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California small claims cost guide
In California you can claim up to $12,500 (individuals) · $6,250 (businesses). The filing fee is Statewide tiers: $30 (to $1,500) · $50 (to $5,000) · $75 (to $12,500) · $100 if you filed 12+ claims in the past year.
| California at a glance | Figure |
|---|---|
| Maximum claim | $12,500 (individuals) · $6,250 (businesses) |
| Court | Superior Court — Small Claims Division |
| Filing fee | Statewide tiers: $30 (to $1,500) · $50 (to $5,000) · $75 (to $12,500) · $100 if you filed 12+ claims in the past year |
| Service of process | Clerk's certified mail $15 per defendant; sheriff $40–$75; private servers $50–$150 |
Before you file anywhere, check the claim limit and filing fee for your state — a claim $1 over the limit can be dismissed or bounced to regular civil court.
Open the cost calculatorWhere you file
You file in the Superior Court, Small Claims Division, in the county where the defendant lives or does business, where the contract was made or performed, or where the injury or damage occurred. Every California court has a free Small Claims Advisor service that will review your paperwork before you file.
Filing fees by claim amount
Statewide tiers: $30 (to $1,500) · $50 (to $5,000) · $75 (to $12,500) · $100 if you filed 12+ claims in the past year. Because the schedule is tiered, the exact fee for your claim is in the calculator on the homepage — select California and enter your amount.
Service of process: options and costs
| Method | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk's certified mail | $15 per defendant | Cheapest option — but valid only if the defendant actually signs the return receipt; if they don't, you must re-serve personally |
| Sheriff / marshal | $40–$75, varies by county | Fee-waiver eligible, unlike private servers |
| Private process server | $50–$150 for standard personal service | Fastest; a non-party adult (a friend or relative over 18) may also serve for free |
Step by step: filing in California
- Complete Form SC-100 (Plaintiff's Claim and Order to Go to Small Claims Court). A natural person can claim up to $12,500; a business or public entity up to $6,250 (or $8,125 against a guarantor that charges for its services).
- Pay the tiered filing fee: $30 up to $1,500, $50 up to $5,000, $75 up to $12,500 — or $100 if you have filed more than 12 small claims in the previous 12 months.
- Serve the defendant: clerk's certified mail ($15) is cheapest, but if the signed receipt doesn't come back, switch to personal service before the hearing deadline.
- The defendant may file their own claim against you (Form SC-120) at the same fee tiers. There is no fee just to show up and defend.
- At the hearing, no attorneys are allowed — you present your own evidence. Only the defendant may appeal a judgment (the plaintiff cannot appeal their own claim), and the appeal is a new trial in Superior Court.
- If you win and aren't paid, a Writ of Execution costs $40 and an Abstract of Judgment (which liens the defendant's real property) costs $40.
Timelines and extra fees
- Filing frequency: claims over $2,500 may be filed no more than twice per calendar year.
- Postponement of a hearing: a $10 fee applies to request one.
- Mediation: most counties offer free or low-cost small claims mediation on or before the hearing day — ask the clerk when you file.
The honest summary: California's tiers are genuinely statewide — the same $30/$50/$75 schedule applies in every county, set by state law. The trap is service: clerk's mail feels like a bargain at $15 until the defendant never signs, the hearing gets continued, and you pay for personal service anyway. For a defendant you expect to dodge, pay for personal service the first time.
In nearly every state the loser is ordered to reimburse your filing and service fees. Here is how that actually works, and when it doesn't.
Read: recovering your court costsWorked total: what a case costs to file
| Claim amount | Filing fee | Service | Total to file |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $30 | $15–$75 | $45–$105 |
| $2,500 | $50 | $15–$75 | $65–$125 |
| $5,000 | $50 | $15–$75 | $65–$125 |
These totals are filing fee plus service only, for one defendant, before any mediation, jury, or enforcement charges itemised above. If you win, courts generally order the defendant to reimburse these costs — see recovering your court costs.
Sources: San Francisco Superior Court — Small Claims Instructions & Fee Schedule (SFSCL-003) · Nolo — State Small Claims Court Dollar Limits. Researched October 2026 — confirm current figures with the court clerk.
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