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Small Claims Court Limits in California

In California, individuals can sue for up to $12,500 in small claims court (businesses up to $6,250), filing costs $30 to $75 for most filers, and lawyers may not represent parties at the hearing.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

California at a glance

Maximum claim
$12,500
For individuals. Most other plaintiffs, such as businesses, are limited to $6,250.
Filing fee
$30 to $75
$30 up to $1,500, $50 up to $5,000, $75 above $5,000; $100 if you filed more than 12 claims in 12 months.
Lawyers allowed
No
Attorneys may give advice, appear for themselves, and represent parties on appeal or in enforcing a judgment.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in California

What is the small claims court limit in California?

Maximum claim in California: $12,500. For individuals. Most other plaintiffs, such as businesses, are limited to $6,250.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in California?

Filing fee in California: $30 to $75. $30 up to $1,500, $50 up to $5,000, $75 above $5,000; $100 if you filed more than 12 claims in 12 months.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in California?

No. Lawyers allowed in California: no. Attorneys may give advice, appear for themselves, and represent parties on appeal or in enforcing a judgment.

Where do the California small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 116.221, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 116.230 and Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 116.530. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.