Yes, you can file a small claims case online in California if the superior court in the county where you’re filing offers e-filing. Some counties run their own portals, others route filers through an approved electronic filing service provider, and a few still require you to file in person. The paperwork and fees are the same either way. What differs is whether you can submit from home.
Before you get to the submit button, though, California requires a few preliminary steps. Skip them and the clerk can reject your filing or the defendant can get your case tossed later.
Ask for the Money First
California treats a demand for payment as a prerequisite to filing.1California Courts. Ask for the Money A written demand letter is the strongest approach because it creates a paper trail. Include who you are, what happened, how much is owed, and a clear deadline. If a restraining order is in place or contacting the other party would be dangerous, you can skip this step.2California Courts. Demand Letter
Confirm You’re Still Within the Deadline
Every claim has a statute of limitations, and the clock starts on the date of the event, not the date you noticed the problem. California’s common deadlines:3California Courts. Deadlines to Sue Someone
- Written contract: 4 years from the date the contract was broken
- Oral contract: 2 years from the date the agreement was broken
- Property damage: 3 years from the date the property was damaged
- Personal injury: 2 years from the date of injury
File too late and the court will almost certainly dismiss the case regardless of how strong it is.
File in the Right County
You cannot just pick the courthouse closest to you. Generally, you file where the defendant lives or where a business has its main office. For a contract dispute, you can also file where the contract was signed or where it was supposed to be performed. For personal injury or property damage, the county where the harm occurred is another valid option. Filing in the wrong county gives the other side grounds to have your case moved or dismissed.
How Much You Can Sue For
An individual can sue for up to $12,500 in California small claims court.4California Courts. The Small Claims Process A business entity is capped at $6,250. If your damages are higher, you either sue for the cap and give up the rest or file in a higher court where the process is more complex.
There’s also a frequency limit. You can file unlimited cases per calendar year for amounts of $2,500 or less, but only two per calendar year when the amount exceeds $2,500.5Superior Court of California, County of Orange. Self-Help Small Claims
Filing Fees
The court charges based on the amount you’re claiming. Under the 2026 fee schedule:6Judicial Branch of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule Effective January 1, 2026
- $30 for claims up to $1,500
- $50 for claims over $1,500 up to $5,000
- $75 for claims over $5,000 up to $12,500
If you win, you can ask the judge to add the filing fee to your judgment. If you can’t afford the fee, submit a Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001) with your filing. You may qualify if you receive public benefits, earn below certain income thresholds, or lack enough income to cover basic needs and court costs.7California Courts. Ask for a Fee Waiver
Finding Your County’s Online Portal
Go to the website of the superior court in the county where you plan to file. Look for “e-filing,” “online services,” or “small claims.” Some courts run their own portal. Others send you to an approved third-party electronic filing service provider. Los Angeles County, for example, requires filers to use an independent provider rather than filing directly with the court.8Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Civil eFiling Frequently Asked Questions Orange County offers e-filing through its own civil e-file website.5Superior Court of California, County of Orange. Self-Help Small Claims
If your county doesn’t yet offer online filing for small claims, you’ll need to file at the clerk’s office in person. The paperwork and fees don’t change.
Filling Out and Submitting the Form Online
Every small claims case runs on the Plaintiff’s Claim and Order to Go to Small Claims Court, Form SC-100.9California Courts. Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court (SC-100) Online systems walk you through filling it out by asking questions. Have these ready before you start:
- The full legal name and current address of every person or business you’re suing
- Your own full legal name and address
- The exact dollar amount you’re claiming
- A clear, chronological summary of what happened, why the defendant owes you money, and how you calculated the amount
- Supporting documents you plan to upload: contracts, photos, receipts, correspondence
You’ll create an account on the court’s system or the approved provider, enter plaintiff and defendant details, the claim amount, and your summary. The system uses your answers to populate Form SC-100 and any other required forms. Uploaded documents generally need to be PDFs within the system’s file size limits. Check names and addresses carefully. Errors can delay your case or make it impossible to serve the defendant later.
When everything looks right, pay the filing fee by credit or debit card. A third-party filing provider may charge its own service fee on top of the court’s fee. Most systems accept filings around the clock, and a submission received before midnight counts as filed that business day if the clerk accepts it.8Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Civil eFiling Frequently Asked Questions
Redact Before You Upload
Court filings can become part of the public record. Black out Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and names of minors before uploading. If you’re converting documents to PDF, the file may carry hidden metadata from earlier drafts; a clean export from the original application is safer than saving over an existing file.
What Happens After You Submit
Clicking submit doesn’t officially file your case. A clerk reviews your documents for completeness and compliance. If something is missing, if the amount exceeds the jurisdictional limit, or if a form is incomplete, the filing gets rejected and returned for corrections.
Once accepted, the clerk assigns a case number and a hearing date. You receive a conformed copy of your documents through the e-filing portal, stamped with the court’s seal, the filing date, the case number, and the hearing date and time.8Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Civil eFiling Frequently Asked Questions That stamped SC-100 is your proof the case has officially begun. It’s also the document you’ll need to have served on the defendant.
Serving the Defendant
Filing is only half the job. Copies of the court-stamped papers have to be delivered to every defendant. This is called service, and it’s what gives the court authority over the other party. You cannot serve the papers yourself. The person who serves must be at least 18 and not involved in the case.10California Courts. Serve Your Small Claims Forms
California allows three main methods:11California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 116.340
- Personal service: another adult hands the papers directly to the defendant. Most common and most reliable.
- Substituted service: if the defendant can’t be reached directly, the server leaves the papers with another adult at the defendant’s home or workplace and mails a second copy to the same address.
- Certified mail by the court clerk: some courts will mail the papers by certified mail for a $15 fee. Only the clerk can serve this way.
Timing is strict. If the defendant lives in the same county where you filed, service must be completed at least 15 days before the hearing. For defendants outside the county, that’s 20 days. Proof of service must be filed with the court at least 5 days before the hearing.11California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 116.340 Missing these deadlines is one of the most common reasons small claims cases get postponed.
One Thing to Know Before You File
If you file a claim and lose, you generally cannot appeal the decision on your own claim. Only the defendant can appeal the plaintiff’s claim. If the defendant filed a counterclaim against you, you can appeal that portion.12Justia Law. California Code of Civil Procedure 116.710-116.795 That asymmetry is worth understanding before you invest the filing fee and the time.