How to Sue for an Unpaid Invoice in Small Claims Court in California
California freelancers and small businesses: how to sue for unpaid invoices in small claims court, including DBA filing, registered agent service, and the $6,250 entity limit.
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How to Sue a Contractor in Small Claims Court in California
Step-by-step guide to suing a contractor in California small claims court — unlicensed contractors, deposit recovery, claim limits, and what to bring to court.
How to Settle a Small Claims Case in California
Step-by-step guide to settling a California small claims case before the hearing — negotiation, mediation, written agreements, and making sure the case gets dismissed.
How to Serve Someone in Small Claims Court in California
Personal service, substituted service, certified mail, and serving corporations — California small claims service rules, deadlines, and costs explained.
How to File Small Claims Court California: Step-by-Step
A step-by-step walkthrough of how to file a small claims case in California — from the demand letter through Form SC-100, service, and the hearing.
How to Respond to Small Claims Court in California
Served with a small claims lawsuit in California? Here's what the papers mean, your response deadline, and exactly what to do before the hearing date.
Used Car Sold As-Is Small Claims California
Sued in California small claims court over a used car you sold as-is? What as-is actually protects, when it doesn't, and how to defend the claim.
Business Sued in Small Claims Court California
How an LLC, corporation, or small business responds to a California small claims lawsuit — who can appear, how claim limits work, Form SC-109, and what to expect.
How to Collect a Small Claims Judgment in California
Won your California small claims case but the defendant won't pay? Here's how to enforce your judgment with wage garnishment, bank levies, and liens.
Statute of Limitations Small Claims California: Time Limits by Claim Type
California small claims statute of limitations by claim type — 2 years for oral contracts, 3 years for property damage, 4 years for written contracts, and more.
California Small Claims Court Fee Waiver (Form FW-001 Guide)
How to get a fee waiver for California small claims court — income limits, qualifying benefits, what's covered, and how to submit Form FW-001.
Landlord Sued Me in Small Claims California
What to do when your landlord sues you in California small claims court — security deposit disputes, property damage claims, and how to respond as a tenant defendant.
Can the Defendant Countersue in California Small Claims Court?
How to file a cross-complaint (Defendant's Claim, Form SC-120) in California small claims court — deadlines, limits, and what happens at the hearing.
Small Claims Court for Car Disputes in California
How to sue over a used car in California small claims court — undisclosed defects, lemon law for private sales, proving your case, and what to bring to court.
Form SC-135 Motion to Vacate California Small Claims
How to file Form SC-135 to vacate a default judgment in California small claims court — deadlines, good cause requirements, the hearing, and what happens next.
Form SC-107 Subpoena California Small Claims
How to use Form SC-107 to subpoena witnesses and documents in California small claims court — deadlines, service rules, witness fees, and what to expect.
How to Sue Your Landlord for a Security Deposit in California Small Claims Court
California tenants: how to sue for your security deposit in small claims court — the 21-day rule, bad-faith 2x damages, and what to bring to court.
California Small Claims Improper Service Defense
How to challenge improper service in a California small claims case — what counts as defective service, the deadline rules, and how to raise it with the court.
California Small Claims Court Filing Fee: What You Will Pay and How to Get a Waiver
California small claims filing fees are $30, $50, or $75 depending on your claim amount. Here is the full fee schedule and how to apply for a fee waiver with Form FW-001.
How to E-File a Small Claims Case in California
Which California courts accept online small claims filings, how e-filing works, what it costs, and the differences from filing in person.
Small Claims Demand Letter California: What to Include and How to Send It
California generally requires a request for payment before filing in small claims court, though no particular demand-letter format is required. Here is what to write, how to send it, and why certified mail matters for your case.
Sued by a Contractor in California Small Claims Court: What to Do
A contractor sued you in small claims court in California. Learn your response options, contractor lien basics, evidence to gather, and how the hearing works.
Which Courthouse to File Small Claims in California (Venue Rules)
How to pick the right courthouse for your California small claims case — venue rules by defendant location, contract, injury, and consumer transactions.
Small Claims Court Appeal California: Who Can Appeal and How It Works
California small claims appeal rules are asymmetrical: defendants can appeal judgments on plaintiffs' claims, and plaintiffs can appeal judgments against them on defendants' claims. Here are the deadlines, costs, and what happens at the appeal hearing.
How to Request a Continuance in California Small Claims Court
Need to postpone your California small claims hearing? How to request a continuance, the $10 fee, deadlines, and what counts as good cause.
California Small Claims Court Limit: How Much Can You Sue For?
The current California small claims court limit is $12,500 for individuals and $6,250 for businesses. Here is exactly how the caps work and what to do if your claim is larger.
California Small Claims Court Forms: Which Ones You Need and When
A guide to every Judicial Council form used in California small claims court — SC-100, SC-104, SC-120, FW-001, and more — with when to file each one.
California Small Claims Advisory Services (Free Help Before Your Hearing)
Every California county offers free small claims advisory help — what advisors can and can't do, how to reach them, and when mediation might resolve your case first.
EJ-130 Writ of Execution California: How to Enforce a Small Claims Judgment
How to use Form EJ-130 (Writ of Execution) to enforce a California small claims judgment through bank levies, wage garnishment, and property seizure.
California Small Claims Court Remote Hearing
How to appear remotely in a California small claims hearing — Zoom, LACourtConnect, evidence rules, and county-specific requirements for video hearings.
Form SC-120 Defendant's Claim California
How to file a counterclaim in California small claims court using Form SC-120. Deadlines, fees, service rules, and what happens at the hearing.
California Small Claims Default Judgment
What happens when you miss a California small claims hearing. Learn how default judgments work, the 30-day deadline to vacate with Form SC-135, and your options.
California Small Claims Court: What It Is, How It Works and What It Costs
A plain-language overview of California small claims court — jurisdiction limits, filing fees, hearing rules, and what to expect at each step of the process.
Abstract of Judgment California: How to File One and What It Does
Learn how to use an Abstract of Judgment (Form EJ-001) in California to place a lien on a debtor's real property after winning in small claims court.
SC-100 Form California: How to Fill Out Your Small Claims Plaintiff's Claim
A field-by-field guide to completing Judicial Council Form SC-100 for California small claims court — what goes in each section and common mistakes to avoid.
SC-104 Proof of Service California: How to Fill It Out and File It on Time
How to complete Form SC-104 (Proof of Service) for California small claims court — who fills it out, what each section means, and the mandatory filing deadline.