits your situation? Ask us about it — we answer by email, and it costs nothing.