California Small Claims Court Filing Fee: What You Will Pay and How to Get a Waiver
The Fee Schedule
California small claims filing fees are set by statute (CCP section 116.230) and are the same in every Superior Court across the state:
| Claim amount | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,500 | $30 |
| $1,500.01 to $5,000 | $50 |
| $5,000.01 to $12,500 | $75 |
If you have filed more than 12 small claims actions in California within the past 12 months, every filing costs $100 regardless of the claim amount.
Other Costs You May Face
The filing fee is not the only expense. Here is what the full cost picture looks like:
| Service or item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Court clerk certified mail service | $15 per defendant |
| County sheriff service of process | ~$50 per defendant |
| Private process server | $50 – $200 per defendant |
| Service by an adult friend (not a party) | Free |
| Request to postpone (after papers served) | $10 |
| Filing an appeal (defendant only) | $75 |
If you win, the judgment can include allowable filing fees and service costs; the court determines which costs are recoverable.
How to Apply for a Fee Waiver
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can request a waiver using Judicial Council Form FW-001 ("Request to Waive Court Fees"). Submit it at the same time you file Form SC-100.
Who Qualifies
Examples of qualifying public benefits include:
- Medi-Cal or Medicaid
- CalFresh (food stamps / SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- General Assistance or General Relief
- County Relief
- IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)
- CalWORKs or Tribal TANF
If you do not receive a qualifying public benefit, you may still qualify based on income. The threshold is household gross monthly income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Check the current FW-001 form for the applicable amount by household size.
What the Waiver Covers
An approved fee waiver (the court responds on Form FW-003) covers:
- The filing fee for your claim
- Clerk-served certified mail fees
- Sheriff service fees
- Appeal filing fees
It does not cover private process server fees, court reporter fees, or convenience fees charged by third-party e-filing service providers.
The Recovery Lien
There is one catch: under Government Code section 68637, if you are granted a fee waiver and later recover $10,000 or more through a settlement or judgment, the court attaches a lien against the proceeds to recover all waived fees.
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How Filing Fees Compare to Other Options
For context, the small claims filing fee is a fraction of what other legal paths cost. In 2026, statewide initial civil filing fees are $225 for limited civil claims up to $10,000, $370 for limited civil claims over $10,000 up to $35,000, and $435 for unlimited civil cases; some counties add local surcharges. A one-hour consultation with a California attorney typically runs $300 or more. And automated filing services like People Clerk charge $50 to $200-plus — just for document preparation, without any hearing assistance.
The small claims filing fee gets you a case number, a hearing date, and a judge who will decide the case within weeks.
Next Steps After Paying
Once you have paid the fee (or had it waived) and the clerk has stamped your SC-100, you need to serve the defendant within specific time windows. The California Small Claims Filing Guide walks through the service deadlines and the rest of the process from that point forward.
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