Small ClaimsPowered by Kolmogorov LawCalifornia Small Claims
Suing someone in Los Angeles County for $12,500 or less? California small claims is built to be filed without a lawyer — but the paperwork, deadlines, and service rules trip people up. This guide walks you through filing in Los Angeles County, and our attorneys prepare and review every document before it goes to the court.
In Los Angeles County you file your SC-100 in person at the Superior Court clerk's window, or by mail. The county does not currently offer small-claims e-filing, so the paperwork is filed on paper.
Los Angeles County has many small-claims courthouses, and filing at the wrong one can get your case transferred or rejected. The court name and address printed in the top box of your SC-100 must match the courthouse where you file. Confirm your courthouse before you go: lacourt.org → “Find My Court” (search using the defendant’s ZIP code, or the ZIP where the agreement was made). If what you find doesn’t match the box on your SC-100, email us first and we’ll regenerate the form — don’t hand-correct it.
Gather your evidence and the defendant's correct legal name and address. We prepare your SC-100 (Plaintiff's Claim), a demand letter, and a fee-waiver request (FW-001) if you need one — all attorney-reviewed before they go out.
File your Plaintiff's Claim with the Los Angeles County Superior Court and pay the filing fee (see the table below). The clerk stamps your forms, assigns a case number, and sets a hearing date.
Have a registered process server, the sheriff, or any adult who isn't part of the case serve a stamped copy of the SC-100 on the defendant — at least 15 days before the hearing. You cannot serve the defendant yourself.
After the defendant is served, file the SC-104 Proof of Service with the court at least 5 days before the hearing. This is the step self-represented filers miss most often.
Bring your evidence, tell the judge your story in a couple of minutes, and ask for what you're owed. The judge usually mails the decision (SC-130, Notice of Entry of Judgment) within a few weeks.
The Los Angeles County court filing fee depends on how much you're suing for. We pass it through at cost — it's separate from our platform fee.
| Claim amount | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,500 | $30 |
| $1,500.01 – $5,000 | $50 |
| $5,000.01 – $12,500 | $75 |
Plaintiffs who have filed more than 12 small-claims cases in the past 12 months pay a flat $100 (CCP § 116.230). Can't afford the fee? California courts grant fee waivers — we prepare your FW-001 at no extra cost.
California small claims is capped at $12,500 for individuals (CCP § 116.221) and $6,250 for businesses and other entities (CCP § 116.220). Larger disputes go to Limited or Unlimited Civil court, which is outside small claims.
You can't serve the defendant yourself. Use the sheriff, a registered process server, or any adult who isn't part of the case. The defendant must be served at least 15 days before the hearing (20 days if served outside Los Angeles County). Watch the substitute-service rule: if the papers are left with another adult and then mailed, service isn't complete until 10 days after that mailing (CCP § 116.340) — a late start can quietly blow the deadline. Then file the SC-104 Proof of Service at least 5 days before the hearing.
The court's filing fee is $30, $50, or $75 depending on how much you're suing for, plus our platform fee starting at $99. If you can't afford the filing fee, we prepare a fee-waiver request (FW-001) at no extra cost.
From paid intake to a filed case is usually 2–5 business days. Once filed, Los Angeles County sets your hearing — California small-claims hearings are typically scheduled 30–70 days after filing.
Up to $12,500 if you're an individual, or $6,250 if you're a business or other entity (CCP §§ 116.220–116.221). If your claim is larger, you can waive the excess to stay in small claims, or file in Limited or Unlimited Civil.
No — California small claims is self-represented by statute (CCP § 116.530); lawyers can't appear for either side at the hearing. We prepare every document, an attorney reviews it, and you present your own case. The Attorney-Counseled tier adds prep calls with our attorney.
Los Angeles County has many small-claims courthouses, and filing at the wrong one can get your case transferred or rejected. The court name and address printed in the top box of your SC-100 must match the courthouse where you file. Confirm your courthouse before you go: lacourt.org → “Find My Court” (search using the defendant’s ZIP code, or the ZIP where the agreement was made). If what you find doesn’t match the box on your SC-100, email us first and we’ll regenerate the form — don’t hand-correct it.
Start your intake now. We'll prepare your attorney-reviewed paperwork and walk you through filing in Los Angeles County, step by step.
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