Small ClaimsPowered by Kolmogorov LawCalifornia Small Claims
Suing someone in San Mateo 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 San Mateo County, and our attorneys prepare and review every document before it goes to the court.
San Mateo County Superior Court accepts small-claims filings electronically (through California's Odyssey eFileCA system), as well as in person at the clerk's window or by mail. E-filing is usually the fastest route, and on our Managed and Attorney-Counseled tiers we e-file for you.
File at the San Mateo County Superior Court, Small Claims Division. Confirm the exact courthouse and clerk's-window hours on the court's website before you go — addresses and hours change, and filing at the wrong branch can delay your case.
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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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, San Mateo 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.
File at the San Mateo County Superior Court, Small Claims Division. Confirm the exact courthouse and clerk's-window hours on the court's website before you go — addresses and hours change, and filing at the wrong branch can delay your case.
Start your intake now. We'll prepare your attorney-reviewed paperwork and walk you through filing in San Mateo County, step by step.
Start my San Mateo County filing