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How to Sue in Small Claims Court

Small Claims Court

Guide: From filing your case to collecting your judgement.

HOW TO SUE
Find Your Venue

Determine the appropriate court for filing your case.

FIND YOUR COURT
Filing Court Papers

Find out your options for filing court documents.

FILING PAPERS
Serving Court Papers

How to serve court papers on a person or business.

SERVING PAPERS
Subpoenas

How to ensure witnesses and documents get to court.

SUBPOENAS
Fees

A list of court, Sheriff and Secretary of State fees.

COURT FEES
Your Day in Court

Plaintiffs: prepare to present your case in court

PREPARE FOR COURT
Checking Case Status

Get a case summary from the court online.

CASE STATUS
Postponements

How to change your court hearing date.

POSTPONEMENTS


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      • Purchases
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      • Avoiding Fraud
      • Credit/Debit Cards
      • Agencies
      • Unpaid Medical Bills
      • Smarter Seniors
    • YOUR CREDIT
      • Establishing Credit
      • Getting Denied Credit
      • Improving Your Credit Record
      • Prepaid Debit Cards
      • Getting A Free Annual Credit Report
      • Reviewing Your Credit Report
      • Collection Agencies
      • Credit Scams
      • Credit Card Disputes
      • Security Freezes
      • Fraud Alerts
    • YOUR CAR
      • Buying a New Car
      • Buying a Used Car
      • Co-signing for a Car
      • The Lemon Law
      • Leasing a Car
      • Service Contracts & Extended Warranties
      • Canceling a Contract
      • Car Repairs
      • Car Safety: Recalls & Child Car Seats
      • Car Title Loans
      • Vehicle Repossessions
      • Bill of Rights
    • IDENTITY THEFT
      • Identify Theft Basics
      • Reducing Your Risk
      • Am I an ID Theft Victim?
      • Your Identify Theft Toolkit
      • Getting a Free Annual Credit Report
      • Reviewing Your Credit Report
      • Fraud Alerts
      • Security Freezes
      • Data Breaches
      • Filing an Identity Theft Police Report
      • Helpful ID Theft Resources
  • TENANTS & LANDLORDS
    • PROGRAMS
      • Housing & Tenant Protections
      • L.A. County Rent Relief
      • L.A. County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution
      • Tenant Right to Counsel
      • Resources for Landlords
      • Rent Stabilization Program
      • Rent Registry
    • BASICS FOR RENTERS/LANDLORDS
      • Before You Rent
      • Living in Your Rental Unit
      • Moving Out of Your Rental
  • HOMEOWNERS
    • PROGRAMS
      • Foreclosure Prevention
      • Homeowner Notification
      • Resources for Landlords
      • Rent Registry
      • Webinars & More Resources
      • Short-Term RentalsLINK
    • BASICS FOR HOMEOWNERS
      • Buying a Home
      • Owning Your Home
      • Saving Your Home
      • Rebuilding Your Home
  • FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
    • BANKON
      • What is BankOn
      • Opening a Checking Account
      • BankOn Partners
    • FREE TAX PREP
      • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
      • Tax Preparation Checklist
      • Tax Dispute Help Assistance
    • TRAINING INSTITUTE
      • Training Institute homepage
      • CFE Financial Capability Summit
      • Empowering Conversations webinars
    • FINANCIAL RESOURCES
      • Student Loan Debt
      • Get Ahead LA
      • Budget WorksheetPDF
      • Financial Services
      • Financial Tips
      • CFE Resource GuidePDF
      • More Resources
      • Center for Financial Empowerment Mission
  • WORKERS
    • MINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS
      • Basics For Workers
      • Submit a Wage ComplaintLink
      • Is This Workplace in an
        Unincorporated Area?PDF
      • FAQs
    • MINIMUM WAGE FOR BUSINESSES
      • Basics for Employers
      • Required 2024-25 Workplace PostingPDF
      • Understanding Misclassification in
        the Workplace (English)PDF
      • Understanding Misclassification in
        the Workplace (Spanish)PDF
    • MINIMUM WAGE RESOURCES
      • More Minimum Wage Laws
      • LA County
        Minimum Wage OrdinancePDF
      • Santa Monica Wage OrdinanceLINK
      • West Hollywood Minimum Wage OrdinanceLINK
      • City of Los Angeles
        Office of Wage StandardsLINK
      • State of California
        Industrial RelationsLINK
      • California Fast-Food Workers Minimum Wage FAQsLink
      • Unincorporated LA County Wage Ordinances
    • WORKER PROTECTION LAWS
      • Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
      • Health and Safety Retaliation
      • Prevention of Human Trafficking
  • SMALL CLAIMS
    • I WANT TO SUE
      • How to Sue & Postponements
      • Who to Sue
      • Judgment
      • Appeals
    • I AM BEING SUED
      • What to Do
      • Countersuing
      • Judgment
      • Appeals
    • FORMS
      • Forms: Before Your Case
      • Forms: After Your Case
      • Sample Forms
    • RESOURCES
      • LA-ODR (TurboCourt)
      • Resource Videos
      • Webinars
  • MEDIATION
    • Countywide Dispute Resolution Program
    • Mediation through DCBA
    • LA-ODR (TurboCourt): Unlawful Detainer
    • Request MediationGet Help
    • Access Your CaseLink
    • Webinar Recordings
  • MORE SERVICES
    • OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT
      • OCM Events Calendar
      • Public Comment & EIR Notice of Preparation Review
      • Commercial Zoning Ordinance & Environmental Review
      • Los Angeles County Cannabis Equity Assessment
      • Information for Businesses
      • Cannabis Emblem Program
      • Consumers: Stay Informed
    • OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS
      • About OIA
      • Services
      • Immigration Issues
      • Asylees & Refugees
      • Path to Citizenship
      • OIA News and Updates
    • POLICY & ADVOCACY
      • Board Correspondence
    • OUR LOCATIONS
      • South Whittier Community Resource CenterSWCRC
      • Self-Help Legal Access Centers
      • DCBA Events Calendar
      • Book a Phone Appointment
      • Book an In-Person Appointment (Downtown L.A)
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