Small Claims Court Fees
A list of fees charged by the court, the Sheriff and the Secretary of State.
Small Claims Court Fees
Who pays the fees?
You must pay the court, the Sheriff and the Secretary of State for their services. If you win, the court may include these costs as part of your judgment. When issuing a check to pay for court fees, make the check payable to “Los Angeles Superior Court.” If the check is for a service provided by the Sheriff, then make the check payable to the “Los Angeles County Sheriff”.
If you cannot pay the fees
If you cannot afford to pay the court fees, you may file a Request to Waive Court Fees form with the Clerk’s office. You may be required to include personal financial information for the court to consider your request.
SMALL CLAIMS FEES
Filing fee
The filing fee for a Plaintiff’s Claim and Defendant’s Claim is based on the amount you are suing for. The filing fees are:
| Amount of Your Claim | Filing Fee |
| $0- $1,500 | $30 |
| $1,500.01- $5,000 | $50 |
| *$5,000.01- $10,000 | $75 |
| **Frequent Filer | $100 |
| *Only individuals, not businesses, can sue for this amount. **If you file more than 12 cases in a 12-month period, you must pay a $100 filing fee. Additional fees may apply for extra copies of documents. |
|
Additional court fees
| Request for Postponement | $10 |
| Plaintiff’s Request for Postponement Prior to Serving | no fee |
| Request for Court Order | no fee |
| Motion to Vacate | $20 |
| Judgment Debtor Hearing | $60 |
| Application for Renewal of Judgment | $45 |
| Request to Pay Judgment to Court | $20 |
| Request to Pay Judgment in Installments | no fee |
| Notice of Appeal | $75 |
| Certified copies | $37.50 |
Miscellaneous fees
| Issuing Writ of Execution | $40 |
| Issuing Abstract of Judgment | $40 |
| DL 17/DL 30 | $37.50 |
L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF FEES
Some court papers require a copy to be served to the other party. The Sheriff’s Department can do this for you. Their fees are as follows:
| Service of Plaintiff’s Claim | $50 |
| Service of Defendant’s Claim | $50 |
| Order for Appearance | $50 |
| Subpoena | $50 |
| Earnings Withholding | $45 |
| Bank Levy | $50 |
| Till Tap | $175 |
| Keeper — 8 Hours | $350 |
| Vehicle Levy | $2,000 |
| Bench Warrant — Varies depending on the type of case | $50-$120 |
SECRETARY OF STATE FEES
If a corporation is served through the Secretary of State by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the fees are:
| Secretary of State, including Certificate of Service | $50 |
| Sacramento County Sheriff | $100 |
Court forms are available at California Courts – Forms. Select “Small Claims” from the pull-down menu. Forms are also available at the Court Clerk’s office.
County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. Last change: Jan. 11, 2024
