Opinions Forms Rules Courts You are currently in the Programs section Careers Reference Search Site
Background
Funding
Planning
Instructional Materials
Program Management
Staff Resources
Technical Resources
Limited-English Proficiency (LEP) Materials and Resources
Pro Bono
Ethical Issues
Research and Evaluation
Related Web Sites
Best Practices
Newsletter Library
Service Delivery Models
Disclaimer
Return to the California Courts home page

Search Equal Access Project for:

Consumer/Small Claims

Information

Instructions

Templates and Samples

Videos

Information

What happens after the small claims hearing? (Prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.) Also available in Spanish.

Get ready for small claims court (prepared by the San Francisco ACCESS Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.). Also available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

How to collect your money after you win your case (Small Claims) (DOC, 66 KB) (prepared by the San Francisco ACCESS Center) This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.
Also available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Collecting your Small Claims Court Judgment (Rev. 1/2007) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy..)

Small Claims Court: How It Works (PDF, 103 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento)
Also available in Hmong and Vietnamese.

Easy Reader Brochure - Small Claims Court (PDF, 13 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Kern This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Small Claims Court (PDF, 890 KB) (Prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Siskiyou This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Small Claims Manual (DOC, 557 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Small Claims Checklist (Spanish) (Rev. 03/2008) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.).

Instructions

Filing a Claim - Overview (PDF, 61 KB) (DOC, 13 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Amend a Claim (PDF, 60 KB) (DOC, 12 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Appeal a Judgment (PDF, 77 KB) (DOC, 14 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Change a Court Date (PDF, 60 KB) (DOC, 12 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Collect a Judgment (PDF, 99 KB) (DOC, 16 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Countersue (PDF, 78 KB) (DOC, 13 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Name a Defendant (PDF, 69 KB) (DOC, 13 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Prepare and Present Your Case (PDF, 74 KB) (DOC, 17 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Subpoena a Witness (PDF, 72 KB) (DOC, 13 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Vacate a Default Judgment (PDF, 80 KB) (DOC, 14 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Locating a Person or Business (PDF, 83 KB) (DOC, 16 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Find Agent for Service for Corp., LLC, or LP (Rev. 1/2007) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.).

How to Serve the Secretary of State (Rev. 5/2007) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.).

Service of Process on the Secretary of State for Non-Resident Corporations with No Agent for Service of Process in California (PDF, 73 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Small Claims Advisor This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to serve a Small Claims case if you were involved in a car accident with a driver or owner who lives outside of California? (PDF, 136 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Small Claims Advisor This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

How to Sue a Person that is Suing You (Rev. 1/2007) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy..)

How to File a Motion to Vacate (Rev. 7/2006) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy..)

How to Find the Owner of a Business (Rev. 2/2007) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy..)

How to Appeal a Small Claims Judgment (Rev. 2/2007) (Prepared by the Santa Clara Superior Court Self Service Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy..)

Small Claims Court Checklist for Plaintiffs and Defendants (PDF, 104 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)
Also available in Chinese and Vietnamese.

Small Claims Manual (DOC, 557 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Instructions to Officer Serving This Writ of Possession (PDF, 56 KB) (DOC, 10 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Instructions for Filing of a Motion for an Order to Garnish Spouses Wages on a Non-Debtor Spouse (PDF, 67 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Small Claims Advisor This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Templates/Samples

Notice of Bad Check (Civ. Code § 1719) (PDF, 18 KB) (prepared by the Ventura Courts Self-Help Legal Access Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Judgment Decreeing Property Released from Mechanic's Lien (PDF, 117 KB) (prepared by the Ventura Courts Self-Help Legal Access Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Petition for Decree Releasing Property From Mechanic's Lien and Order Fixing Date and Time of Hearing (PDF, 107 KB) (prepared by the Ventura Courts Self-Help Legal Access Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

NSF/Closed Account Checks Letter (PDF, 38 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Request for Change of Address or Boxholder Information Needed for Service of Legal Process (PDF, 8 KB)

Stopped Payment Checks Letter (PDF, 28 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Small Claims Advisor This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Stipulation to Vacate Judgment and Order Thereon (PDF, 53 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Small Claims Advisor This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Declaration in Support of Motion for Services of Process Under Civil Code Section 1962.7 (PDF, 12 KB) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Small Claims Advisor This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Attachment for Identity Theft Cause of Action (DOC, 40 KB) (prepared by the (prepared by the Ventura Courts Self-Help Legal Access Center This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.)

Videos

The Basics of Small Claims Court (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin This is an external link. Click this icon for our external linking policy.) (Contact equalaccess@jud.ca.gov to obtain a copy of this video.)

About Us | Web Site Feedback
Web Policies | Public Access to Records | Accessibility

Copyright 2008 Judicial Council of California