How to Request a Continuance in California Small Claims Court

Your small claims hearing is scheduled, but something came up — a work conflict, a medical issue, a key witness who can't make it. California lets you request a postponement (continuance), but the process depends on how much notice you have and whether you can show good cause.

Requesting a Continuance at Least 10 Days Before the Hearing

If your hearing is at least 10 calendar days away, file Form SC-150 (Request to Postpone Trial) with the court clerk. The form asks for the reason you're requesting the postponement.

You'll also need to:

• Pay the $10 fee if you are the plaintiff or a defendant who was served on time (waived if you have an approved fee waiver on file). There is no fee for your first request to get more time to find an interpreter.
• Mail a copy of the request to every other party in the case
• Wait for the judge to grant the request and set a new hearing date; the request is not automatic. If you do not hear from the court, go to the scheduled hearing.

The judge decides whether your reason justifies postponing the hearing. You'll receive written notice of the new date if the request is granted.

Alternatively, you can write a letter with the information requested on Form SC-150, explaining why you need the postponement.

Requesting a Continuance With Less Than 10 Days

If the hearing is less than 10 days away, explain why you waited to ask and show good cause. Examples include sudden hospitalization or jury duty on the same date; the judge decides whether your reason is sufficient.

Call the clerk's office or small claims advisor as soon as you know you can't make it. If the court has not granted a new date, go to the scheduled hearing and ask the judge in person. Bring documentation (a doctor's note or jury summons) to support your request if available.

What Happens If You Just Don't Show Up

If you're the plaintiff and you don't appear, the judge will dismiss your case. You can refile, but you'll pay another filing fee and go through the service process again from scratch.

If you're the defendant and you don't appear, the judge doesn't automatically rule against you — but the plaintiff still presents their case, and the judge can enter a judgment based on the evidence presented. If you missed the hearing, you can file Form SC-135 (Notice of Motion to Vacate Judgment) within 30 days after the Notice of Entry of Judgment is mailed, explaining your reason for missing the hearing. If you were not properly served and did not appear, the deadline is 180 days after you discover or should have discovered that the judgment was entered. If the court denies your motion, you have 10 days after it mails or delivers notice of the denial to appeal.

Requesting a continuance does not change the hearing date unless the judge grants it. If you do not receive an order postponing the hearing, appear as scheduled.

How Many Continuances Can You Get?

There's no hard statutory limit, but the judge decides each request based on the reason and the case circumstances. A later request is not guaranteed to be granted.

The other side can also object to your postponement request; the judge decides whether to grant it.

The California small claims filing guide includes a deadline calendar that tracks all your hearing-related dates, including the 10-day continuance window, service deadlines, and proof-of-service filing dates.

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