The Small Claims Court - Fresno Small Claims Advisor

Disclaimer: This website does not give you legal advice. This is only general information.

If you are filing the claim, you are the Plaintiff.

If you are being sued, you are the Defendant. Here are some examples of common Small Claims cases:
Your former landlord refuses to return the security deposit you paid.
Someone dents your fender and refuses to pay for repairs.
Your new TV doesn’t work, and the store won’t fix it.
Your tenant caused damage to the apartment and the repairs cost more than the security deposit. (Note: You can not use Small Claims Court to evict someone.)
You lent money to a friend, and they refuse to pay you back.
Small Claims Court can also order a defendant to do something, as long as you are also asking for money in your claim. For example, the court can cancel a contract. Or, the court can order your neighbor to pay you for your lawn mower or to return it to you.

Important note: It is usually advantageous for both parties to find a resolution amongst each other this can either be done by coming to an agreement on your own or by working with one of the mediation providers in Fresno County.
Important note: It is usually advantageous for both parties to find a resolution amongst each other this can either be done by coming to an agreement on your own or by working with one of the mediation providers in Fresno County.

As an individual, or if you are considered an individual under a fictitious business name, you can use Small Claims Court if your claim is for $12,500 or less. If your business is a Corporation, Partnership or any other type of entity other than Sole Proprietorship, your maximum claim amount is $6,250.

You can sue twice per calendar year in Small Claims Court actions for more than $2,500.00 in California. For example, if you file a claim for $3,000.00 in February of this year, and another claim for $4,000.00 in March of this year, you can’t file another claim for more than $2,500.00 in any Small Claims Court in California until January 1 of next year. However, you can still file as many claims as you want for $2,500 or less. For more information click here.

Plaintiffs Checklist.

Form Description ................................................................................................................ Form

Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court (Small Claims) ........................... SC-100

Other Plaintiffs or Defendants ............................................................................................... SC-100A

(Attachment to Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court)

Information for the Plaintiff (Small Claims) ........................................................................... SC-100-INFO

Attorney Fee Dispute (After Arbitration) ............................................................................... SC-101

Fictitious Business Name (Small Claims) ............................................................................. SC-103

Proof of Service (Small Claims) ............................................................................................ SC-104

Proof of Mailing (Substituted Service) (Small Claims) .......................................................... SC-104A

What Is Proof of Service? (Small Claims) ............................................................................. SC104B

How to Serve a Business or Public Entity (Small Claims) .................................................... SC-104C

Request for Court Order and Answer .................................................................................... SC-105

Order on Request for Court Order ........................................................................................ SC-105A

Small Claims Subpoena for Personal Appearance and Production of Documents at

Trial or Hearing and Declaration ........................................................................................... SC-107

Request to Correct or Cancel Judgment and Answer (Small Claims) ................................... SC-108

Order on Request to Correct or Cancel Judgment ............................................................... SC-108A

Authorization to Appear on Behalf of Party ........................................................................... SC-109

Proof of Service by Mail (Small Claims) ................................................................................ SC-112A

Clerk's Certificate of Mailing .................................................................................................. SC-113A

Request to Amend Party Name Before Hearing (Small Claims) ........................................... SC-114

Defendant's Claims and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Courts ........................................... SC-120

Other Plaintiffs or Defendants .............................................................................................. SC-130

(Attachment to Defendant's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court)

Attorney-Client Fee Dispute (Attachment to Notice of Entry of Judgment) .......................... SC-132

Judgment Debtor's Statement of Assets (Small Claims) ....................................................... SC-133

Application and Order to Produce Statement of Assets and to Appear For Examination ..... SC-134

Notice of Motion to Vacate Judgment and Declaration ......................................................... SC-135

Notice of Appeal .................................................................................................................... SC-140

Request to Pay Judgment to Court ....................................................................................... SC-145

Request to Postpone Trial (Small Claims) ............................................................................. SC-150

(For Information for the Plaintiff, see SC-100-INFO)

Order on Request to Postpone Trial (Small Claims) .............................................................. SC-152

Notice of Entry of Judgment (Small Claims) .......................................................................... SC-200

What to Do After the Court Decides Your Small Claims Case ............................................... SC-200-INFO

Decision on Attorney-Client Fee Dispute (Small Claims) ...................................................... SC-202A

Request to Make Payments (Small Claims) .......................................................................... SC-220

Payments in Small Claims Cases ......................................................................................... SC-220-INFO

Response to Request to Make Payments (Small Claims) ..................................................... SC-221

Order on Request to Make Payments (Small Claims) ........................................................... SC-222

Declaration of Default in Payment of Judgment .................................................................... SC-223

Response to Declaration of Default in Payment of Judgment ............................................... SC-224

Order on Declaration of Default in Payments ........................................................................ SC-225

Attachment to Order on Declaration of Default in Payments ................................................ SC-225A

Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment ....................................................................... SC-290

Petition for Writ (Small Claims) ............................................................................................. SC-300

Information on Writ Proceedings in Small Claims Cases ...................................................... SC-300-INFO

Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court ................................................... SC-500

(COVID-19 Rental Debt)

Other Plaintiffs or Defendants (COVID-19 Rental Debt) ....................................................... SC-500A

COVID-19 Rental Debt in Small Claims Court ...................................................................... SC-500-INFO

Petition for Writ (Misdemeanor, Infraction, or Limited Civil Case) .......................................... APP-151

Abstract of Judgment—Civil and Small Claims ..................................................................... EJ-001

Foreign Language Interpreter's Duties—Civil And Small Claims ........................................... INT-200

(For Noncertified And Nonregistered Interpreters)

Different limits apply in an action against a defendant who is a guarantor (See Code of Civ. Proc., §116.220(c).) In an action brought by a natural person for damages for bodily injuries resulting from an automobile accident, a $7,500 limit applies if a defendant is covered by an automobile insurance policy that includes a duty to defend. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 116.221.)

If you would like to search the Court's case index for information about a particular Small Claims case, or look up a hearing date, visit www.fresno.courts.ca.gov.

Fee Waiver: Click here to access Fresno Superior Court Fee Schedules..