Want it filled in for you? Answer a few plain-English questions and get a completed draft of the SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim — every field filled in from your answers, ready to copy onto the official form — plus a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your California claim qualifiesThe California Small Claims Form
📄 SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim (+SC-104 service series, FW-001 fee waiver)
The form that opens your case. Download it free from courts.ca.gov.
California Limit, Fee and Filing Rules
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court — Small Claims Division |
| Claim limit | $12,500 |
| Limit: Business/entity plaintiff | $6,250 |
| Limit: >2 small claims over $2,500 filed this calendar year | $2,500 |
| Claim form | SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim (+SC-104 service series, FW-001 fee waiver) |
| Filing fee | $30 / $50 / $75 (≤$1.5k / ≤$5k / >$5k) |
| Serving the defendant | Clerk certified mail ($15), adult non-party, sheriff/server; never plaintiff |
| Before you file | Must demand payment first (pleaded on SC-100) |
Filing Deadlines in California
How long the law gives you to file. When the clock starts depends on the claim, so do not leave it late: a claim filed after the deadline can be dismissed however strong it is.
| Type of claim | Time to file | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 4 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(a) |
| Oral / verbal agreement | 2 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339(1) |
| Damage to property | 3 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(b), (c)(1) |
| Personal injury | 2 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 |
| Unpaid debt or account | 2 years — 4 years where the debt is carried on a book account, on an account stated based on a written account, or on a mutual open and current account whose items are in writing — Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(b). | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339(1) |
Not sure which type yours is? The statute of limitations lookup covers more claim types.
Being Sued in California Instead?
Do you file an answer? No written answer. The defendant appears at the hearing on the date in the clerk's order. (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.310(a))
If they owe you money: Serve the Defendant's Claim (form SC-120) on the plaintiff at least 5 days before the hearing, or at least 1 day before if you were served 10 days or less before the hearing. (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.360(c))
The been-sued deadline lookup covers what happens if you do nothing.
Where to Get the Official California Forms
Court forms are free from the official sources below. Use the current version from your court.
- Official claim form — courts.ca.gov
- Official source — selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
- The clerk of the Superior Court — Small Claims Division — can give you the current form and tell you whether your court adds any local paperwork.
The Main Form: SC-100 (Plaintiff’s Claim)
Form SC-100, the Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court, is the document that opens your case. On it you list the plaintiff and defendant's names and addresses, the exact amount you're claiming, and a short explanation of why the defendant owes you the money and how you calculated the amount.
📄 SC-100 — Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court
The main claim form. It identifies the parties, the amount, and the basis of your claim, and it sets your hearing. This is the one form every California small claims case needs.
➕ SC-100A — Other Plaintiffs or Defendants
An attachment for cases with more parties than fit on the SC-100 itself — for example, suing two defendants.
Source: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov, checked August 4, 2026. Confirm with the court before you rely on it.
Serving the Defendant: the SC-104 Proof of Service
After you file SC-100, California requires that the defendant be formally served and that you file proof of it before the hearing. The proof-of-service form is SC-104. Note that the person who serves the papers must be at least 18 and not a party to the case — you cannot serve your own defendant.
📬 SC-104 — Proof of Service
The form your server signs to document how and when the defendant was served. It must be on file before your hearing goes forward.
Source: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov, checked August 4, 2026. Confirm with the court before you rely on it.
Other California Forms You Might Need
Most cases don't need these, but depending on how things unfold you may run into:
| If you need to… | Form | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Ask the court to waive the filing fee | Request to Waive Court Fees | FW-001 |
| …and read the court's decision on that request | Order on Court Fee Waiver | FW-003 |
| Move your hearing to a different date | Request to Postpone Trial | SC-150 |
| Raise your own claim after being sued | Defendant's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court | SC-120 |
| Enforce a judgment the other side won't pay | Writ of Execution | EJ-130 |
| Garnish the losing side's wages | Application for Earnings Withholding Order (Wage Garnishment) | WG-001 |
A Writ of Execution (EJ-130) comes first in any enforcement route — the wage-garnishment application is filed against a writ you already hold, not on its own.
FW-001 and FW-003 are general civil fee-waiver forms rather than small claims ones; the fee-waiver guidance explains them. Confirm the current version of any form on the official small claims forms list before you file.
Source: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov, checked August 4, 2026. Confirm with the court before you rely on it.
How does California compare? See the small claims limits and filing fees for every state.
California Small Claims Forms: FAQ
❓ What form do I file to start a small claims case in California?
The form that opens the case is the SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim. The official source is courts.ca.gov. Court-issued forms are free; you pay only the filing fee.
❓ How much can you sue for in California small claims court?
In California you can claim up to $12,500 in the Superior Court — Small Claims Division. Different limits apply in some cases: Business/entity plaintiff, $6,250; >2 small claims over $2,500 filed this calendar year, $2,500. If your claim is larger, you can usually reduce it to the limit or file in a higher court instead.
❓ How much does it cost to file small claims in California?
The filing fee is $30 / $50 / $75 (≤$1.5k / ≤$5k / >$5k). Serving the defendant usually costs extra.
❓ Can you fill in the California small claims form for me?
Yes. Answer a few plain-English questions and we produce a completed draft of the SC-100 Plaintiff's Claim, with every field filled in from your answers, ready to copy onto the official form and file. It comes with a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist.
Want it filled in for you?
A few plain-English questions about your California case, then review and file. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your California claim qualifiesGeneral information, not legal advice. SmallClaimsHelper prepares documents; it is not a law firm.