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SC-100-INFOMandatory

Information for the Plaintiff (Small Claims)

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2024

This sheet gives general information about Small Claims Court to the person who starts a lawsuit (the plaintiff). It explains basic rules, like how much money can be claimed and how to properly notify the person being sued (the defendant).

The court describes it as: Explains Small Claims court and tells you where you can get more information and help.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

General & info

Information / general use — not tied to one step of a case

This form is used by anyone who is starting a small claims case to learn about the rules before filing or attending a hearing.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who is this form for?
This information sheet is written for the person who sues in the small claims court, which is called the plaintiff.
Can I use a lawyer in small claims court?
You may ask a lawyer for advice before going to court, but you cannot have a lawyer in court.
How do I make sure the defendant knows about the lawsuit?
You must make sure the defendant finds out about your lawsuit through a process called service of process, and you cannot do this yourself.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2024.

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    This form explains the rules for officially delivering court papers to the person or group you are suing in a Small Claims case. It describes two ways to deliver papers: personal service and substituted service.

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    This form lets you tell the court that you have permission to speak or act for someone else in a small claims case. You can also use it to ask the court for permission to help someone who has trouble speaking for themselves.

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  • SC-104C

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    This form is filled out by the court clerk to show that certain documents related to a small claims case were mailed to the people involved. It confirms which specific forms were sent out.

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    This form explains the steps to take after a judge makes a decision in a small claims case. It gives information on what to do if you won, if you lost, or if you need to appeal the decision.

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    This information sheet explains what writ proceedings are in small claims court cases and what types of orders a person can ask for. It tells readers that this information is general and directs them to other rules and forms for specific actions.

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