How to File Small Claims in California

Claim limit

$12,500

Court

Small Claims Court

File online

Varies by court

Appeal window

30 days

Common questions

Step 1 — Which court do I file in?

California small claims cases go to Small Claims Court in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. Pick your county below.

Step 2 — What form do I file?

Your county's claim form (Statement of Claim, Complaint, or Petition). We complete it with your claim in the language the court expects.

Step 3 — What does it cost?

A filing fee set by your county, plus a small service fee. Your county page shows the current amounts.

Step 4 — How is the defendant served?

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.

Step 5 — What happens at the hearing?

California uses a Trial. Bring your documents and be ready to explain what happened. We give you a checklist of what to bring.

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.

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