Small Claims Court

Small claims court is a special court where disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively.  The rules are simple and informal.  The person who sues is the plaintiff.  The person who is sued is the defendant.  In small claims court, you may ask a lawyer for advice before you go to court, but you cannot have a lawyer in court.

Small Claim matters are filed in the Civil Division.  For more information about small claims, see Small Claims FAQ’s.

Monetary Limits

The Small Claims court has a monetary limit, called a jurisdictional limit, on the amount of money damages that a person can claim. The most you can ask for is $7,500 (businesses can only ask for up to $5,000); however, you are limited to filing no more than two claims anywhere in the State of California for over $2,500 in one calendar year. You may file an unlimited amount of claims for $2,500 or less.

Other helpful websites to assist you in filing or defending a claim:
California Courts Online Self-Help Center  California Courts Online Forms
California Superior Court EZ Legal File                
Department of Consumer Affairs 

Small Claims Court Advisor for Tehama County
The small claims court advisor for Tehama County provides information and counseling to litigants and potential litigants concerning all aspects of the small claims court process, including case preparation, collection, venue, appeals and more.

CONTACTING THE SMALL CLAIMS ADVISOR
(See Contact Us page for mailing address)

CONTACTING THE CIVIL DIVISION