California Small Claims Court
Owed money in California? Here's the dollar limit, the court that hears it, what filing costs — and a free demand letter to send first, which resolves many disputes without a case. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
California small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $12,500 (individuals) / $6,250 (entities)
- Court
- Small Claims Court (small claims division of the Superior Court)
- Filing fee
- $30 (claims up to $1,500) / $50 ($1,500.01-$5,000) / $75 (over $5,000); $100 flat for frequent filers with more than 12 claims in the prior 12 months (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.230)
- Lawyers at the hearing
- not allowed at the hearing (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.530) - parties may consult a lawyer before or after, but must present the case themselves
Source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§116.220, 116.221 · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims Court (small claims division of the Superior Court) clerk before filing.
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How to file in California — the short version
- Demand first. Send the letter above by a trackable method and keep proof — judges expect it, and it often gets you paid without a case.
- File with the Small Claims Court (small claims division of the Superior Court) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: $30 (claims up to $1,500) / $50 ($1,500.01-$5,000) / $75 (over $5,000); $100 flat for frequent filers with more than 12 claims in the prior 12 months (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.230).
- Serve the defendant the way California rules require (clerk, sheriff, certified mail, or process server — ask the clerk). Bad service is the #1 way cases get thrown out.
- Bring evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, messages, this demand letter and its delivery proof, and any witnesses.
- Collect. If you win and they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment, levy, and liens.
Check the current California small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in California small claims court?
The limit is $12,500 (individuals) / $6,250 (entities) (as of 2026). SB 71, effective January 1, 2024: natural persons may sue for up to $12,500 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.221); corporations, LLCs and other entities are capped at $6,250. Any plaintiff may file only two claims over $2,500 per calendar year (§116.231). Source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§116.220, 116.221. If you're owed more, you can sue in the regular civil court instead — or waive the excess and stay in small claims, which is usually faster and cheaper.
Where do I file?
In California, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims Court (small claims division of the Superior Court), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: $30 (claims up to $1,500) / $50 ($1,500.01-$5,000) / $75 (over $5,000); $100 flat for frequent filers with more than 12 claims in the prior 12 months (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.230). Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In California: not allowed at the hearing (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.530) - parties may consult a lawyer before or after, but must present the case themselves. Either way, small claims procedure is deliberately informal — you present your story, your documents, and your witnesses directly to the judge.
What happens if I win but they don't pay?
A judgment isn't a check — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you enforce it: wage garnishment, bank levy, or property liens, depending on California law. The court clerk can point you to the forms. Judgments also accrue interest and stay enforceable for years, so a stubborn debtor doesn't run out the clock quickly.
How does California compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How California compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for California: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§116.220, 116.221 ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $12,500 — above the national median of $10,000 across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #9 of 51 states — higher means larger disputes can use the small claims process.
No other state uses exactly this figure.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — Arizona ($5,000), Nevada ($10,000), Oregon ($10,000). California's $12,500 is the longest among its neighbors.
The rest of what California requires
The figures below are California's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full California page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 1 month's rent Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5 (AB 12, eff. 7/1/2024) ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 21 days after move-out Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5 (AB 12, eff. 7/1/2024) ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5 (AB 12, eff. 7/1/2024) ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161; Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 3 days Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161; Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Capped at $30 per applicant, CPI-adjustable annually since 1998 California Legislative Information ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required California DMV (Form REG 135) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Cal. Prob. Code §4121 (form §4401) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Required by statute Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.02(s) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder · no witnesses Cal. Civ. Code § 1091 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More California legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →