All California courts use the same basic set of forms for small claims. You can find the most commonly-used forms on this page. If you are not sure which forms to use, find our from your court or small claims advisor.
Some courts have special local forms too. To see if you will need any special local forms, contact your court clerk or check your court’s website.
PRINT EMAILLooking for copies of an order from your case? Contact the court where you filed the case.
Fill and file forms and pay a fee to start a small claims case. Then, have a copy of the forms delivered (served) to whomever you're suing.
Tells the court who you are, who you're suing, why, how much you are suing for, and why you're suing in this county.
Gives you more space to provide information about other people or businesses in the case (if any).
If you're suing on behalf of a business, tells the court and tenant about your business Fictitious Business Name, if you have one.
Tells the court that the case is about an attorney fee dispute for less than $5,000 and that you went to arbitration.
Tells the court you had the other side served with the papers you filed to start the Small Claims case. The person who delivered the papers (your server) must sign the form.
Tells the court who you are, who you're suing, why, how much you are suing for, and why you're suing in this county.
Gives you more space to provide the information about other people or businesses in the case (if any).
If you're suing on behalf of a business, tells the court and tenant about your business Fictitious Business Name, if you have one.
Tells the judge you're allowed (authorized) to appear for someone in a small claims case. For example, you are the property manager.
Tells the court you had the other side served with the papers you filed to start the Small Claims case. The person who delivered the papers (your server) must sign the form.
If you're sued, you may be able to sue the other side back if you think they owe you money. There are rules about when and what you can sue for. Find out more in Suing the other side back in small claims court.
Tells the court who you are, who you're suing, why, how much you are suing for, and why you're suing in this county.
Gives you more space to provide information about other people or businesses in the case (if any).
If you're suing on behalf of a business, tells the court and other side about your business Fictitious Business Name, if you have one.
Tells the court you had the other side served with the papers you filed to start the Small Claims case. The person who delivered the papers (your server) must sign the form.
Once you have a court date, you may need to ask the judge to make a decision about something. For example, to change the court date or change the name of the defendant on your forms.
Asks the Small Claims judge if you can change your court date.
Tells the court that you served Small Claims forms by mail.
Small Claims Subpoena for Personal Appearance and Production of Documents at Trial or Hearing and Declaration
In some cases, you can have someone else go to the trial for you. This is only allowed sometimes, the person must have an authorization to appear. For example, a landlord could have their property manager go for them to a trial about a security deposit. The property manager is authorized to appear for the landlord.
Authorization to Appear (Small Claims)
Tells the judge you're allowed (authorized) to appear for someone in a small claims case. Or, asks the court for permission to appear for someone who can't properly speak for themself.
Asks a judge to make a decision about something before or after your Small Claims trial date. You can also use it to tell the court your side when someone else in the case has filled out this form to ask the judge to make a decision.
Tells the court that you served Small Claims forms by mail.
If you started a small claims case or filed a Defendant’s Claim against the other side and you don't want to finish the case, you can ask the court to dismiss it.
| Form Name | Form Number | Purpose | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Request for Dismissal | CIV-110 | Tells the court and the other side that you do not want to go forward with the case. You also need to use Notice of Entry of Dismissal and Proof of Service (form CIV-120). | How to dismiss your small claims case |
| Notice of Entry of Dismissal and Proof of Service | CIV-120 | Tells the other side about the court's decision to dismiss the case and that more details about the dismissal are shown on Request for Dismissal (form CIV-110). |
After there is a judgment, you may need to ask the judge to fix something in the judgment (like the spelling of a Defendant's name) or even to cancel the case if you missed the trial date for a good reason.
You can ask to correct or cancel a judgment if there was a clerical error or the judge applied the wrong law.
Request to Correct or Cancel Judgment and Answer (Small Claims)
Vacate (cancel because you missed the trial date)
If you missed the trial date for a really good reason, you can ask the judge to vacate the decision.
| Form name | Form number | Purpose | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice of Motion to Vacate Judgment and Declaration (Small Claims) | SC-135 | Asks the Small Claims judge to cancel the decision they made in your case. Can be used if you missed the court date. | Ask to cancel (vacate) the judge's decision |
If you were sued in a small claims case and the judge decided you owe money, you can challenge that decision by filing an appeal if you don't agree.
Notice of Appeal (Small Claims)
If the judge decided that one side owed the other money, you will need to fill out forms to let the court know when the money is paid. If the money is not paid, there are many forms you can use to help collect the money or to let the court know why you can't pay.
Tells the court the side that owed you money paid off the entire judgment.
Asks the Small Claims court to tell a person who lost your Small Claims case to come to court to tell you about their job, what they own, and where they keep their money.
Tells the debtor to bring documents to the Debtor's examination. Before filling out, bring the form to the Small Claims court clerk court who must "issue" it.
Tells the sheriff to take action to enforce a judgment. Used with instructions to the sheriff to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or take possession of personal property.
Tells the person who won your small claims case about your job, what you own, and where you keep your money.
Asks the judge if you can make payments on what you owe in a Small Claims case.
Asks the Small Claims judge if you can pay what you owe to the court instead of to the other side, if you lost your case. The court charges a fee, usually $25.00, to process the payment and send it to the other side.
Asks the sheriff to reduce or stop garnishing wages because you cannot afford the basic necessities of life with the garnishment. If a claim of exemption is opposed, this form is forwarded by the sheriff to the court.