California Small Claims Limit

Claim limit

$12,500

Court

Small Claims Court

File online

Varies by court

Appeal window

30 days

What counts toward the limit

The limit applies to what you are asking the court to award, which is not the same as everything you are out of pocket:

• The principal amount you are claiming — 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 — so those sit outside the cap rather than eating into it.
• A claim larger than the limit can be filed for the limit, giving up the rest. That choice is normally final.
• Splitting one dispute into two cases to get under the limit is not permitted.

Small Claims Desk does not advise on what to claim or for how much. The limit above is the court’s; the number you put in the form is yours.

A different limit for businesses

In some California courts the cap depends on who is suing:

• Los Angeles County: $12,500 for an individual, $6,250 where the plaintiff is a business or assignee.
• San Diego County: $12,500 for an individual, $6,250 where the plaintiff is a business or assignee.
• Orange County: $12,500 for an individual, $6,250 where the plaintiff is a business or assignee.
• Riverside County: $12,500 for an individual, $6,250 where the plaintiff is a business or assignee.
• San Bernardino County: $12,500 for an individual, $6,250 where the plaintiff is a business or assignee.
• Santa Clara County: $12,500 for an individual, $6,250 where the plaintiff is a business or assignee.

If you are filing as a company rather than as yourself, check which figure your court applies before you set the claim amount.

When the claim is bigger than the limit

Should I just file for the limit and give up the rest?

That is a real choice people make, and it is normally final — you cannot come back later for the remainder. Whether it is the right choice depends on the size of the gap and on whether the defendant could pay a larger judgment at all. We cannot make that call for you.

Can I file two cases to cover the whole amount?

No. Splitting one dispute into two claims to get under the cap is not permitted, and a court that notices will dismiss.

What does the higher court cost?

More, in every dimension: a larger filing fee, formal procedure, and in practice the need for a lawyer. That is the trade the limit exists to let you avoid.

Does the limit include what the dispute cost me in time?

The court awards money for the loss you can prove, not for the inconvenience. Costs and interest are handled separately from the cap.

Common questions

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

California sets the small claims limit at $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.

What if I am owed more than the California limit?

You can file for the limit and give up the difference, or file in a higher division where the procedure is more formal and the costs are higher. Courts do not allow one dispute to be split into two small claims cases.

Do court costs count toward the California limit?

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, so they are handled separately from the cap.

Does the limit change by county in California?

The statutory limit is statewide. Filing fees and local practice do vary by county — pick your county to see its exact figures.