State guide
California
This is general information, not legal advice. California handles small claims inside the superior court of each county. The Judicial Council's self-help page describes small claims as an easier way to take someone to court when you think the other side owes you less than $12,500, or less than $6,250 if you are suing as a business. That single sentence is the figure this directory uses, because it is the instruction the court system publishes to the public. Local superior courts supply the forms. The self-help steps cover what to do before you start, how to file and serve, what happens on the court date, and what happens after the trial if you need to collect or if you owe the money.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Which court hears it
- Small claims division of the superior court
- Dollar limit we could verify
- The Judicial Council self-help page says small claims is for when you think the other side owes you less than $12,500, or less than $6,250 if you are suing as a business.
- Statute or court page
- Official page →
- Filing or self-help page
- Official page →
The business figure and the individual figure are different on purpose. The self-help page states the lower number for a person suing as a business. If you own a company, do not assume the higher number applies to a claim the company is bringing. The page also frames the case as money the other side owes you. If you need the court to order someone to do something other than pay, ask the self-help center whether small claims can grant that relief in your situation. The page is organized as four steps, and the first step is to decide whether small claims fits before you fill out a form.
Starting a case means getting the right forms, filing them, and serving the other side. The self-help page says the court date is when the judge listens to both sides, looks at evidence, and decides who wins or loses. Bring documents, not just a narrative. After the trial, the same page points to instructions on collecting money and on your options if you are the one who owes money. Collection is its own process. A decision that you won does not move money by itself. Follow the after-trial instructions for the county where the case was heard, because sheriffs and levies are local.
California's self-help site is the public face of the Judicial Council, and it links to forms and to local court information. Use it alongside the superior court's own page for filing hours and any local rule about how many cases a person may file. This directory does not restate older code sections that bills have proposed to change. The number above is the number on the self-help page at the time it was retrieved. If a later page on courts.ca.gov shows a different figure, the later court page controls.
Official resources in California
Judicial Council page stating the less-than-$12,500 and less-than-$6,250 figures and the four-step process.
Judicial branch home page for local superior courts and forms.
Broader self-help library that sits behind the small claims steps.
Key facts for California
- California small claims are part of the superior court.
- The court self-help page states a less-than-$12,500 line, and a less-than-$6,250 line when you sue as a business.
- The page describes a judge hearing both sides and looking at evidence.
- It separates the trial from later collection.
- Forms and service instructions are published on the same self-help path.
- The published figures should be rechecked on that page if time has passed.
What to do next
- Use the lower figure if a business is the one suing.
- Finish the 'before you start' step on the self-help page before you file.
- Bring the papers the judge will need, because the page says the judge looks at evidence.
- Follow the after-trial collection instructions if you win and the money is not paid.
Looking for your city or county in California?
We haven't found official court-level pages for California we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across California, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Judicial Council of California
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the California page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What small claims court is
- How dollar limits work
- Who can sue and be sued
- A demand letter before you file