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SC-100Mandatory

Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2026

This form is used to start a case in Small Claims Court. It asks the person filing the claim (the plaintiff) to state who they are suing (the defendant), how much money they are claiming, and why they believe they are owed money.

The court describes it as: Start a Small Claims case in court.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Judgment

Stage: Judgment

This form is used when someone needs to start a case in Small Claims Court to ask the court to rule on a dispute, such as money owed.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Official instructions

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

Common questions

Who fills out this form?
The person starting the case, who is the plaintiff, fills out this form. The court clerk will fill in the case number and the trial date. Great care must be taken to fill out all required sections.
What do I need to bring to court?
The person filing the claim should bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence needed to prove their case.
What if I am the defendant?
If your name is listed on the form, you are the defendant. You and the plaintiff must attend the court date listed. If you do not go, you might lose the case.<0xC2><0xA0>

Revision history

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

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