SC-100 Form California: How to Fill Out Your Small Claims Plaintiff's Claim

What Form SC-100 Is

Form SC-100 ("Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court") is the document that starts your case. It identifies the parties, states the amount you are claiming, describes the dispute, and includes sworn declarations about your demand for payment and your filing history. The clerk stamps it, fills in the hearing date, and returns copies for you to serve on the defendant.

You can download the current version from the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov/forms. The form is two pages.

Section by Section

Item 1: Your Information (Plaintiff)

Enter your full legal name as it appears on your ID. If you are suing under a registered business name (DBA), write your legal name plus the business name — and attach Form SC-103 (Fictitious Business Name Declaration).

Include your mailing address and phone number. This is where the court will send notices, including the judgment.

Item 2: Defendant Information

Enter the defendant's full legal name. If suing a business, use the exact registered name — not a trade name or abbreviation. For corporations and LLCs, search the California Secretary of State's bizfile portal (bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov) to get the precise entity name. For sole proprietors using a DBA, name the individual owner and the business name (e.g., "John Smith, individually and dba Quick Fix Plumbing").

Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons judgments become unenforceable.

Item 3: Amount of Claim

State the exact dollar amount you are claiming, up to the statutory maximum ($12,500 for individuals, $6,250 for entities). If your actual damages exceed the limit and you are choosing to waive the excess to stay in small claims court, enter the limit amount. The form includes a checkbox acknowledging that you understand you give up the excess permanently.

Item 4: Why You Are Filing

Describe what happened in plain language. Include the key dates, the nature of the dispute, and how you calculated the amount. Keep it concise — this is not a legal brief. Something like: "Defendant was hired to repaint my house for $4,500. I paid a $2,000 deposit on March 15, 2026. Defendant never started the work and has not returned the deposit despite my written demand on April 20, 2026."

Page 2: Declarations

The second page contains two critical sworn statements:

Demand declaration. You must confirm under penalty of perjury that you asked the defendant to pay before filing. State the date and method of your demand (e.g., "Sent certified mail demand letter on April 20, 2026"). If you did not make a demand, you must explain why it was impractical or impossible.

Annual filing declaration. If your claim exceeds $2,500, confirm that you have not filed more than two claims exceeding $2,500 in California this calendar year. If you have already filed two such claims, your next claim must stay at or below $2,500.

How to File

Bring your completed SC-100 to the clerk's office along with copies — typically the original plus two copies, but check your courthouse's requirements. You can also file by mail (include a self-addressed stamped envelope) or through an approved e-filing service provider.

Pay the filing fee when you file: $30 for claims up to $1,500, $50 for $1,500.01 to $5,000, and $75 for $5,000.01 to $12,500. If you qualify for a fee waiver, submit Form FW-001 at the same time.

The clerk reviews the form, assigns a case number, enters the hearing date and courtroom in the ORDER section at the bottom of page 1, and returns your stamped copies.

Common Mistakes

Using a nickname or trade name for the defendant. A judgment against "Bob's Auto Shop" is useless if the legal entity is "Robert J. Martinez, dba Bob's Auto Shop." Always verify.

Forgetting the demand declaration. If page 2 is incomplete or you cannot show you made a demand, the judge can dismiss the case.

Math errors in the claim amount. Add up your actual damages carefully. Include the principal owed plus any statutory penalties (like the 2x security deposit penalty), but do not include filing fees or service costs — those are added to the judgment separately if you win.

What Happens After Filing

With your stamped SC-100 copies in hand, the next step is serving the defendant — which must happen within specific time windows before the hearing. The California Small Claims Filing Guide walks through the service process, timing requirements, and hearing preparation that follow filing.

See more California guides →